Amherst College
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- Really small classes. Eighty-nine percent of my classes have fewer than thirty students, and my average class size is sixteen. No sleeping in the back of the room, guys—you'd better be ready to chat with your professors.
- Financial aid. I'm really serious about giving financial aid. I meet the demonstrated need of any admitted student, and you're not required to take out a loan if you get aid. I'm proud of having need-blind admissions and I give really generous scholarships. If you're a good match for me, I don't want money to get in the way.
- Open curriculum. This means I don't waste time with a lot of required classes. I want you to be free to pursue your passions. Let's be honest: if you're here, you probably have a lot of them.
- I'm five colleges. That's really important. I share a few departments with other schools and you can get certificates in subjects that you can't get just anywhere. Think of the libraries. Five colleges worth of libraries, people.
- Diversity. I'm really proud of all the different cultures in my student body. I make a big effort to ensure that not all of my students are the same.
- Clubs and sports. I have an amazing variety of them—over a hundred, in fact. Do you like rugby? I love rugby. How about a cappella? I love a cappella. (They don't call me the "singing college" for nothing.) Let me know what you're interested in, because I promise, I've got a club for you.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- Comfortable winter boots, for winter walks into town for a cup of coffee at the Black Sheep or Rao's. It may be cold outside, but the coffee is worth it. Hey, while you're at it, pick up a famous slice of Antonio's pizza.
- Snow gear—you'd better bring some. Mittens are crucial for building snowmen in the Freshman Quad, and there's a huge hill right off the quad that's perfect for sledding.
- A good backpack. You might be taking the bus to class at another school.
- Anything purple and black to wear to one of my many sporting events. Not purple and gold, okay? Those two colors are not allowed together.
- The phone number for D.P. Dough Calzones: 413-256-1616. You might get hungry if you're writing a paper at midnight.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- I guess I was the road less traveled—poet Robert Frost taught here for over forty years.
- Emily Dickinson's grandfather was one of my founders. Her family lived in town and many of her family members were really involved in my early history. You can still go visit her house—it's actually closer to campus than a few of my dorms.
- Noah Webster (you know, the dictionary guy) was another one of my founders.
- Speaking of famous founders, look for me in the funny pages: comic strip artists.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
Since nearly everyone lives on campus, most of the fun happens—you guessed it—on campus. Weekly parties are hosted in dorms, but some dorms are more "social" than others. There's always the option of exploring one of my five college siblings, but when it comes down to it, I'd rather be at home. I like to check out the activities at the campus center, which hosts movies and music, but usually I'm in a dorm, either hanging out in my room or visiting friends.
Favorite Hangouts:
- The Keefe Campus Center. Where else can I get food and my mail?
- Valentine Dining Hall, the one and only on-campus dining option.
- The rugby pitch, also known as the football field, the basketball court, the hockey rink, the tennis courts...depending on the season.
- Frost Library, centrally located for all your serious studying needs.
- Antonio's Pizza. Once you've had a slice of their BBQ chicken pizza, you'll find plenty of excuses to walk into town for more.
Quirks:
- I have zero general course requirements, other than a single freshman seminar. Just fulfill the requirements of your major, and you're good to go.
- I don't take credit for AP exams. I know you had to take a lot of them to get here. Sorry. Since I don't have general course requirements, they kind of defeat the purpose.
- I'm serious about going green, and I'm kind of a tree-hugger—I have 500 acres of land in my wildlife sanctuary.
- I started my life as a men's college, but went co-ed in 1975.
- I banned fraternities in 1984, but they didn't leave quietly. Many of my dormitories are converted frat houses and students still call them by their old frat names.
Famous Alumni:
- U.S. President Calvin Coolidge
- Prince Albert II of Monaco
- Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code
- Bill Amend ("FoxTrot") and Darby Conley ("Get Fuzzy") are both comic strip artists and Amherst alums. Check out the purple and white Amherst hat on FoxTrot character Peter Fox's head.