What in the world is with the Amherst hate?

Anonymous
Amherst gets way too much hate for how strong it actually is. It’s easily one of the top liberal arts colleges—honestly better than Pomona or Williams in many ways.

It’s need-blind for international students, has incredible financial aid, and one of the most diverse student bodies among elite schools. The open curriculum and access to the Five College Consortium make it academically unmatched.

People underrate Amherst because it’s less flashy, but by the numbers—and by outcomes—it’s a clear leader. Stop sleeping on it.
Anonymous
Let’s be real—Williams is still the gold standard for liberal arts colleges. The academics, alumni network, and tutorial system put it in a league of its own. The idea that Amherst somehow “beats” Williams is a stretch.

And Pomona? Please. It benefits from the California name and the 5C branding, but take away the weather and consortium and it’s mid at best. It doesn’t have the same intellectual culture or rigor. It’s more like a small West Coast hybrid than a true LAC.

As for Amherst—it's solid, but it’s definitely overrated. The open curriculum is a double-edged sword, and a lot of people overhype the “diversity” angle without looking at depth of scholarship or faculty engagement. I'd honestly put Haverford above Amherst. Haverford's honor code, academic intensity, and intellectual seriousness make it a true LAC standout. Amherst is lucky to still be in the top 6, let alone top 4.

Let’s not confuse prestige with substance.
Anonymous
Almost any hate of any college can be traced to envy or rejection.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Almost any hate of any college can be traced to envy or rejection.


Something is up with the fixation on trashing it. Why would someone without a kid there claim any sort of expertise about how it does or doesn’t suck, much less care enough to trash it?
Anonymous
Welcome to DCUM.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Amherst gets way too much hate for how strong it actually is. It’s easily one of the top liberal arts colleges—honestly better than Pomona or Williams in many ways.

It’s need-blind for international students, has incredible financial aid, and one of the most diverse student bodies among elite schools. The open curriculum and access to the Five College Consortium make it academically unmatched.

People underrate Amherst because it’s less flashy, but by the numbers—and by outcomes—it’s a clear leader. Stop sleeping on it.


Amherst is a great school, but no need punch down on Williams and Pomona to make the point. I’d add Bowdoin to the mix of these peer schools given its low acceptance rate, low % of ED admits and grad school placement.

These are strong institutions, just different in location and “personality”.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Amherst gets way too much hate for how strong it actually is. It’s easily one of the top liberal arts colleges—honestly better than Pomona or Williams in many ways.

It’s need-blind for international students, has incredible financial aid, and one of the most diverse student bodies among elite schools. The open curriculum and access to the Five College Consortium make it academically unmatched.

People underrate Amherst because it’s less flashy, but by the numbers—and by outcomes—it’s a clear leader. Stop sleeping on it.


Amherst is a great school, but no need punch down on Williams and Pomona to make the point. I’d add Bowdoin to the mix of these peer schools given its low acceptance rate, low % of ED admits and grad school placement.

These are strong institutions, just different in location and “personality”.


+1. The self awareness is not strong with this one.
Anonymous
There are a lot of low class losers here with degrees from satellite campuses of tier 3 state schools (how was college in Altoona?) who get their jollies out of being contrarians and getting a rise out of people. Ignore them. They probably couldn't find Amherst on a map and despite thinking their kids are so smart they will end up at the same places they went to.
Anonymous
There is at least one prolific poster on here who thinks it’s their job to rehabilitate the reputation of Ivies. Their approach is to trash some Ivy alternatives, like elite LACs and Southern schools.
Anonymous
I’ve never heard Amherst hate.
Anonymous
Williams grad whose kid liked Amherst better when they toured. It’s so hard and I’m still trying to get over it. (Note the sarcasm). Amherst is great and congrats to all who get in and best to all who attend.
Anonymous
it was a terrible tour for us, the worst one by far. but that's neither here nor there. I dont see much Amherst hate here.
Anonymous
The Amherst booster(s) is insufferable. Cue the hate. The overly enthusiastic nonsense this person, or these individuals, is spewing comes with a corresponding backlash. Amherst may well be a good school but it’s not comparable to Harvard or Stanford and the insinuations that it’s superior need to stop.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:it was a terrible tour for us, the worst one by far. but that's neither here nor there. I dont see much Amherst hate here.

+1 DC couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Unfortunately, the campus is located in the middle of nowhere so it took a long time.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Let’s be real—Williams is still the gold standard for liberal arts colleges. The academics, alumni network, and tutorial system put it in a league of its own. The idea that Amherst somehow “beats” Williams is a stretch.

And Pomona? Please. It benefits from the California name and the 5C branding, but take away the weather and consortium and it’s mid at best. It doesn’t have the same intellectual culture or rigor. It’s more like a small West Coast hybrid than a true LAC.

As for Amherst—it's solid, but it’s definitely overrated. The open curriculum is a double-edged sword, and a lot of people overhype the “diversity” angle without looking at depth of scholarship or faculty engagement. I'd honestly put Haverford above Amherst. Haverford's honor code, academic intensity, and intellectual seriousness make it a true LAC standout. Amherst is lucky to still be in the top 6, let alone top 4.

Let’s not confuse prestige with substance.


The real rankings put Richmond ahead of Haverford.
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