Amherst College Top Questions

Amherst is a place for a relatively small number of people to do a lot of great things. It is a close community that accomplishes a lot.

I would probably change the food, though frankly its better than Harvard's (all my best friends go there, and it is only 5 minutes from my house), Brown's, and Connecticut College's. If you are looking for a small school, then this is the perfect thing. You get all the benefits (close relationships to professors, knowing everyone on campus), and all the negatives (you do see the same people everyday and that can be good or bad). People are always impressed when you tell them you go to Amherst, and as long as you don't act like a real jerk then they will think well of you and the school. I spend a great deal of time in the athletic facility, and the library. There is a great college town in Amherst, and the larger town of Northhampton is incredibly close as well. I have found that like any school the bureacracy is just as inconvenient and just as aggravating at amherst as it is anywhere, though Mr. Marx (the president) is a fantastic individual. there is a good deal of school pride definitely, especially since everyone knows each other and roots for their friends.

Where I'm from, people don't know about Amherst. When I tell them I go to school in Amherst, which is in MA, they ask me how I like Boston. Or they think I am talking about Umass. No one knows that amherst is actually an awesome school that is hard to get into. But I like it for that reason because it does not over advertise.

The people at Amherst are awesome. The professors, coaches, and administrators are eager to get to know you, and are extremely helpful and accessible. The students are also great, and that's what really makes a college worthwhile. With few exceptions, people here are very intelligent, and can comfortably talk about complex issues. They also know how to have fun, and will never bore you. You will find lots of different personalities here, so you can easily find social dynamics that fit your tastes. It's easy to make friends and there are very few bad apples.

Amherst is a great school with strong academics and a close-knit community. If you put effort into you work, students can develop strong relationships with their professors. However, academically, students will get out of Amherst whatever they put into it. Although I think the small size of Amherst is a pretty positive environment, it can also sometimes be a bit claustrophobic, and the fact that there is only one dining hall tends to contribute to that feeling. The campus is nicely located and the town makes the small college feel a bit bigger because students can go off campus to get coffee or dinner.

good school, small, pretty campus

Amherst's perfectly small size creates a sense of community unmatched by any other other school. Everyone has an appreciation for other's diverse interests and it is common for one person to have multiple interests which range from athletic team membership to service work.

Amherst is pretty small in my opinion. The campus and the town are nice. There is school pride, but the spirit is lacking to an extent. It would be nice to get fan support on days other than when Williams comes to town.

The best thing about Amherst is the education and opportunities you receive from the education. I would most like to change the dining hall; the food sucks. The size is just right. Because I am from the south, when I tell people I go to Amherst it is usually followed by the question, "Where?" Or, "oh, UMass, excellent!" I hate that. I spend most of my time either outside running, in the library studying or in my dorm hanging out. Amherst is in a small town. Amherst has the best and most qualified faculty I could imagine. Controversies? Not much school pride. Yada Yada Yada

Amherst is a small school that doesn't feel like it, because of its position in the five-college area (which includes UMass, Hampshire, Smith, and Mount Holyoke). Students can take classes at any of the five colleges and and a free bus service makes this a very accessible option. It's all the benefits of an intimate liberal arts education with personal attention, caring professors, and a tight-knit community, without the limiting factors that many other small institutions face. The town of Amherst is eclectic and extremely college-friendly, full of coffee shops, cheap eateries, and funky stores. In sunny weather the town green is full of picnickers, Frisbee players, and students reading or doing work. It really is that idyllic college town you see in brochures. The administration is genuinely interested in what students have to say and makes a concerted effort to be accessible and meet the needs of the student body.