The thing I love most about Amherst is the relationships you can have with your professors. You hear about professors at small liberal arts colleges who go out of their way to help students, and form personal relationships with them, but you never quite believe them. Well, here you should believe them. I've had professors have me over to dinner, I've had professors offer to skype me from South Africa to help me with my papers, I've babysat for my professors, and I've had professors drive home and back again to get a book for me that they thought I might enjoy on a subject related to class material. The professors are an amazing resource if you reach out to them. They really want you to succeed, and care about you as a person as a whole. In addition, the personal attention ensures that you are pushed to do your best work. But the professors know you and mainly grade you according to their expectations for you personally. They hold you accountable, as well. If you are sick or miss a class, professors notice. Overall, I find it is an amazingly supportive atmosphere that allows for creative exploration and personal growth while also offering so many different areas of study. One of the classes I took last year is called Witches, Vampires and Other Monsters (it's an art history course and is amazing) - look it up on the website!
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
I could not have found a better college. The location is great - you're close enough to Boston or New York that you can take the train in (the station is literally a 5 minute walk from campus), or you can just go into the town of Amherst for tons of great local restaurant options. If you get a little tired of Amherst, Northampton is just a 30/45 minute bus ride away. In addition, the fact that it's part of the 5 college consortium means you can take classes at any of the other colleges, and students from those schools may end up in your classes at Amherst as well. It's a great way to meet other students in the area, and gives you a little breathing room if you find Amherst becoming a little small (although I promise you won't!). There are so many opportunities to go hiking, bicycling etc and the view is GORGEOUS. My freshman year I had a view of the mountains right out of my window - imagine waking up to that every morning. The facilities are great, the people are incredibly friendly, and the student body is very active and diverse. I have met so many different people, especially international students. Everyone here loves learning for the sake of learning - I'll frequently find myself having discussions/debates about current events over lunch or dinner.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
I personally am not on financial aid but I have heard that the financial aid office is very friendly and helpful. If you don't have your own printer, do expect to be charged for printing in the library, and you'll have to print out a good amount for class, which can add up. But it's mainly a walking campus, and the bus service is free, which is great. And you'll have great networking resources for internships and after college - the career center is very helpful. You get the education you paid for, but you also make connections and open doors for your career after you graduate.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Make sure you go to office hours! The professors are very receptive and will often help you organize your papers or tell you what they're looking for. It's an easy way to boost your grade, and make contacts for future letters of recommendation.
Go to Judie's and get the popover with apple butter sauce (it's delicious)
Make use of the career center, and the dean of students office - they're incredibly nice and helpful.
Try a club sport - it helps you meet people and get outside for some easy, relaxed exercise and it's a great way to get your mind off work for a little while.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Students who enjoy small, discussion based classes, close relationships with professors, the outdoors and athletics. Not a lot of lecture courses past the introductory courses. Expect to be called on in class and known by name - they'll notice if you don't show up. You really have to read the material and actively participate in class.
The thing I love most about Amherst is the relationships you can have with your professors. You hear about professors at small liberal arts colleges who go out of their way to help students, and form personal relationships with them, but you never quite believe them. Well, here you should believe them. I've had professors have me over to dinner, I've had professors offer to skype me from South Africa to help me with my papers, I've babysat for my professors, and I've had professors drive home and back again to get a book for me that they thought I might enjoy on a subject related to class material. The professors are an amazing resource if you reach out to them. They really want you to succeed, and care about you as a person as a whole. In addition, the personal attention ensures that you are pushed to do your best work. But the professors know you and mainly grade you according to their expectations for you personally. They hold you accountable, as well. If you are sick or miss a class, professors notice. Overall, I find it is an amazingly supportive atmosphere that allows for creative exploration and personal growth while also offering so many different areas of study. One of the classes I took last year is called Witches, Vampires and Other Monsters (it's an art history course and is amazing) - look it up on the website!
I could not have found a better college. The location is great - you're close enough to Boston or New York that you can take the train in (the station is literally a 5 minute walk from campus), or you can just go into the town of Amherst for tons of great local restaurant options. If you get a little tired of Amherst, Northampton is just a 30/45 minute bus ride away. In addition, the fact that it's part of the 5 college consortium means you can take classes at any of the other colleges, and students from those schools may end up in your classes at Amherst as well. It's a great way to meet other students in the area, and gives you a little breathing room if you find Amherst becoming a little small (although I promise you won't!). There are so many opportunities to go hiking, bicycling etc and the view is GORGEOUS. My freshman year I had a view of the mountains right out of my window - imagine waking up to that every morning. The facilities are great, the people are incredibly friendly, and the student body is very active and diverse. I have met so many different people, especially international students. Everyone here loves learning for the sake of learning - I'll frequently find myself having discussions/debates about current events over lunch or dinner.
I personally am not on financial aid but I have heard that the financial aid office is very friendly and helpful. If you don't have your own printer, do expect to be charged for printing in the library, and you'll have to print out a good amount for class, which can add up. But it's mainly a walking campus, and the bus service is free, which is great. And you'll have great networking resources for internships and after college - the career center is very helpful. You get the education you paid for, but you also make connections and open doors for your career after you graduate.
Make sure you go to office hours! The professors are very receptive and will often help you organize your papers or tell you what they're looking for. It's an easy way to boost your grade, and make contacts for future letters of recommendation. Go to Judie's and get the popover with apple butter sauce (it's delicious) Make use of the career center, and the dean of students office - they're incredibly nice and helpful. Try a club sport - it helps you meet people and get outside for some easy, relaxed exercise and it's a great way to get your mind off work for a little while.
Students who enjoy small, discussion based classes, close relationships with professors, the outdoors and athletics. Not a lot of lecture courses past the introductory courses. Expect to be called on in class and known by name - they'll notice if you don't show up. You really have to read the material and actively participate in class.