<p>My own would likely fall under the category of not comprehending that concept. Yes, I believe the desire not to go beyond the undergrad degree does have roots in the high school experience which is why I am concerned about aspects of Amherst College that I am not able to pin down from their site. The open curriculum is fine for the self motivated and those who have a plan that gives them a sense of a road map. I am concerned that the Open Curriculum may not serve students without a roadmap for say law or medical schools. Is it too tempting to avoid those subjects which aren’t your favorites and graduate without the true “liberal arts” experience that the school touts?</p>
<p>On the east coast, I have heard several people say to me, “Amherst. That’s the hardest school in the country to get into.” Also, the West Coast mother of an East Coast friend whose daughter wanted to go to Amherst, didn’t get in, and is going to Harvard. It’s not true, and I have no idea where that impression comes from, but Amherst (and Williams, which seems rather similar) have very good reputations among grad schools, professional schools, and, on the East Coast, educated people. None have the reputation of HYP. Where they would stack up against the lower Ivies in the average educated person’s mind, I’m unclear. Middle? Top? Bottom? Not clear it matters, but the strategy consulting firms and I-banks tend to visit there to interview. They do stop at the Ivies, MIT, Stanford, CalTech, but don’t stop generally at lots of other good schools. That probably gives you a sense of where they fit on the East Coast prestige list.</p>
<p>I’m sure this is true of Amherst too, but these recruiting firms and I-banks certainly do make visits to Williams. My S is a senior there, and he says there are several every week. He has no interest in this type of career so it doesn’t help him.</p>
<p>I-bank, recruiting firms are active at Amherst. We get emails every other day “Career Columns” that advertise such jobs, recruiters etc. I just got one today:</p>
<p>Columbia University Business School
Research Coordinator, Finance and Economics division
New York, NY
Deadline: 4/26"</p>
<p>TransPerfect Translations
Project Coordinator
New York, NY
Deadline: 4/28</p>
<p>US Department of Treasury
Office of Financial Research - Financial / Research Intern
Washington, DC
Deadline: 5/1</p>
<p>etc etc - generally the jobs find us</p>
<p>Parent of 2015: The benefit of an open curriculum is that you are not bound to someone else’s definition of a well-rounded education; the reality of a liberal arts school is that everyone around you will be experimenting, to some degree, with courses that are not in her or his comfort zone. Generally, we all do what our peers do, and students will take courses not in their area of expertise–if for no other reason than that it is insane to take nothing but, say, physics and math courses, because the load will kill you. You need to have some writing courses, some reading courses, to balance out your work load. When you’re taking Organic Chemistry and Calculus the same semester, you’re likely to want a course in music theory so you don’t lose your mind. Maybe some John Donne. Mark Twain? Or your roommate is taking the history of religion, and it’s beyond cool to know more about what you thought you knew. </p>
<p>But I’m a fan of liberal arts education, because I believe that learning to enjoy thinking and reading is the key to lifelong education. Learning in different disciplines, using different skills of analysis and understanding, opening your mind to ideas you never knew were there–I’m sure you can do all this in colleges of every description, but it might be easier in a college that’s set up for the purpose.</p>
<p>Harvard Med? Too funny, LoremIpsum! That exact thing happened to my son when he first told people where he was going to college – he’s now a sophomore at Harvey Mudd.</p>