Amherst Economics Major

Amherst students are stereotyped as very liberal, intelligent, preppy, rich and white.

Most kids here don't really seem to fit that stereotype.

This school is very small, and it will be a big change to some people, especially to people whose high school is bigger than Amherst. If you know that you want to be really involved in a cultural group or that you want to meet different people all the time, then don't come to this school. By the time you've spent one year here, you'll know a lot of people and they will know you, for better or for worse.
Town is small, but the restaurants are great. There's a lot of space to walk and hang out with people. If you're looking for the excitement and pace of a big city, Amherst is not the school for you. If you like small, intimate environments, then come here.
Some Amherst students are definitely activists, but most students don't tend to be very incendiary. Some outlets of thought on campus are the Indicator, the Amherst Student and online forums.
Amherst is a very prestigious school, mostly because of the quality of the professors and the motivation of the students. That said, most people here tend to be fairly laid-back, and they do have lives outside of studying.

An advantage that you'll hear over and over again about Amherst is that the size allows for really dedicated professors and interesting classes. It's absolutely true. However, don't expect small classes your freshman year because intro courses tend to be very large.
A good way to talk to your professors is through e-mail and office hours. I would give greater priority to e-mail because most professors tend to check their e-mail regularly whereas office hours may conflict with your class times. But if you can make it to office hours, you absolutely should go. Professors tend to explain things better one-on-one (who doesn't?) and they are always happy and excited to see students.
The best departments on campus would have to be econ, LJST, poli sci, and psychology. I haven't heard much about the humanities and sciences, but there seem to be good concentrations of professors in pretty much every department. There is encouragement to try varied areas of study so that you have a balance and come out well-rounded, despite the open curriculum. Although graduates do get good jobs or highly coveted spots in top grad schools, the emphasis here is on learning and applying, not on being marketable on the job market. Most students here do go on to grad school eventually, so for most people, their degree from Amherst won't be the one that determines their career.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GUEST SPEAKERS AND THE COLLOQUIA!!!!! We have some really awesome people come talk to us. This year we had John Bolton, Wesley Clark, Andrew Bacevich, Joseph Stiglitz, several political strategists, authors, artists, etc.

The student body is surprisingly diverse for such a small school. However, because of the size of the school, ethnic/cultural organizations don't put on huge events and tend to host parties or small food events throughout the year. Many students tend to self-segregate into their ethnic/racial groups although everyone has friends who are very different from them. Mainly, you see one major divide at Amherst: white, preppy kids on one side and everyone else on the other. That doesn't mean that people aren't friends across this divide, it's just that everyone tends to spend time with their own kind.
Most people have opinions on politics and society, (even if their opinions don't seem that intelligent) and most people tend to be moderate to liberal.
Kids on this campus are not hippies but they're also not all jocks. It might surprise you to talk to a person you thought you had categorized and find that they don't fit the mold at all.

A lot of people play sports (whether competitively or club) and a lot of people also participate in a cappella groups, which are huge on campus. People are also very involved in campus publications such as the Olio (yearbook), Amherst Student (newspaper), the Indicator, and others.
During freshman year, you'll tend to be friends with the people in your own dorm. The best time to meet people in other dorms is during orientation week. Honestly, you don't want to associate exclusively with people in your dorm. Branching out is very helpful and refreshing so that you always have someone you can talk to in the dining hall.
Social scene is so-so. TAPs (The Amherst Party) are put on by Social Council and they can vary from really good to super crowded and disgusting. Some of the best parties are put on by students orgs, and the music tends to be better. There isn't much pressure to drink, unless you hang out with people who put that pressure on you. It's college, and everyone respects everyone else's decision for the most part.
Most weekends there are parties, movies, performances, etc. to keep you busy. Also, going into town to a restaurant or taking the bus to the Hampshire Mall to watch a movie is a way to get off campus.
There are no frats or sororities on campus.
As far as dating goes, some people are in relationships, whereas a lot of other people just hook up at parties. The common culture doesn't seem to be one of looking for long-term relationships.

Food is decent and most of the dorms are really nice. Definitely better than the average campus.