Amherst College
Reviews

I Couldn't Pass up This Place

The students are amazing and diverse people, the professors are highly accessible and very passionate about what they do, the area is stunningly beautiful, the 5 college consortium is a unique arrangement between our sister schools and us, and Boston is only an hour and a half away. What more could you want?

Drinking Takes the Cake

The drug scene at Amherst College is not really huge, other than smoking pot. Of course, it depends on who you hang out with...the more wealthy kids on campus tend to have access to more drugs, but I wouldn't say that they are used openly. If people are doing drugs, they’re usually just smoking. Most students drink regularly, but while it is a more popular activity, it isn't forced on anyone.

Professor Willing to Reach Out

The major advantage of Amherst College is that the population is so small; this leaves more than enough resources for students to get extra help from professors and other tutoring services. I found that my professors were always excited to engage in conversation outside of the classroom setting, and it really enriched my college experience.

Amherst has pot and coke, just...

Amherst has pot and coke, just like anywhere else, and if that's what you're into, you can find people to do it with. Drinking is much more popular than smoking, and cocaine use is somewhat rare and generally private.

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.

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.

You get all four seasons here,...

You get all four seasons here, though it's usually pretty mild.

A lot of people complain about the...

A lot of people complain about the food. I wouldn't say it's anything spectacular, but I've always been able to make it work.

The campus is pretty diverse, but...

The campus is pretty diverse, but I feel like everybody is pretty well assimilated into the dominant culture, whatever that is. It's hard to notice differences unless you really get to know the people, and then you find out all these interesting things about them.

Not too many people have cars...

Not too many people have cars here, and the reason why is there is really not much need for one. It'd be nice to have for trips to Northampton or Boston, but everything you need is within very short walking distance, so cars are pretty unnecessary.

Everyone's really nice, and...

Everyone's really nice, and usually pretty athletic, but not too jocky. Everyone cares about academics, but I would describe very few as actually nerdy. Attractive girls are few and far between.

There are two main labs on campus...

There are two main labs on campus that can get crowded at night and especially around exam time. There are also random desktops all over campus that can be used to check e-mail. I would recommend bringing your own computer because there is wireless access all over campus.

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.

It depends on who you're with....

It depends on who you're with. There's a fair amount of marijuana use, but you can easily avoid it. Drinking is very prevalent.

There's only one dining hall,...

There's only one dining hall, Valentine, and it's mediocre at best. There are lots of options—two entrees, salad, sandwiches, pizza—but the quality is not very good. There's a coffeeshop/café in the student center that is good but somewhat pricey.

There are great restaurants within...

There are great restaurants within walking distance and short drives away. There are also a lot of delivery options. The best places in town are Judie's and Pasta E Basta and The Pub.

There is a pretty reliable bus...

There is a pretty reliable bus service if you want to go farther away, but downtown Amherst is less than a 5-minute walk. There are also good shuttle services to the airport in Hartford, Connecticut.

Our campus has a fair amount of...

Our campus has a fair amount of diversity. Since financial aid is given to students who need it, we are able to have a wide range of economic backgrounds. We also have a lot of international students. This is the part of the population that is well publicized, but otherwise the majority is white, upper-middle class.

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.

Sports are very important at...

Sports are very important at Amherst. It seems that most students are involved in some sport at some time in their college career.

My experience at Amherst has been...

My experience at Amherst has been great! I would come here again.

The buses are free but are...

The buses are free but are sometimes unreliable and do not run as often as one would like.

The police are strict about the...

The police are strict about the rules but do not actively search for offenders. Just be smart, don't cause problems, and you will be fine.

Freshmen can't bring a car, but it...

Freshmen can't bring a car, but it isn't hard to find parking in general.

It's really cold, so bring a coat.