Amherst College - Overall Experience

College Prowler Take

Students usually don’t choose Amherst because of its academic reputation, although a sound reputation is a must when the competing schools are Harvard and Williams. Rather, students come here because of the promise of experiencing an eclectic array of stimulating peers, professors, classes, and activities. Some become disillusioned, not finding their niche within the abundance of opportunities and freedom. Some succeed in familiarizing themselves with the ways of this place, find that they’re having the time of their life midway through college and become depressed that this whole thing is going to end soon. Chronologically speaking and with clear generalization, freshman year can go by in a rush, with everyone immersed in the whole college experience with their freshmen friends and classmates. Sophomore year can be the most challenging, since a lot of people go through “sophomore slump”—a state of mild or not-so-mild depression caused by the sad fact that all their freshman friends suddenly are not living in the same dorm but are now in far corners of campus. Also, many sophomore students are conflicted by the sudden need to decide on a major and to get serious about their lives. Junior and senior years are usually better and calmer, since most students have settled into a chosen major and formed a group of close friends across distant campus dorms. Upperclassmen, then, can be free to concentrate on studying and having fun.

The key to living here is perhaps keeping yourself open and receptive to new and unfamiliar experiences, opinions, and values. You’ll gain a lot more if you communicate openly with that odd-looking and opinionated girl from Dallas or that too-cool-for-school-looking guy from Philly, rather than choosing to be repulsed by Amherst’s oddities. A place like Amherst, with so many accomplished and bright people threading its grounds, is bound to have more oddities than the average university. Even though few people come to Amherst College for the sole purpose of meeting new people, learning from everyone, exploring themselves and so on, most students do admit, however reluctantly, that Amherst is both fun and a unique learning and growing experience that can be found nowhere else.

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Students Speak Out

AmhCA says: Amherst College 2016 Other

I truly believe that Amherst... I truly believe that Amherst College offers the best undergraduate experience in the country. The open curriculum, excellent faculty, well-rounded student body, and beautiful campus all make this the best place on earth. I have had the opportunity to meet amazing people and do extraordinary things during my time in college so far. I think Amherst gives you the genuine freedom to be who you want to be—there is essentially no limit on what you can do. 12345 Overall Experience: March 04, 2009 Report

AmhSL says: Amherst College 2015 Biological and Biomedical Sciences

I really love going to school... I really love going to school here. It's hard work, but the people are fun, and I get time to have fun too. I love playing basketball and being able to do lots of other activities. I really feel like I'm getting the most out of my college experience. 12345 Overall Experience: February 18, 2009 Report

AmhTH says: Amherst College 2016 Math and Statistics

My experience at Amherst has been... My experience at Amherst has been great! I would come here again. 12345 Overall Experience: February 17, 2009 Report

AmhJF says: Amherst College 2016 Undecided

I can't complain, really. People... I can't complain, really. People here are interesting, nice, and intelligent for the most part—or the ones I've met anyway. It's not too work-oriented or too party-oriented for me, and the balance is inviting. The College is very small, which I think is a good thing, but some people might not like that. 12345 Overall Experience: February 16, 2009 Report

AmhKD says: Amherst College 2015 Law and Legal Studies

Coming to Amherst was the best... Coming to Amherst was the best decision of my life. I love it here so much, even if the small campus does seem a bit stifling at times. You can definitely find a good balance between your social life and your workload. 12345 Overall Experience: February 16, 2009 Report

Most Recent Contributing Author

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

Lem has been to 17 different countries.

Contributing Author Internship

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