<p>"Hook: live in a middle of nowhere farming town in michigan. really crappy high school...have never had anyone get into an ivy school. low-income asian."</p>
<p>Don't be dense.</p>
<p>This is what Prsident Marx has been saying all along. It doesn't matter what school you come from, you can be brilliant, and he is seeking out thos candidates. Congratulations on your acceptance!</p>
<p>Tarbe is either an idiot or an Eph. I'm betting the latter:)</p>
<p>Is there a difference between the two?</p>
<p>i think he was referring to the fact that jeeyeon referred to his own school as crappy</p>
<p>Yeah, he wasn't calling Amherst crappy. You folk have selective reading ability!</p>
<p>Haha, woops:)</p>
<p>Columbia, Grinnell, Tulane, William & Mary, Boston University...</p>
<p>Went to Amherst for a year and a half and transferred to William & Mary, haha. But Amherst was a great experience.</p>
<p>Why did you transfer?</p>
<p>Had my reasons, mostly location and I didn´t like the town very much. Academics were fine there, I mean, it´s not exactly a breeze or anything, but it wasn´t the reason for transferring out. Professors were really helpful and I loved how dedicated they were (on the whole).</p>
<p>I went to a very small HS in New Hampshire and then I came to small Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts... haha, I don´t know, I just wanted something larger. Anyway, I figured Virginia would be a great change for me, and although Williamsburg isn´t any bigger than Amherst, I definitely am happy with the switch. </p>
<p>It´s all regional :) If you are from California, Texas, or ... if you really love New England in general, Amherst is a great place to go to college ( I just don´t!).</p>
<p>I turned down Yale, Brown, Boston University, New York University, and UMASS-Amherst.</p>
<p>You turned down Yale AND Brown for Amherst?</p>
<p>piratemonkey,</p>
<p>WOW!! ISN"T HE CRAZY??? GO TELL EVERYONE!!</p>
<p>He isn't the first, nor will he be the last. It's a great school. If the fit is there, then there is nowhere better. Congrats!</p>
<p>turned down uchicago, washu, case (ppsp), williams and some others</p>
<p>I wrote this note on a thread in the Featured Discussions section. Although I was responding to comments to an article on Harvard admissions, it could certainly apply to students choosing Amherst over other top schools-or even choosing another school over Amherst. I put this in here not to claim one school is better than another or one type of education is better than another, but only to encourage students/parents to think carefully about their college choices.</p>
<p>"There seems to be an overemphasis on prestige as the primary criterion for choosing a college among many posters and/or their parents (CC even has a separate discussion section for Ivies!). They are making their decisions (or placing their hopes) on perception rather reality. While Harvard may offer an outstanding education and opportunity, the curriculum and undergraduate experience is far from perfect as acknowledged by a recent Harvard Task Force report. I also think that there are many other fine institutions out there where one can obtain a top education and have similar economic success later (if that is to be used as a yardstick for educational quality, which is certainly debatable). For some, another Ivy, a LAC, a more rural school, a school closer to home, a state honors program may be a better fit for the student. Some students have enough self-awareness to make such distinctions during their college search; however, many do not, and decide on Harvard primarily or exclusively based on its prestige. Harvard benefits from this perception among applicants and has a > 80% yield rate without binding ED. </p>
<p>I would argue that one goes to college to get an education. It is an opportunity to prepare for life and hopefully develop skills, talents, and habits for lifelong learning. I personally think students should choose to attend the college where they can get the best education FOR THEM, and not just the best credential. Although I am not an alumnus of Harvard, I was on faculty there for a number of years. One other factor that I think is important for prospective students to consider is whether a given student functions best in an environment where he/she is a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond. The student needs to be honest with himself/herself as a 17 or 18 year old, and ask: where would I learn best? I think one can challenge oneself maximally at a less competitive or lower-ranked institution provided there are interested and outstanding faculty there (which often is the case). At the same time, one may study in a more supportive community of fellow students and faculty. I also believe one should go to a place where one can enjoy life and not put undue stress on oneself. Mental health issues are a problem at all colleges as witnessed by the recent tragedy at VTech. Attending Harvard may place additional types of stresses on some students. Harvard College is a community of super-achievers-some students may find that incredibly stimulating, others may feel overwhelmed. Most Harvard freshmen go through a humbling experience that they are "average" academically for the first time in their lives, and adapt to it and are glad to be surrounded by such talented peers. However, some students have their self-confidence shaken. I remember reading in a a recent campus newspaper article that a large percentage of students have used counseling services at Harvard. The stress and anxiety is mostly self-imposed rather than external, as unfortunately some students don't realize that by any objective measure they are extremely capable, even if they are among the bottom 90% of their class. </p>
<p>I have not read the article in 02138 yet. However, it should give comfort to applicants to know there are many pathways to success. Harvard may be one of them but there are many others. Moreover, Harvard may not be the best path for a given student. I also would like to remind applicants and parents that a college education is much more than a credential. Moreover, there are people who are ignorant or uneducated despite obtaining an Ivy League education, as we have seen in some high places in our government. Last, success may not be just economic. I would suggest that college should prepare a student for success in life. I think economic success is too narrow a criterion. The experience of attending college, at its very best, can help one learn how to learn at a critical stage of life so that one can pursue a livelihood of choice, build a meaningful family and personal life, and contribute to the benefit of our society, I am reminded about a book by Loren Pope who talks about some lesser-known colleges that change lives as they promote both intellectual growth and personal character. I would like to think students somehow come out as better as well as more learned people upon graduation."</p>
<p>Very abstract, very general...although a theoretically rational argument, in practice, one has very little knowlege of what school is a fit. Top schools are known for academics, more rigorous than at non-top schools. Most students who are accepted to harvard/uchicago/amherst SHOULD GO TO THESE SCHOOLS instead of attending a state school, because at least these schools are most likely to be a better fit academically (of course, there are exceptions). No wonder admissions officers sweat to choose kids who are fit to their school, so half the job for picking a fit is done by acdoms, and they do a dam good job. Otherwise, it is very difficult to find a fit. Don't forget, that those students who choose to go to HYP and WASP and other top institutions are already considering presdige as one of the FIT criterias, so if one takes these two factors (academic rigor and prestige), one has less abstract fit options to consider. My point is that academic rigor and prestige factor should not be undermined, because they are major FIT factors.</p>
<p>Yeah, ok.. but what does Amherst have that Brown doesn't?</p>
<p>What does Brown have that Amherst doesn't?</p>
<p>Remember that Brown still has a graduate program, whereas Amherst does not. Also note that Amherst places better than Brown in terms of the top graduate/preprofessional programs. And if you're going into Finance, Amherst is generally regarded as a target - Brown is not.</p>
<p>As someone who chose Amherst over Brown, I just felt that I fit in better at Amherst. I don't know if this is true, but I felt that Amherst was more academically oriented and they gave me a special program to fund my research. Plus, the dorms I was in and the food I had at Brown sucked. I'm not a big fan of Brown's location either. Anyway you look at it, its a personal call when you are choosing between really strong schools.</p>