<p>From everything I’d heard about Amherst, I was psyched to see it and expected to love it… however, when I took the tour, I got the impression that the campus was completely dead and the students were smug and blase. Maybe it had something to do with coming on a Saturday morning (although at other college campuses I visited at the same time, I had a different experience), but there didn’t seem to be much energy to the place. My tour guides were arrogant, smug, and really didn’t seem very passionate about anything, including their school. Before I cross a school that I’ve heard such positive things about, I was wondering: did I just get a bad set of tour guides and see it on an off day? Thanks for any input!</p>
<p>To answer your question, yes, you probably did get there on an "off" day, either for the school or for yourself.
Having said that, kids drop schools from their lists for any more random reasons than what you've given, first impressions can be quite hard to overcome.
My impression of Amherst was that there were a number of students who wanted to project an urban, sophisticated, worldly-wise persona. I wouldn't say smug or arrogant, but studied blase, when they actually might have real passions - trying to be cool. It doesn't help that we met a number of seniors.
If you keep Amherst on your list, make an effort to spend the night - you may meet a totally different group of students.</p>
<p>I totally agree with cangel. On the first day of my visit (Diversity Open House) I didn't think it was all the great, but after I hung around for two more days, talked to kids from La Casa (the Latino culture house), the Black Student Union, the Pride Alliance (the LGBTQA campus group), met kids at parties, etc., sat in on a class, I realized that I would really feel at home at Amherst. In short: if you can, spend the night. Try a weekend. At the same time, I met several pompous, smug as you say, people on campus. They're everywhere. Don't let them ruin the school for you.</p>
<p>Yea, my first night at the multicultural weekend was a pretty bad impression. My host sort of jumped ship and we were left to fend for ourselves. The group i ended up with decided to check out the drinking parties and since i'm not a drinker it was a bit uncomfortable. The SECOND night though was awesome. I spent a good time hanging out at the Latino house and had a good time there. Some kids I met there were pompous, and others were really down-to-earth nice kids... i guess it depends on the crowd.</p>
<p>I had the same impression as ladylazarus did, but to a lesser extent. I was even thinking of applying early before I visited, but after the visit, I knew that I would not apply early. (I applied regular, though.) I hated one of my tour guides... I liked the other one a lot, though. Overall, the campus felt sort of cramped to me, and it didn't feel as lively as the other schools I visited. It seemed as if people kept to themselves. However, I realize that I visited at a somewhat funny time (cold day, winter, saturday afternoon), and I heard lots of great things about Amherst, so I kept it on my list. If I get in, I will def. visit again and do an overnight.</p>
<p>I went to the Diversity Open House and thought the school was... nice. I really liked it. But, it wasn't until after I left and months later when I got accepted at another school early did I realize just how much I loved the school. I was prompted by my counselor to withdraw all other applications and eventually ended up doing so, but if there was any regret it would be withdrawing my app from Amherst. It wasn't until I sat there hesitant to sign my withdraw card did I realize how much I really liked the school... and listening to their a capella groups. :)</p>
<p>Hmm.. well, I'll have to go back and spend the night... maybe that will provide a bit more of a complete picture of the school. CaliforniaCutie, what school did you get into early, by the way?</p>
<p>I loved the a capella groups too!</p>
<p>the school i got into early was harvard.</p>
<p>Congratulations :) (by the way, isn't harvard ea, so you could back out if you wanted to?)</p>
<p>yeah....californiacutie, why did you withdraw your apps? you really didnt have to....</p>
<p>it was more my mom's choice than mine. i know people say "this is something you have to choose yourself" but i think my mom worked just as hard as i did to get me this far so what she said was important to me and since i am the first to go to college i think she wanted to start off the college generation with a bang or something. haha</p>
<p>CaliforniaCutie,</p>
<p>omg, i was at the diversity open house too! did you go in september or october?</p>
<p>but if you really did like amherst all that much, why did you withdraw it? you could've waited until the spring at least...</p>
<p>I was there too! I was there in October. It was a great experience.</p>
<p>CaliforniaC, I'm sorry you withdrew your app. There are things you would have gotten at Amherst that you won't get at Harvard and I think students should listen carefully to their gut reactions before overriding them, especially for something like name.</p>
<p>xjayz,</p>
<p>i was at october too!</p>
<p>i liked it for the most part. my hostess dampened my impression of it. but increasingly i'm feeling more drawn to amherst.</p>
<p>Me too! Just like me, you did EA-Harvard, now that it's a total luck of the draw, and the fact that we have like a 75% chance of getting into Amherst, which is such a great school (minus all that drinking that was on campus that Saturday), I don't know anymore! The financial aid officer dude was just so damn nice too.</p>
<p>How is it a 75% chance for you?</p>
<p>bump.......</p>
<p>jessiehopper, are you an amherst student?</p>