Is it hard to obtain research opportunities at Amherst for an undergraduate? Would you have to compete with many other students? What is it like in general?
I’ve read that LACs usually don’t do much research, and was thus wondering.
what you heard is, quite literally, the exact opposite. all the research at (most) liberal arts colleges is reserved for undergraduates since most tend to be strictly undergraduate-focused.
No, it’s not hard at all. I’m a freshman and I was offered a fellowship to do research over the summer at Amherst with a professor. I’ll receive a stipend and free room and board. https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/support/funding/students/amherst-student-research-funding-opportunities/summer-research-opportunities-at-amherst/surf-program
Not too hard, though D applied for a couple of SURF positions as a first year and didn’t get them, many of her fellow first years did.
In addition to SURF linked above (which is limited to first and second year students as I recall), Amherst offers funding for research you secure elsewhere. D got funding for research she did abroad this winter.
She’s been doing paid research at Amherst since junior year started, as a sort of consultant from her department to a different part of the college. She plans to continue that next year. It’s not work study, it’s a paid job.
@OHMomof2 I want to major in Physics and Astronomy or Mathematics and want to do research from my first year (and as much as I can in four years). I got into Amherst and University of Rochester. Rochester is among the top universities in research activities and frankly, I don’t know much about Amherst in terms of research.
I prefer Amherst in many aspects, but if I can get more research opportunities in Rochester, I’ll probably go there. Can you please help me decide?