Tell me about Amherst

[Anonymous]

Does your child like school socially? I worry it is too isolated. Seems like the fun would be at UMass Amherst and that would clearly not be a walk to get over there. Also what kind of internships did your child secure while there. We want to be open to other parts of the country but also want to make sure we don’t get an “I am bored” call a few months in when tbe fun seems to be large schools. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I don’t have personal experience with Amherst but I’ve heard the social life is very intimate. If your child wants city life or lots of diversity in options for fun I would stay away

[Anonymous]

Alumni here. It’s an awesome school but yes small. You can be really academic and needy and will have plenty of friends just like you. There’s also a big athlete scene but they’re also all very good students. I always recommend Amherst to folks considering a SLAC but hesitate now because of how crazy they went over COVID. Maybe give it another couple years to see if they don’t revert to their insane policies.

[Anonymous]

Amherst is for fancy kids. Rich kids. Snobby kids. Private school kids. Pampered kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alumni here. It’s an awesome school but yes small. You can be really academic and needy and will have plenty of friends just like you. There’s also a big athlete scene but they’re also all very good students. I always recommend Amherst to folks considering a SLAC but hesitate now because of how crazy they went over COVID. Maybe give it another couple years to see if they don’t revert to their insane policies.

You anti-vax people simply can’t help yourselves. It’s pathological.

[Anonymous]

If your idea of fun is beer-guzzling frat boys or a sorority rush, then go to a large school

[Anonymous]

Lots of colleges (5 or 6) & entertainment/dining options in the area. Transportation to town may be available, but not sure due to Covid practices.

There have been a couple of racial incidents in the past few years among students. One involved players on the lacrosse team, a stabbing at a school sponsored dance quite a few years ago, but the tension / divide remains. Google "racism at Amherst College".

Great academics, outstanding reputation. Strives for socioeconomic & racial diversity, but this causes division and misunderstandings among the students.

Overall, Amherst College is one of the best schools in the country academically and one of the richest when measured by endowment-per-student.

Geographically, the area is a wonderful place for college students to spend 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amherst is for fancy kids. Rich kids. Snobby kids. Private school kids. Pampered kids.

Then it’s a perfect fit for the DCUM crowd, lol. Amherst has one of the most diverse student bodies. Just google it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alumni here. It’s an awesome school but yes small. You can be really academic and needy and will have plenty of friends just like you. There’s also a big athlete scene but they’re also all very good students. I always recommend Amherst to folks considering a SLAC but hesitate now because of how crazy they went over COVID. Maybe give it another couple years to see if they don’t revert to their insane policies.

You anti-vax people simply can’t help yourselves. It’s pathological.

Found the coronabro!

[Anonymous]

It has a strong pipeline to consulting if your kid might be interested in business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alumni here. It’s an awesome school but yes small. You can be really academic and needy and will have plenty of friends just like you. There’s also a big athlete scene but they’re also all very good students. I always recommend Amherst to folks considering a SLAC but hesitate now because of how crazy they went over COVID. Maybe give it another couple years to see if they don’t revert to their insane policies.

You anti-vax people simply can’t help yourselves. It’s pathological.

She’s not referring to requiring a vaccine. People who think these level of restrictions were reasonable (nearly 2 years in to the pandemic and post widespread vaccine availability) for a population that is statically among the lowest risk are the ones who are pathological.
https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/08/amherst-college-students-object-to-covid-restrictions.html?outputType=amp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alumni here. It’s an awesome school but yes small. You can be really academic and needy and will have plenty of friends just like you. There’s also a big athlete scene but they’re also all very good students. I always recommend Amherst to folks considering a SLAC but hesitate now because of how crazy they went over COVID. Maybe give it another couple years to see if they don’t revert to their insane policies.

You anti-vax people simply can’t help yourselves. It’s pathological.

She’s not referring to requiring a vaccine. People who think these level of restrictions were reasonable (nearly 2 years in to the pandemic and post widespread vaccine availability) for a population that is statically among the lowest risk are the ones who are pathological.
https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/08/amherst-college-students-object-to-covid-restrictions.html?outputType=amp

That is crazy and completely irrational. It does make one question the overall judgement of the folks in charge there.

[Anonymous]

OP sounds like she's already made up her mind but I will play along. I have a junior who likes the challenging academics, strong relationships with professors (not TAs) and active social life. Likes the fact that it is open curriculum. Has had no trouble finding research or internships both at Amherst or outside. Only complaint is food not great. It's a large college town (quick walk from the college) with several other nearby colleges where you can cross register. Certainly not as rural as the other SLACs we visited such as Middlebury, Hamilton, Williams, etc. OTOH, I also have a kid a large university who also likes it there. It all depends on the kid and the fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alumni here. It’s an awesome school but yes small. You can be really academic and needy and will have plenty of friends just like you. There’s also a big athlete scene but they’re also all very good students. I always recommend Amherst to folks considering a SLAC but hesitate now because of how crazy they went over COVID. Maybe give it another couple years to see if they don’t revert to their insane policies.

You anti-vax people simply can’t help yourselves. It’s pathological.

She’s not referring to requiring a vaccine. People who think these level of restrictions were reasonable (nearly 2 years in to the pandemic and post widespread vaccine availability) for a population that is statically among the lowest risk are the ones who are pathological.
https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/08/amherst-college-students-object-to-covid-restrictions.html?outputType=amp

PP alumni here. Yes it went way beyond vax mandates. I supported vax mandates when we believe they reduced transmission but think they’re pointless and divisive at this point. (My whole family is vaxxed btw). It was just crazy what the college did. They literally banned socializing for like an entire year. It was very much akin to the China approach for a long, long time. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alumni here. It’s an awesome school but yes small. You can be really academic and needy and will have plenty of friends just like you. There’s also a big athlete scene but they’re also all very good students. I always recommend Amherst to folks considering a SLAC but hesitate now because of how crazy they went over COVID. Maybe give it another couple years to see if they don’t revert to their insane policies.

You anti-vax people simply can’t help yourselves. It’s pathological.

She’s not referring to requiring a vaccine. People who think these level of restrictions were reasonable (nearly 2 years in to the pandemic and post widespread vaccine availability) for a population that is statically among the lowest risk are the ones who are pathological.
https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/08/amherst-college-students-object-to-covid-restrictions.html?outputType=amp

PP alumni here. Yes it went way beyond vax mandates. I supported vax mandates when we believe they reduced transmission but think they’re pointless and divisive at this point. (My whole family is vaxxed btw). It was just crazy what the college did. They literally banned socializing for like an entire year. It was very much akin to the China approach for a long, long time. .

To say they banned socializing or they were akin to China's approach is just fearmongering and gaslighting. You may not agree with the policy, but Covid is still killing millions of people not to mention the huge wave of long Covid that is going to hit our society over the next few years. For those who don't believe in vaccines or masking, go elsewhere.