<p>Everyone says Williams/Colby etc are for jocks, Swarthmore/Bates for hippie intellectuals, and so forth. What about Amherst? I liked the school quite a bit (probably something to do with the tour guide) but I couldn’t quite “define” the atmosphere. </p>
<p>As a preppier student in the old-money boarding school LL Bean sense, who is at the same time looking for an intellectual atmosphere without huge greek life, would Amherst be a fit?</p>
<p>Amherst is sort of in the middle of those two extremes. There are jocks and people who are in college only to make a ton of money, there are hard-core intellectuals and altruistic change the world types, and there are many who fit into both groups (One of the just-graduated football captains sings a capella and speaks fluent Japanese). Whatever you're looking for, you can find a niche.</p>
<p>I'd say mostly jocks with a few potheads and nerds scattered here and there.</p>
<p>Then again, I'm allergic to jocks, so I may just be overreacting.</p>
<p>Ugh, "niche" -- why can't we all just get along?</p>
<p>When I had visited campus, EVERY guy I saw was huge and totally ripped, no joke. There were men and women jogging about, and several guys walking around without shirts on. I'm under the impression that it is a very athletic-oriented school, to use a euphemism.</p>
<p>But, given that Amherst is indeed an LAC, it should have an interesting mix of just about everyone. But, know that it probably has a higher population of wealthy and jock types.</p>
<p>You clearly didn't visit campus when I was there. I would have to be torn in half to be described as ripped.</p>
<p>Copy and paste from my reply to another thread :) :</p>
<p>"There are probably more sheltered white suburban kids at Amherst. People disagree as to whether it's a large enough majority to make others feel out of place. A friend told me she feels as though she has to subscribe to this group's way of doing things to fit in. Others say "Oh, no, never, I've always felt like I fit right in." I'm a sheltered white suburban kid myself so I don't have a say.
But I guarantee you wouldn't find Amherst to be a bunch of snotty rich kids who got in because their parents are wealthy. I'd characterize the average Amherst student as nerdy and reserved...and of course incredibly smart and intense. And there are enough internationals and people of different backgrounds that at worst you would find the student body to be not quite ideal, but still fun to interact with and enriching."</p>
<p>"looking for an intellectual atmosphere without huge greek life"</p>
<p>YES, that is exactly what you'll find here.</p>
<p>
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You clearly didn't visit campus when I was there. I would have to be torn in half to be described as ripped.
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</p>
<p>This is probably the funniest thing I have read on here. TRULY funny and GREAT line!</p>
<p>I withdraw my observation. =)</p>
<p>LOL. Ok. Given that we're talking about an observation you made over 8 months ago BEFORE actually attending Amherst, what WOULD be your observation today? Well, maybe not literally "today" because it's obviously close to 20 degrees or something, but you know what I mean. :)</p>