Amherst College Top Questions

Not really; although there are certainly plenty of rich New England kids, most people here don't fall into strict categories in terms of the kinds of people they'll socialize with

It is accurate to some extent--getting into Amherst is significantly harder than staying there. The classes range from quite manageable to extraordinarily difficult, and require varying amounts of time, which does not always correlate to the level of difficulty. While grade inflation does exist (students say that "you have to TRY to fail out of Amherst"), maintaining a high GPA is also very difficult and requires hard work and, as much as I hate to say it, some good old-fashioned “smarts”.

Yes and no...Amherst does have a fairly liberal student body, but the conservative presence on campus if also heard and most students are open to critical debate. Certainly the admissions statistics attest to the college's elite nature, but the student body is in no way ELITIST.

There are some students like that, but for the most part, I was shocked at how mult-talented, smart, athletic, and socially-adept the students were. I thought that since I played sports in high school and wasn't into really nerdy stuff, that would make me WAY cooler than all the students at Amherst, but I was wrong, Amherst students are just as cool and normal as people anywhere else, except they are really smart too.

Some are, some are more than others. Depends on the person.

the majority by far do not fit that stereotype. of course those kids exist on campus, but you'll find that clique virtually anywhere you go.

Half true. There are plenty of geeks here but I'd say half the population here are kids who socialize and go out on a regular basis. Also, there are tons of student athletes here, it seems almost everyone plays something.

For the most part these stereotypes are true. Many Amherst students are liberal, however there are a fair number of conservative students as well. The opportunity to voice your political opinion is certainly present, but it's also accepted not to voice your views. For the most part many Amherst students are well-rounded and participate in a lot of activities. I am a member of the swim team, and the majority of my teammates are also involved in other activities requiring significant commitments.

All of these types exist here (as they would any other prestigious college), but there are plenty of students here who are "unique". We have our hippies, our fanboy and fangirl geeks, our druggies, our activists, our sports fanatics, our political nutsos, our fashionistas, and our average, everyday lovable freaks. It's all good.

while it's true that many students here are very wealthy and come from elite prep schools, it's not fair to associate the stereotype with the actual character of students here. For the most part, everyone here shares deep intellectual curiosity, a common set of values, and an extremely strong desire to succeed. Whether or not they go about their daily lives in pearls and collared shirts is somewhat irrelevant, unless you are unable to see past such superficialities. Amherst is very liberal, but there is a core of conservative professors and students that really balance out the political climate here. and, going along with the prep school stereotype, amherst is a lot more conservative than people think due to the population of rich white kids.

I think both ends of the spectrum are true and that some, but definitely NOT all athletes follow some typical athlete stereotypes (not as smart, cocky, etc). But i've also met some of the nicest people here who happen to be athletes. It might appear to an outsider that these stereotypes hold true, but i think that would be the excception more than the rule. so, no, the stereotypes are not entirely accurate. the awkward this is pretty true, people look down as they walk to avoid people. it's stupid they should just say hi, there's nothing awkward about that.

There is some truth to the bubble stereotype. Being at Amherst gives a sense of security and gives students a place where discussions about politics and race are common. The liberal stereotype is true in that political views are often very liberal and the tolerance level for other races, sexual preferences, etc. is high. However, it's not as liberal as say a Wesleyan University in which alternative lifestyles seem to actually be very visibly present. Finally, I don't think that the students here are pretentious or have any academic snobbery. Like any small liberal arts school the students are extremely intelligent, but no one is trying to rub that in anyone else's face. There's no sense of huge competition between students. It's a very relaxed place to learn.

no a large part of the campus is made up of athletes

Yes

These stereotypes are completely false. Amherst College gives an amazing amount of financial aid, and there is a lot of racial and class diversity.

To a certain extent.

Not entirely. It is an incredibly small school, it's true, and the five colleges don't make it feel any larger, despite what they like to say; however, the intimate atmosphere in classrooms and personal relationships that develop with teachers more than makes up for the claustrophobia (not only do your teachers know you, but they talk about you with each other. For instance, my political science professor this year had heard my name from talking with my art history teacher from last semester while they were walking their dogs together). I think that the sense of entitlement is not necessarily true or anymore pronounced than it would be at any top college in the United States. I have met some of the most down to earth people here, and I think it just depends on what people you choose to surround yourself with, as it would anywhere. It was also a lot less preppy than I expected it to be. WAY less preppy than some other schools.

i love the small classes, the caring professors, the interesting students, all the fun stuff to do on campus. i'm very happy with the 'small liberal arts college' environment that I find here. that said, from watching my friends try to get into grad schools and get jobs after graduation, I've realized that the school doesn't do as much as students assume it will to help them figure out what to do after college. also, when I went abroad last year, I was challenged in ways that my Amherst professors never challenged me. so I think I now feel like Amherst is easier/more lenient than most students think it is when they?re in the middle of Amherst (since we're constantly told that our school is one of the most academically rigorous in the country.)

It is accurate to some extent--getting into Amherst is significantly harder than staying there. The classes range from quite manageable to extraordinarily difficult, and require varying amounts of time, which does not always correlate to the level of difficulty. While grade inflation does exist (students say that "you have to TRY to fail out of Amherst), maintaining a high GPA is also very difficult and requires hard work and, as much as I hate to say it, some good old-fashioned ?smarts?.

Absolutely not - we're not preppy as people think. Sure, you'll see a few popped up collars and people whose last names match half the dorms here, but they're a rarity. Most of the people are down to earth, and if they're rich, you don't know it. People don't drive rich cars, and the campus is pretty diverse racially.

Generally. We're more liberal in word than in deed.

The Five College stereotypes are greatly overblown. Most of them are limited to brief encounters with Amherst students. But Amherst students are certainly goal oriented and focused on their studies. Compared with other similar colleges, the stereotypes are true. Amherst does maintain its uniqueness through culturally and socially active students. The school funds many of their pursuits. Finally, the on campus stereotypes hold water very consistently.

Invoking the spirit of a cheerleader, I have to say that I love my school, but the reputation is somewhat true. Amherst is the type of place that you need a positive attitude for. Complaining about the lack of interesting things to do or people to meet means that someone hasn't really put themselves "out there." Being miserable in your room only hurts the situation further. I am also a firm believer in getting away from the campus for a break, you always appreciate Amherst more.