Amherst College Campus

Hear why Josh chose Amherst. He graduated in the fall and stayed on-campus to do research. We discuss his experience at Amherst, with notable points being the orchestra and academic atmosphere. Josh lives off-campus since he's graduated, but most enrolled students live on-campus all four years.

Amherst cons: 1. fickle weather 2. more rural location 3. academic pressure Amherst pros: 1. open curriculum 2. faculty relationships 3. buffet-style dining 4. spacious dorms/culture houses 5. study abroad resources 6. free music lessons for students on financial aid who have taken a music course

During the day, most of the Campus Center traffic is due to Grab n' Go (where students can get a quick, portable lunch) and the mail room. The Campus Center doesn't really feel like a hub of activity, but there are often club meetings here and people do go to Schwemm's at night for comfort food (the grab n' go area turns into a grille at night). Schwemm's will actually be renovated in Fall 2018 to become a college bar.

Converse is the building that houses the Office of Financial Aid, along with other important offices like the Fellowships Office and the registrar. You may also have classes or attend special events there. Several transportation services also stop in front of the hall.

Memorial Hill is arguably the most gorgeous and iconic part of campus. From the hill, you can see a distant blue mountain range that is a 20 min bus ride away, a great destination for hiking. Students flock to this hill for sunbathing and relaxing during the warm weather. Also a good spot for sledding in the snow.

Another view of the freshman quad and the mental health awareness event happening at the time of the video.

The freshman quad is the heart of campus; all the freshman dorms are located around it, as well as Johnson Chapel (used for ceremonies like convocation) and the main library. When the weather is nice, the quad is home to lawn chairs, groups of friends tossing frisbees, and special events like the mental health walk in the video.

Hui and I chat about her experience as an international student, especially the resources in place that Amherst has for students staying on-campus over breaks. We also discuss our experiences in the math department, which is known for a strong sense of collaboration amongst students.

A chat with Larissa, a German TA from Germany. Primary points include the academic pressure at Amherst as well as the strong sense of trust and security. Students often pressure themselves to achieve as much as possible, which can sometimes lead to feelings of inadequacy at a school with many talented people. In terms of safety, students can leave their belongings in the library for hours unattended without being worried about theft.

The "beach" is our affectionate name for the old science center patio/observation deck. It's a great hangout spot when the weather is warmer, offering tables and chairs with large umbrellas. Also a great place to watch the sunrise.

Hear why Josh chose Amherst. He graduated in the fall and stayed on-campus to do research. We discuss his experience at Amherst, with notable points being the orchestra and academic atmosphere. Josh lives off-campus since he's graduated, but most enrolled students live on-campus all four years.

Amherst's pool has special, somewhat restrictive hours for public swimming, so be sure to work your schedule out. It also has a skating rink with a handful of public skating days each year.

Amherst is transitioning to a new, multi-million dollar science center in Summer 2018. There is currently a lot of construction on-campus as a result. It's unclear what the old science center will be used for after the move to the new one.

Amherst's gym is pretty small, but it has everything you might need--treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, weight machines, etc. The gym is open throughout the day and is usually busiest in late afternoons. The training/athletic rehab center is also in the gym, and they not only help college athletes but also recreational athletes.

During the day, most of the Campus Center traffic is due to Grab n' Go (where students can get a quick, portable lunch) and the mail room. The Campus Center doesn't really feel like a hub of activity, but there are often club meetings here and people do go to Schwemm's at night for comfort food (the grab n' go area turns into a grille at night). Schwemm's will actually be renovated in Fall 2018 to become a college bar.

Amherst's campus center holds several resource centers, such as the study abroad office and women's and gender center. This is also the spot to go for grab n' go lunch and student mail. It doesn't, however, feel like a hub for student activity; it's not the go-to spot to hang out.

The freshman quad is the heart of campus; all the freshman dorms are located around it, as well as Johnson Chapel (used for ceremonies like convocation) and the main library. When the weather is nice, the quad is home to lawn chairs, groups of friends tossing frisbees, and special events like the mental health walk in the video.

A chat with Larissa, a German TA from Germany. Primary points include the academic pressure at Amherst as well as the strong sense of trust and security. Students often pressure themselves to achieve as much as possible, which can sometimes lead to feelings of inadequacy at a school with many talented people. In terms of safety, students can leave their belongings in the library for hours unattended without being worried about theft.