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I've done a bunch of research about all my colleges, but i was wondering why you all have decided or are deciding to go to Amherst. I'm still deciding (i'm horrible at makign decisions...can't even decide what/where/when i want to eat, much less where i want to go to college) Anyways, if there is anything specific that drew you to this college, post it here, I'd much appreciate it!

By Smartnsweet (Smartnsweet) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 03:06 pm: Edit

good question .. I am interested too ...

By Jojo23497 (Jojo23497) on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 07:24 pm: Edit

Well, Esmereldasy and Smartnsweet - there is no easy answer to your questions. I just came back from the Open House at Amherst and had a truly awesome experience (coming from a southern california kid like myself, that means a lot). The students there were all really friendly and involved in their activities. I could sense that most of the students had the drive to push and make themselves better, thus forming a healthy competitive atmosphere (but definitely not cutthroat like at Wharton). Lots of students I met there happily chose Amherst over schools like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford - which demonstrates to me that the kids at Amherst are serious about learning and were willing to give up the Ivy league name for a school that more personally fulfilled their needs.
What really drew me to Amherst though was the interactions between professors and students - the professors take the time to get to know you (if you want them to) and are always available for extra help. Students at Amherst told me about having dinner party/study sessions at their professors' houses and having a bombass time (this intimate relationship w/ professors is great for recommendations for grad. school later on). One student told me a story that demonstrated the extent that the professors care for their students - he was really apathetic and lazy during the final exams and outright failed one of them; before he left for home the next day, the professor went out of his way to contact him and express his concern, saying that he knew the student could produce much better work. The professor let the student rewrite the final and gave him an A- instead of an F.
The campus was really quite lovely and the dorms were clean and spacious enough - I personally thought the food was awesome.
The social scene is fun enough - lots of parties if you like them, but lots of other things to do if you don't. Amherst is kinda secluded though, and for me that is its biggest weakness - but I think that the interaction between students from the other four colleges (UMass-Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Hampshire) really adds some social flavor into the mix at Amherst.
So, should you attend Amherst? I really can't say - but I believe that it is a school which will allow you to achieve your maximum potential, giving you much assistance along the way.