<p>As the title indicates, I’m on the brink of refusing an offer of admissions (transfer) to Amherst, and I’m feeling somewhat ill over the decision. I can’t believe I waited to post this till now, but can you guys tell me just what it is I’ll be giving up? I’m from San Francisco and have never been to Massachusetts, and didn’t grow up in the prep school culture. How bad a choice am I abuout to make?</p>
<p>Have you visited Columbia? Or, do you feel you'll be more comfortable in a big city. It's a mistake to characterize Amherst as being a "prep" school culture. I use to teach at Barnard/Columbia and both are certainly filled with students from prep schools as well as other types of institutitions (public and parochial schoosl). Amherst is probably the most diverse and intellectually exciting places you could attend. You would have an opportunity to know your professors personally and not be taught by graduate students. The two institutions are vastly different. I would think twice about saying no to Amherst. But, you need to know why you're deciding on Columbia? You didn't say. If it's just because you think Amherst is preppy, then I think that's the wrong reason.</p>
<p>I have no anti-prep school bias against Amherst, only an anti spelling bias (abuout). I just mean that no one out here knows how to find Massachusetts on the map (or how to spell it), let alone what Amherst College is. I learned about it while hunting for schools last year, and I've fallen in love with it, along with a few other schools I applied to. I don't necessarily have a big city versus country preference, both offer interesting opportunities, but my wife is from Manhattan, and sees anything smaller than a major city as a barren wasteland. I'm looking for some informed feedback before I make a potentially disastrous decision.</p>
<p>Well, your mention of being married makes a big difference. Since you're a "non-traditional" student, meaning you probably won't be living in the dorms with others then makes Columbia more a better fit (perhaps). But, I'm not sure of the variables. Lot of people who aren't familiar with elite colleges haven't heard of Amherst. I teach at the Claremont Colleges and there are people in LA who have never heard of Pomona College (and it's only 30 miles away). So, I wouldn't allow the fact that people haven't heard of Amherst be a factor. You need to seriously think about what type of experience you want to have. If you have a spouse who is coming with you then that's a completely different situation. Amherst is very demanding academically and I"m sure you will have to spend a lot of time studying. So, if you have a spouse who can't spend a lot of time without you, then perhaps New York would be a better choice (because she could never get bored). Why did you apply to Amherst. Getting in is so competitive. It's like you hit the powerball. There are people who would die to have your options. Congratulations regardless of which college/university you decide to attend.</p>
<p>Thanks lmpw. Yeah, embarrassment of riches, right? And I'm a geriatric high school drop out, (actually, I was given my diploma as a favor). I guess I'm doing all this hand wringing because I'm not used to choosing between two good options. My life thus far has had a lot of bitter disappointments. I suppose I've just had trouble reconciling myself to the fact that I can't go to both schools. Oh, and I don't worry that no one out here has heard of Amherst, it just means that no one can give me decent advice. Heck, a lot of people I know had never heard of Columbia. We sort of live in the shadow of UC Berkeley. I am expecting to pick Columbia for exactly the reason you suggest; if I'm absorbed in school, where would my wife be happier? Sadly, Amherst losses that argument.</p>
<p>Oh, and hooray the Claremont Colleges. I would have applied to one of them too, but for a wifely veto.</p>
<p>I spent four years attending high school in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and I share the same view: EVERY liberal arts college that I had visited was located in a "barren wasteland." No joke.</p>
<p>To be honest, the only town I was truly impressed by was Amherst, MA. I just found it small, quaint, attractive: it has all the necessities of life, and I knew deep in my heart that I would happy spending my next four years there.</p>
<p>If you've "fallen in love" with Amherst, so to speak, don't let prestige be a factor in helping you decide. Amherst is, without a doubt, the most prestigious liberal arts college in the country. Every well-educated and worldly person has heard of it. If you were considering Columbia College, the two would be comparable. However, this just isn't the case. Think about which school would be better for your future, for both yours and your spouse's.</p>
<p>I'm from the Bay Area and recently visited Amherst. I'd have to say for an LAC experience Amherst would be at the top of my list because it is an excellent school and in a town that has more going on than just being host to one LAC.</p>
<p>Having said that, as you are a married person, I would assume that the best choice for you as a couple would be to be in NYC, particularly if you are coming from a place like SF. </p>
<p>On the other hand, you said you are going to transfer. Your wife might be able to stand this for two years. Out of curiosity, what do expect she'll do for two years while you are in school? A big draw of NYC for you will be that she can find plenty to do.</p>
<p>I also didn't grow up in a prep school culture and have to explain to everyone at home where Amherst is (or why anyone would want to study the liberal arts) and I love the place. Amherst's reputation as "preppy" is pretty overblown I think. While there are plenty of kids who went to prep schools, none of them are the stereotypical Charles Arthur St. John-Smith IV types. If you decide not to come to Amherst, don't let preppiness be the reason.</p>
<p>I think you need to ask yourself whether at this point in your life you want to go to a small residential college or a university -- I'd guess university, but there's no "correct" answer so go with your gut. Here nearly all students live in dorms spread over three or four blocks, have 9/10 meals at the dinning hall... it's sort of feels like a camp.</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>Aneece - really hard to say without knowing more about your wife. I am from NYC and I work in manhattan. It's abig city but nobody I know does everything there is to do all the time. Mostly, you find your niche and live your life in whichever of the many strata of NYC life. However, if you want to do something out of the ordinary (for you) - its available, everything is here, I mean literally everything you could be into. So it depends. if you're a couch potato, you'll be one in NYC or at Amherst. If you are very social and love exploring new things, maybe NYC is for you.</p>