<p>…</p>
<p>any specific questions??</p>
<p>Well I don't know about Woodwork, but I have some questions...
1) how's the social life at amherst? is it concentrated within the college or is there a lot of interaction with the other colleges nearby? how pervasive is greek life?
2) is political activism huge?
3) how accessible is boston? do people go on the weekends? for those who lived in urban settings before coming to amherst, does amherst feel isolated?
4) how's the weather/campus?
5) How competitive are people would you say?</p>
<p>I'm not a student, but in reference to 2), political activism isn't particularly big, or at least not as big as it is at schools like Wesleyan. This could be either a good or a bad thing. For 4), I'd say the campus is nice enough but not gorgeous or anything.</p>
<p>i'm not a student either, but i do know that frats and sororities were disbanded a long time ago. there is however an underground frat that the administration has an i dea of existing but i hear that they just turn the other way since the frat doesnt do anything illegal or whatnot (as told to my by students there when i visited)</p>
<p>I'm a Mount Holyoke student and I spend a lot of time at Amherst. It seems to me they aren't very politically active. There's a lot of polo-wearing. People can be arrogant like at any other highly selective school. Greek life is not all that big. I'm very disappointed with the 5 college consortium--everyone has a stereotype of every one else from each college and ppl aren't very willing to branch out. If you're from Amherst, you're a rich jock. If you're at Holyoke, you are desperate for men. If you're at Smith, you're a militant lesbian. If you're at Hampshire you're a pot-smoking hippie. UMASS you're a dumbass. Bring a warm jacket because it's freezing most of the year.</p>
<p>Ew. But do you find any truth to those stereotypes - if you aren't any of the above, is it hard to fit in?</p>
<p>SaveHockey, unfortunately there is some truth to the stereotypes. Perfect example for you--just this Friday my friends and I were at an Amherst party and my friend was drinking a beer when some random guy from Amherst says to her "What are you doing drinking all our beer, this isn't even your school!" I've also witnessed an Amherst kid telling a Hampshire kid to "get out of my school you pot-smoking hippie" at another party--no joke. A lot of the girls at the womens schools do become semi-desperate and are forced to lower their standards. I mean if you think about it, when you look for a guy at Amherst you're competing for one of 800 guys with girls from Amherst, Smith, Mt Holyoke and some from UMASS. I've only met about 3 guys from Hampshire and they've looked the stereotype. My ex b/f goes to Amherst though and is a really nice guy and he likes it there a lot. I would DEFINITELY go spend a night there if possible. I'm personally applying to transfer (but i don't go to Amherst, I go to MHC). I'm sorry if this sounds pessimistic but I think it's different for everyone.</p>
<p>My sister is at UMass, and I went to visit her recently...I met a girl that transferred from MHC to UMass, she mentioned the secret fraternities and said that there is some arrogance on campus, but she does have a lot of cool friends at Amherst. A lot of people have said that the UMass kids hate Amherst kids because they're 'elitist' but my HS sends about 40 kids to UMass every year and they said they'd still let me party with them haha...as long as you don't play the role of the stereotypes, I'm sure you'll be fine.</p>
<p>How would a poor, scholarship student be accepted at Amherst?</p>