<p>How competitive is the academic environment at Amherst? I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s much more so than at some other LACs. Does anyone have some experience or opinions on this?</p>
<p>I don't think that D feels any competition like there was in HS for class rank and GPA, (ie, having to perform better than someone else) although those that want to go to grad school are certainly driving themselves. I can tell you that there is a LOT of work, and that every prof expects excellence in all your work. From what I have seen, there are a lot of truly self-motivated students who want to perform well, but they are competing against themselves not against each other. This is my take on what she has told me.</p>