<p>I’m trying to choose between Amherst and Midd. While I don’t know for sure that I can deal with the chemistry (especially O Chem), I’m curious about majoring in biology. I’ve heard that Amherst’s science programs are nowhere as strong as its humanities programs-which is okay by me, since I really like the humanities and will probably major in psych. I’ve also heard that Amherst is building new facilities. When is construction expected to be completed, and will students be able to start using them soon?</p>
<p>damm! who said the sciences were weaker? I’m planning on taking physics at Amherst.</p>
<p>“Weaker” is of course a relative term, compared to Midd and Williams is what is meant by that. Of course many students major in sciences at Amherst, and get an excelllent education.
However, science renovation is delayed due to the current financial situation, haven’t seen any dates and facilities are not on par with Midd(newest) or Williams</p>
<p>AFAIK Merrill Science Center, the building that’s going to be renovated, only houses physics and chemistry. Life sciences have a separate (and very shiny!) building, and it sounds like Amherst has a lot of scientific toys to play with. (Radio astronomy! Woohoo!)</p>
<p>I am somewhat concerned by how science majors seem to be a fairly small contingent of Amherst kids though. Like, I have nothing against economics majors, but a well-rounded student body w/r/t interests is really important to me.</p>
<p>^ Well, the Physics/Comp Sci majors will all be very close to one another, given the nature of the classroom/lab experience and the work to be done, but they’re known by everyone else too. As a science major, you won’t feel like an outcast relative to the droves of English and Econ majors, if that’s what you’re concerned about. Everyone has his or her own unique interests, Amherst’s Open Curriculum encourages the discovery and development of those interests, and there’s a uniform respect for this fact of life about the College.</p>
<p>And, these Physics majors will have taken PoliSci, English, Philosophy, Music, etc., courses. Just because someone majors in Econ and wants a career in business/finance (heaven knows why) doesn’t mean that person doesn’t have a broad array of academic interests and personal experiences that makes him/her a “diverse” individual.</p>
<p>IMO, Amherst pales in comparison to Midd and Williams in the sciences only because of its lab and classroom facilities for these classes, which are distressingly lacking. But, a new Science Center is the first item on the agenda.</p>
<p>Cool, thanks. It won’t be a deciding factor for me, but I was curious. :)</p>
<p>What about the science faculty?</p>
<p>Skippy Joy: The biology dept at Amherst is phenomenal. It is extremely well-funded and has over a dozen great faculty members. I’ve loved all of my bio classes as a major here. This semester, for example, there were three super-small seminars offered in the department, in addition to numerous upper-level lab courses and your typical intro courses.</p>
<p>The science center is priority #1 for renovations.</p>
<p>I’ve heard from some reliable admins that the timeline is completion in ~5 years…fingers crossed for you juniors.</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/Biology/graduates[/url]”>https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/Biology/graduates</a></p>
<p>A list of recent graduates who had majored in Biology at Amherst.</p>
<p>How hard would it be to be a biology major at Amherst and do a sport (track)?</p>
<p>My D2 is double majoring in Biology and Geology. She is an athlete. The challenges she faces are that during her sport season she can only take classes with labs that end before her practices. She also limits her lab classes during that semester to 1. It can be limiting on course selection but she makes it work. The other semester she takes 2 lab classes. It is a challenge but not unsurmountable.</p>
<p>But how is the workload at Amherst along with the time commitment of athletics?</p>
<p>I admit that D2 was concerned about the workload with her athletic commitment as well. Because of that she decided to retake the 1st Biology class even though she got a 5 on the AP. The same is true for the 1st Calc class. As a 1st semester freshman she took Chem/Calc/Geology/FYSE. Chem was the only truly challenging class since her sport is a Fall sport. There were crunch times during the semester where the workload and sport commitment caused stress. But others were in the same boat and she managed to work hard through it.</p>
<p>Second semester she has 2 lab (Chem and Bio). The Bio is no problem because it is effectively a repeat with her AP Biol. Chem is easier 2nd semester.</p>
<p>The Bio major sequence is fairly well laid out. 1st semester: Chem/Calc, 2nd semester: Chem/Bio/Calc, 3rd semester: Bio/Physics. After that: major classes. I requires commitment, determination and concentration. But it is doable. </p>
<p>She is also double majoring in Geology. There are lab classes involved there as well. She plans on doubling up on the labs Spring semester. It helps if you enjoy your classes and the topics because then the lab time commitment isn’t a hardship.</p>
<p>Science here at Amherst is top notch. I am a Geo major, our Geo building is brand new. The Bio building is very modern and full of shiny equipment. Physics…I hate physics only because our physics department is set on breeding geniuses. No one has passed the comprehensive exam in the physics department for like five years and the average scores are usually 50/60% for upper division classes (this is where grade inflation is your friend). I also did crew last semester with 2 labs and two jobs. If you stay on task you can do athletics and science together.</p>
<p>I’m pre-med (although a non-science major) and have had a wonderful experience with Amherst’s science departments. Not only have I easily formed close and beneficial relationships with my various science professors, my recent experience studying for the MCAT has shown me that my classes here have successfully prepared me for med school. Amherst applicants to med school have a 95% acceptance rate, to give you an idea of the rigor of our sciences.</p>