Natasha

The best thing about Amherst is the people. The school brings together amazing people from all over the world. You really create friends for life. Another great thing is the small size. Its small enough so you know a lot of people, but just big enough so you don't know everybody. The town is great. There's everything you need, and an even bigger town just 15 minutes away. Not to mention the four surrounding schools.

The open curriculum is great. You are only required to take one course, the Freshman Seminar, and the topics are always interesting. The open curriculum lets you either focus on your major right away, or experiment and take different classes. The majors aren't necessarily geared toward getting a job. The college really emphasizes the liberal arts aspect of learning.

Amherst is extremely diverse. No student would feel out of place because there are students from all over the world and from all socio- economic groups. The campus is generally liberal, but a conservative side is slowly gaining more stride.

I met my closest friends through my sports team and in my dorm. You really meet your core friends in your freshman dorm. Since there is no greek life, the sports teams tend to create the party scene, but the parties are always open to everyone. The pressure to drink is not that strong because people do not put the pressure on you to drink if you don't feel like it. If I'm awake at 2 am on a tuesday, which i usually am, I'm in the common room hanging out with a few other people from my dorm.

Jocks, WASPy, generally good looking

Some of them, but Amherst is truly an extremely diverse college.

The food is not that good, and we only have one dining hall which can make for awkward moments on sunday mornings. Nevertheless, "awkward val" is a trademark of Amherst, that i wouldn't have any other way.