<p>In my research – both online and through conversations with current Amherst students –, I’ve found that Amherst students are repeatedly characterized in two ways. I turn to College Confidential to find out whether these accounts/generalizations of Amherst’s student body are accurate; it should go without saying that my aim is not to disparage the Amherst community but rather to determine whether I would enjoy being in such an environment as an undergrad.</p>
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<li><p>More often than not I see descriptions of Amherst students as obsessed with competitiveness; not the kind that constructively drives students to do their best, but the kind that manifests in the form of comparison, egotism, all that jazz. This complements the even more demeaning epithet of “Ivy rejects” that I’ve also come across, and as a senior now finishing his twelfth year of study at a high school that’s full of these types, I’m very reluctant to attend an institution with a similar social atmosphere.</p></li>
<li><p>I’ve also heard a great deal about the social divide that exists between athletic students and non-athletic students: that it effectively segregates the student body in two.</p></li>
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<p>That I’ve written far more on the first of the two points should indicate how important is to me; I’m fond of Amherst, and would love to attend, but I can’t help but be disconcerted by the things I’ve read and heard.</p>
<p>Prove me wrong, please.</p>
<p>#1…you are sooooo wrong. My daughter, an Amherst grad, found most students to be collaberative, very few gunners. She found that to be true in all her classes including her med school pre reqs which are usually the the cutthroat classes. </p>
<p>As far as the social divide…people hang out with friends with common interests. So yes, the athletic teams hang out with each other…as do the vocal groups, the drama kids etc. This is not unique to Amherst, it may seem so because of the size of the class. I said to my daughter before she went there, it is not how many friends you make…it is the quality of the friendships.</p>
<p>I completely disagree with point 1 and believe your impression regarding the 2nd point is still pretty far off reality. </p>
<p>I’m a 1st year at Amherst right now and I have yet to see any kind of snobby competitiveness or egotism. We’re all here to succeed, but not at the cost of our classmate’s success. We help one another with homework, we discuss whatever is going on, we support one another. Some of my classes this semester will be curved, yet no one really seems to be concerned. We’ll work through it and get to where we need to be. </p>
<p>As for the athlete divide.
There are definitely some teams that keep more to themselves in terms of the social scene, but there is definitely not a clear cut line between the two sides. Of course athletes will associate more with athletes, but I’ve noticed that the only people who don’t really end up getting to know the students who happen to be athletes, are the ones that continue to perputate this idea of a great divide. Drop these assumptions and get to know the interesting, intelligent, studious people that make up this community. Because the first thing I learned here is that stereotypes need to be left at home.</p>
<p>I disagree about the Ivy rejects. You can’t find an Ivy that has 2,000 students, courses taught only by faculty members who have no graduate students to distract them or be first in line for research opportunities. </p>
<p>Many people choose that sort of environment over the Ivy. I think a majority of freshmen are ED, and don’t even apply to an Ivy. But if you look at the stats they’re competitive for Ivy admission. </p>
<p>Parent of Amherst Junior here.
Strongly disagree with point 1; that has not been my student’s experience in any way shape or form , quite the contrary. Collaboration is common place. As for the " ivy rejects " notion, our observation has been that many students were in search of a small liberal arts experience and applied only to such colleges. Amherst is a highly ranked LAC, so needless to say there likely are some " ivy rejects" but very much doubt that this comprises the majority of the student body.
You may also want to consider that for the most part not long after students select the college they will attend, the stress and hype of Senior apps is gladly laid to rest and never spoken of - at least that would be true for my 2 college kids and their friends
Best wishes </p>
<p>A good friend of mine is a freshman at Amherst right now. Over the summer, we joked that all the kids were going to be haughty elitists but he’s since confirmed that the student body is very relaxed, motivated and easy to get along with. </p>
<p>The athletic divide just doesn’t seem like it would even be a problem if it did exist.</p>
<p>Don’t be dissuaded from going to Amherst if you come across a few negative comments. The people at Amherst look out for each other and dedicate a lot funding to making sure that all students are properly accommodated.</p>