Hi, this is my first creation of a new thread on CC! I’m glad to say I have been accepted to both Haverford College and Amherst College. I’m looking for a really good premed program that also offers many undergrad research opportunities in biology or chemistry (since I’m interested in bio on the micro scale, like molecular genetics or biochem). I know I shouldn’t be simply looking at statistics, but data from this year reveals a 74% acceptance rate for kids from Haverford, while an article from 2 years ago claims that Amherst’s success rate is pretty much the same—75 to 80 percent. I like both schools’ drop-dead gorgeous campuses, smaller classes, and closer interactions between students and faculty. I feel that socially, I would fit in slightly better at Amherst, but I also wouldn’t mind mingling with my fellow Lord Jeffs. I really can’t make up my mind between these two schools, and I don’t think Amherst’s reputation is playing that big of a role in my decision. I have to decide within the next three days (since I want to safely mail them out), so…HELP!!!
^I know a thread has been done on this choice earlier, but I believe my circumstances are a bit different.
Both are outstanding LACs. Both have excellent pre-med and undergrad research opportunities. If you have a strong fit preference go with it. If the fit preference isn’t strong, go with the school with the stronger reputation. Should you decide to change career direction Amherst’s reputation is broader and deeper.
All things being equal–and it sounds like they are—as the poster above puts it, Amherst’s depth of reputation is very strong—Amherst.
Campus culture is very different: more cooperative at Haverford (with Honor Code, Quaker heritage, etc).
Location is also different: really cool college town for Amherst, big city for Haverford.
We have close friends whose eldest went to Haverford and transferred to Colgate. He described Haverford as one of the most boring experiences of his life.
Thanks for all the replies!
@WinterParents Boring in what’s sense? Did he try to branch out using the consortium???
@am61517 How much better is Amherst’s rep???
@squashaddict, Amherst is the oldest and, historically, most respected of the top 3 LACs. Graduate schools and sophisticated employers view it at the very highest level (essentially equivalent to a top Ivy). There is no question Haverford is a very fine college and you would get an outstanding education, but it is reputationally not at the level of Amherst. Someone accepted to Harvard might consider Amherst (or Williams or Swarthmore) as a viable alternative if they were looking for a more intimate learning environment, but probably not Haverford. It is roughly the equivalent of choosing Brown or Cornell over HYP.
Please note, this is not to say that if you are in love with Haverford, find the fit perfect, and think you will be very happy there you shouldn’t attend, but simply to put in context the trade-off reputationally. Also note, once a college is on your resume it stays there for life, while your preferences for different colleges may vacillate.
Ditto ditto with above comment.
I would disagree with the above comment about Amherst while it is no doubt a fine institution. The LACs in the top 20 are all prestigious and you will find some kids get in some and not others. You will also find no difference in graduate school, law school and medical school acceptance rates in the peer group.
I think the fact it is in Massachusetts has a lot to do with the thinking.
A M H E R S T. Why? Because my law school professor, James J. White, who wrote a casebook on the law of contracts, the most widely recognized treatise on commercial law, went there, and he was a brainiac…
While what am61517 says is entirely true (the Haverford and Brown comparison), I would agree more so with WinterParents (that the difference in reputation between Amherst and Haverford is really very small). I’ve been to both campuses, and they’re both very handsome. I might give the slight edge in terms of look and feel to Haverford. And Philadelphia is a great city. But Amherst is a great college town, and its reputation among LACS is certainly unsurpassed. But the difference in terms of academic reputation is so small that I would encourage you to make a decision based on fit rather than reputation. And the two schools have very different feels.
Which do you prefer?
^This. Difference is not significant.
Which area do you like better? Which student body seems to be a better fit?
Haverford’s pre health advising is top notch from what I’ve been told by first hand by students who’ve been through it. Having Philly so close by is a plus in my book. I know Haverford students who’ve done research at UPenn in addition to on campus.
Hey guys, thanks for all the advice. I just spoke with Jodi Domsky, the premed advisor for Haverford. I straight up told her that I was also considering Amherst, and she said that she know the premed people all along the east coast. She said that she can’t deny that Amherst has everything that Haverford has–a great campus, limitless undergrad research opportunities, supportive professors, and much more. But she also said that Haverford’s “lesser” reputation doesn’t hinder students’ success in their applications to medical school. Thus, I think that I’ll consider my choices tonight and then make up my mind hopefully ASAP!
Two great choices @squashaddict. You honestly can’t go wrong. Will you be playing squash btw?
My D liked Haverford, she comes from a small school and wanted a small LAC… but Haverford was so much smaller than the other elite LACs. There is a big difference between 1800 and 1100. It was a major factor in her decision to choose Amherst.
The difference between Haverford’s and Amherst’s academics is not huge. The difference in “prestige” is not as huge either. People have probably HEARD of Amherst more due to its location in Massachusetts but going to Haverford will not be a bad decision either. Go off of fit and where you like MORE!
@doschicos Great question! I will be playing squash! If I play at Haverford, I will be no. 1 or 2 and will be playing 1.5 hrs a day. If I play at Amherst, I will be playing at least no. 9 (borderline varsity) within the second year latest. There, I would be playing 2 hours per day…for both schools, of course, I will be placing academics well over squash, though.
For a squash player, Main Line Philadelphia is pretty close to the center of the squash universe. Merion Cricket is a few blocks from the Haverford campus, the independent high schools in the area like Episcopal Academy etc. are top high school programs, and there are serious squash players everywhere. It would be a squash-rich environment.
@Midwestmomofboys True…and Drexel hosts the US Open!!! But for me, squash will simply be a form of stress release, a way to express my competitive spirit. Academics are most certainly my main focus.