<p>I’m seriously considered applying early and I just want to hear about your experience there. Here are some of the things I want to know more about, but any information would be much appreciated.
<ol>
<li>Intelligent, motivated and diverse</li>
<li>yes, as at almost every college. There are many students who don't drink, but it is a part of the school's culture.</li>
<li> My D and her friends claim it is the worst part of their college experience...stresses quantity over quality.....Amherst with Bowdoin's food service would be Nirvana</li>
<li>Freshman dorms are awesome...all either new (Pratt) or newly renovated within the past few years....renovations on upper class housing is moving along</li>
<li>Education experience and profs are great....students work hard, but find time to enjoy school expeience for the most part</li>
</ol>
<p>I mostly agree with gudoc. I would add:
1. Everyone is intelligent and there are some who are stunningly brilliant. Everyone also seems to be really talented at something, possibly multiple somethings. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Yes, but there is a significant contingent of people who drink little or none at all. They get along just fine.</p></li>
<li><p>the food isn't bad per se, it just gets repetitive. There's about three weeks worth of menus that get repeated. However, there's enough options available that you can cobble together some pretty good meals of your own. Or you could make a waffle at every meal. There's also some great food options in town (Antonio's, Wings, the Black Sheep, etc.) and in Northampton if you want to eat out.</p></li>
<li><p>Every freshman dorm has been renovated in the last ten years. If you airlifted the worst one into pretty much any other college, it would instantly become the nicest freshman dorm on campus. The upper class dorms are all in the process of being renovated. The last of the old frat houses are being renovated this year, and in the following two years the socials (probably the worst dorms architecturally) will be renovated as well.</p></li>
<li><p>Amherst is awesome. I'm learning tons and enjoying myself immensely</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Not much to add, except...</p>
<ol>
<li><p>When I went vegetarian, I got a lot more bored with school food. If you're vegan, it's even harder.</p></li>
<li><p>The dorms are INCREDIBLE. Next year, as a sophomore, I'll be staying in one that isn't as good - but the upside is that I'll get a single. At most schools, sophomores have no chance of their own room unless they're paying extra!</p></li>
</ol>
<p>We did the official tour today and they showed us Stern, one of the freshman dorms. It was built in 2005 and is one of the nicest dorms I've ever seen on any campus. They showed a room that houses 2 people, with one door to the hallway, but a wall and door inside the room so that it feels like 2 singles (except the first person has the second person walking through their room).
Amherst dorms are coed by floor, single-sex by room. There are several floors available that are single-gender, if you prefer that. You can also request a substance-free floor. Some singles are available for freshman.</p>
<p>Siliconvalleymom is correct in what she says. I will just clarify that "some singles are availabe for freshman" means a grand total of 6 (3 each in James and Stearns, unless there are some in Pratt?), so don't count on them.</p>
<p>Catfish, there is one in Pratt.</p>
<p>I did not know that. Thanks, kwu.</p>
<p>Regardless, that's still only 7 out of ~450 freshman who will have singles, so don't count on one by any means.</p>
<p>Thanks for that clarification, Catfish. The tour guide said that students who get singles tend to have medical justifications for them...does that sound right to you?</p>
<p>That's what I've heard. I think unless you have a medical justification, it's better to have a roommate anyway. It really is part of the college experience. If you have a good roommate, you may find a friend for life. If you have a bad roommate, you'll be able to tell bad roommate stories for the rest of your life. And if you have a really bad roommate, there's a room change process.</p>
<p>So when do we find out who our roommate is?</p>
<p>August 15, 2008</p>