Amherst College, Amherst, MA
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Driving through the corn fields of western MA, you arrive in a quaint New England town, where excellent coffee and international cuisines are plentiful. Home to 35,000 residents who are politically aware and culturally engaged. Just before town you arrive at Amherst College, a 2,000 acre hilly campus, where lifelong learning resides, and no boundaries are known. Known as a “baby Ivy”, it is one of 5 colleges in the area that are as different as the colors black and white but share their education with each other that broadens all of their horizons.
• Private
• Undergraduate enrollment – 1,836 (All students are undergraduate)
• Admit rate – 13%
• Financial Aid forms required – FAFSA, CSS Profile
• Retention rate – 97%
• Mid 50% SAT/ACT range – 700-790/29-35
• Student to faculty ratio – 8:1
• Open curriculum
• 35% of students double major
• Many students create their own interdisciplinary major
• Division III athletics
• 5 college consortium offers 6,000+ courses across all interests – 50% of Amherst students participate. Any student can cross register for courses at any of the 5 colleges
• Free bus system that transports you to all 5 colleges
• 35,000 students within a 10 mile radius
• Liberal arts curriculum
• 99% of students live on campus
• Average class size is 19 students
• Endowment is $2 billion
• 10% of students are international
• Value diversity
• 17% are first generation
• 80% of students go into graduate work
• Focus on reading, writing and critical thinking
• Research with Faculty very prevalent
• Only taught by professors with a PHD
• Open curriculum: No core or distribution requirements
• 3 requirements: Take 32 classes, fulfill 1 major, each major has about 10 – 14 classes, attend a first year seminar
• Take responsibility for your own education – Advisers are there to help
• 40 options for the First Year Seminar – Get a student acclimated to college course, with reading, writing, participation
• 45% of students study abroad, covered by any financial aid you have
• 150 pre-approved study abroad options and locations throughout the world
• The 5 college consortium allows students to join clubs and participate in productions at all 5 colleges
• Meet 100% of financial need for all students, including undocumented and international students
