Amherst CollegeDiversity Summary

Written by Lem Atanga McCormick

Lem Atanga McCormick

Hometown

Chicago, IL

Major

Pre-Med (Biology and French)

View all previous student authors

Whether Amherst is diverse enough is one of the most disputed questions among administration and students. Many call for special programs to attract more minorities to the school, which suffers, as all New England private colleges do, from a stigma of being a WASP-only country club for young adults. The truth is, Amherst makes a considerable effort to make itself known to minorities and to make its expensive education more affordable. The College offers a need-blind application process to American citizens, and large percent of students receive financial aid. International students can also apply for financial aid, although this will reduce their chances of admission. Most importantly, the fact that this issue is debated constantly on this campus shows a level of awareness and willingness to formally admit and socially accept eclectic groups of students each year.

Still, many students feel that more should be done to have a more-diverse student body. The current Amherst student body is far from being all white and will probably never be all white. Living in such a diverse community requires a very high level of tolerance, which is present most of the time. It seems people here don’t really allow racial and discriminatory practices, ideas, and words to penetrate everyday life. In this sense, Amherst does feel like a bubble tightly insulated from the outside world.