Amherst College

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Students Say - Academics
With just over 1,700 students, Amherst College "has a strong sense of community born of its small size" that goes hand-in-hand with an atmosphere that "encourages discussion and cooperation." Many here are quick to praise the "fantastic" professors and "supportive" administration. "Professors come here to teach," says one undergrad, "not just to do research." The "enriching" academics are bolstered by the "dedicated" faculty, but slackers be warned: You must be "willing to sit down and read a text forward and backward and firmly grasp it" as "skimming will do you no good." Besides having "easily accessible" professors, some students also appreciate that "registration is done by paper" as "it forces you to talk to your advisor." Another student notes that "I'm amazed at how easy it is to sit down for a casual lunch with anyone in the administration without there having to be a problem that needs to be discussed." Indeed, most here agree that "the support for students is as good as anyone could expect." However, some mention that despite the "administration, staff, and faculty" being "accessible and receptive to student input on every level," the "realities of running a small school in this economic climate mean a lot of suggestions won't be acted upon any time soon." Nevertheless, Amherst's alumni have a solid track record when it comes to obtaining postgraduate degrees-so much so that some think of the college "as prep school for grad school."

Students Say - Campus Life
While students at Amherst are "focused first and foremost on academics, nearly every student is active and enjoys life outside of the library." "There's a club or organization for every interest" here, and students assure us that if there isn't one that you're interested in, "the school will find the money for it." Students also praise the "awesome" dorms (some say they're "as spacious, well-maintained, and luxurious as many five-star hotels"), for being "designed to facilitate social interaction." Coincidentally, the dorms tend to serve as the school's social hub, particularly since Greek organizations were banned back in 1985. Amherst makes up for the lack of frat houses with "a number of socials put on by student government and I-Club (International Club) that are held throughout the year at bars downtown." And don't worry if you don't have a car since these events "have free buses that transport students to and from the bars." Some bemoan that the town of Amherst is "incredibly small" and doesn't feature much in the way of fun. Others take solace in "the many eateries in town that feature lots of ethnically diverse foods" and "go to sporting events." And since Amherst is part of the Five Colleges consortium, there's "an extended social life to be had," however "not that many people go out of their way to experience it." For those who like liquor with their extracurricular activities, most "drink on campus instead of off campus" thanks to some "huge apartment parties."

Students Say - Student Body
Traditionally, the student body at Amherst has been known by the "stereotype of the preppy, upper middle class, white student," but many here note that the school is "at least as racially diverse as the country and more economically diverse than people think." That's not to say that the college doesn't have "a sizeable preppy population fresh from East Coast boarding schools," but overall students here report that "Diversity-racial, ethnic, geographic, socioeconomic-is more than a buzzword here." The campus is also "a politically and environmentally conscious" place, as well as a "highly athletic one." The school's small size "means that no group is isolated and everyone interacts and more or less gets along." Others, however, aren't as convinced about the student body's unity. "There is definitely a divide in the student body," says one undergrad. "The typical Amherst student is either an extremely quiet, bookish nerd or a lumbering, backward-baseball-cap-wearing jock." That said, the school is filled with "open minded, intellectually passionate, and socially-conscious critical thinkers." As one student puts it, "Most students-even our most drunken athletes and wild party-goers-are concerned about learning and academics."

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