Amherst College - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

There is not much in Amherst outside of the College. Amherst is the epitome of a college town. Main Street is right next the College, and there you’ll find CVS, Starbucks, Fleet Bank, as well as various local shops. The people are, by and large, nice to a degree that stupefies most students from New York City, and you can’t walk down the street without a complete stranger nodding and saying hello. The place visibly caters to both UMass and Amherst students. Testimonials to this are the numerous restaurants and pubs on Main Street, and the various sales and special offers that every business owner puts out on the store window. In September, they hang signs that say “Welcome students!!!!!!,” complete with all the exclamation points.

Northampton is a 30-minute free bus ride away. It’s a town bigger than Amherst and, as such, it is bubblier and livelier. The selection of bars and general hangouts is broader in Northampton than in Amherst, and there are also dance clubs for those who like to get down every once in a while. All in all, Amherst students will generally opt to stay on campus on weekends for two main reasons. First, the drinking age is 21, and Massachusetts cops take the law nitpickingly seriously. Second, and more importantly, the best parties usually happen at the College. Students from Smith and Holyoke (which are, and just simply stating facts, all-girl schools) flock over here for parties, and there is usually is a respectable representation of UMass students, as well. Amherst seniors do go out to bars in town, but the fact remains that nobody ever comes to Amherst because of the town itself.

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Students Speak Out

AmhCA says: Amherst College 2016 Other

Amherst College is unique because... Amherst College is unique because it is in a relatively rural/suburban area but is also within 10 miles of four other colleges (UMass, Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire). The town of Amherst is relatively small, but it offers all the amenities of a college town: great food (try Antonio's, Fresh Side, and Chez Albert), a couple of bars, and various convenience stores. Although the location of Amherst may, at first glance, seem random or unappealing, it is quite nice to be amidst the beautiful hills and fresh air of western Massachusetts, while being also being close enough to Boston and New York City for a weekend trip. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 04, 2009 Report

AmhSL says: Amherst College 2015 Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Amherst is a pretty close... Amherst is a pretty close community. There are lots of great restaurants and shops. Large chain and grocery stores are a really quick car or bus ride away. There's also Northampton, a little down the road, that has much more to do. There are four other schools nearby, and we see their students in class and at social events. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 18, 2009 Report

AmhAG says: Amherst College 2016 Other

It's a friendly town, and all the... It's a friendly town, and all the people you meet are really nice. There are some good bars and restaurants in town but not a ton else. There are four other major colleges/universities within five miles. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 17, 2009 Report

AmhJF says: Amherst College 2016 Undecided

Amherst is a nice,... Amherst is a nice, substantial-sized town. There are cheap and nice restaurants and enough stores to get by with. Eight miles away is Northampton, which is a very fun, larger town with a subculture. Between the two of them is a huge mall that everyone goes to all the time for everything they need. Also in the area are four other colleges, and of those, Smith and Mount Holyoke are girls only, and groups of Smith girls come to parties at Amherst all the time. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 16, 2009 Report

AmhYH says: Amherst College 2013 Law and Legal Studies

The town is adorable. There are... The town is adorable. There are college students everywhere from Hampshire, Amherst, and UMass. There are good eats, and the bars are okay. It's fun to just walk around. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 16, 2009 Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Amherst:
• The streetlights chirp when they show green, so that the blind may utilize them.
• The nickname of poet Emily Dickinson was ‘the Belle of Amherst.’ She was born in this town, and attended Mount Holyoke Seminary, which is now Mount Holyoke College. Her former home is open to visitors.
• Massachusetts law states that cars must stop and yield to pedestrians showing intent to cross the street.
• The town is named after Jeffrey Amherst, a general in the British army in the 1750s.
• The student population in the town, including Amherst College and UMass students, is half as large as the population of the entire town.

Famous People from Amherst:
Emily Dickinson, poet
Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the U.S.

Local Slang:
Mad – Very. “This steak is mad good.”
It’s icky outside – It’s cold outside.
Sketchy – Something to look out for, usually refers to guys or girls who are overly sexually aggressive. “This guy is so sketchy.”
Shady – Dubious. “That store looks a little shady.”

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Lem Atanga McCormick
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major: Pre-Med (Biology and French)

Lem has been to 17 different countries.

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