hoveringmom

This might be a ridiculous question to some, but my daughter's guidance counselor is steering her away from Amherst because, he says, it's "very preppy"--meaning mostly white, privileged, concerned with external status, with fitting in and wearing the 'right' expensive clothes, etc. He says that because it's so small, she runs the risk of being miserable because she wouldn't 'fit in.'

I realize you don't know my daughter and can only speak in generalities. But on the whole, do you think this is true? Academically, Amherst sounds PERFECT for my daughter, and she has an excellent chance of getting in.

However, my daughter is indeed a 'free spirit' sort---very artistic, sings, writes (has just revised her fantasy novel for the third time, in which she has a made up language), wears her own style of clothes, speaks her own mind although she is softspoken, couldn't care less about 'fitting in,' although she loves her friends, doesn't value materialistic 'things' and so on.

I'm sure this sounds facile, but I hope you know what I mean--do you think my daughter has a chance of being happy at Amherst? We do plan on visiting, but visiting can give you only so much info. I would be grateful for any thoughts, but mostly from those who already go there, or whose children already go.

Modadunn

The impression I have from those I know who go to Amherst is certainly on the preppy side, but this said, it is also the most quirky of all schools where very few care about "fitting in" and instead are on their own trajectory.

Duke99

your D sounds like REED material.

'rentof2

Enjoy your visit! Amherst is lovely. My kid is about as far from preppy as you can get and he's very, very happy there - now a sophomore. Is he poorer than a lot of kids? You betcha. But there are others there that have much less, too. He has found that in practical fact, it doesn't make much difference. People are people, and Amherst is full of very interesting people.

Amherst's history is varied. It use to be an enclave for the sons of the wealthy and influential. Before that it was founded as an "institution of higher learning for the education of indigent young men of piety and talents for the Christian ministry" -- a college for the poor.

It's now an interesting blend of students from all over the country and the world, and students with diverse talents (maybe not so much piety, these days ), ambitions, and interests. I think there's certainly a presence of students from well-to-do professional families, but likewise there are kids from less-advantaged and wildly varied backgrounds.

I think sometimes people see what they're looking for. I've read posts here where people talked about all the high-end cars they see around campus. I didn't notice them, but then I didn't notice many cars at all, and certainly am not interested enough in cars to notice makes and models. What I saw was a beautiful campus, some very kind and helpful students who went out of their way to help a confused-looking prospie son and his mom navigate their way around. The admissions office staff was warm and welcoming. I don't doubt there are probably some expensive cars around, and no doubt some students with money that let it be known. I don't think it sets a any kind of dominant tone around campus, and certainly my kid from the funky, down-to-earth, rural Pacific Northwest has felt at home there from the first moment. He has friends there with more affluent backgrounds than his own and friends with less. I don't think he concerns himself at all with that -- they are his friends because of the kind of people they are. To stereotype people because they have more is not different than stereotyping them because they have less.

I know one thing I loved about Amherst, is how they open their arms to you even knowing your student may be going to require special resources -- economic, academic, cultural, etc. I must say I didn't feel more welcomed at single school we visited.

But when you go for your visit you will have your own experience. I wouldn't put too much stock in what the guidance counselor says though.

'rentof2

By the way, disagree about Reed for your daughter. Amherst is a better atmosphere for a creative kid. Amherst has a kind of brilliant but relaxed, well-rounded kind of student personality. Reed's environment can be far more intense and self-consciously intellectual. That's not a bad thing, but it's certainly not for everyone. (I know quite a number of Reedies and former Reedies.)

hoveringmom

Wow, thank you for these thoughtful responses! I'm going to show them to my D. I definitely think she should apply--

vossron

Coincidently, the Reed president is an Amherst grad; he jokingly says he remedied that by going to Reed. Reed is indeed intense, akin to Swarthmore and UChicago in that respect. Visiting both Amherst and Reed could be helpful, each at opposite ends of the preppy scale, each excellent in its way.

'rentof2

Yeah, I agree that Swarthmore and UChicago are good comparisons with Reed. Although my kid is at Amherst, as Oregonians we have known many more kids who've had experiences of various kinds with Reed.

OldbatesieDoc

What about Bard or even better , Oberlin...Amherst is a great school, but we thought it very stuffy...The main thing going for it-other than the name and the endowment-is the 5 college thing. We even visited twice, because our first visit was not good, and we couldn't believe it matched the school's reputation. Second visit(as an athletic recruit) did not leave a better impression.

kwu

Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report

Amherst is one of the most socio-economically diverse of the top liberal arts colleges. 18 percent of Amherst undergraduates are Pell Grant recipients--that is, 18 percent of students at Amherst are attending on full rides. This statistic doesn't even take into account that a significant proportion of international students (who make up ~10 percent of every incoming class) is here on a full ride as well. 54 percent of students receive grant-based financial aid.

The State of Black Student Freshman Enrollments at the Nation’s Highest-Ranked Colleges and Universities

Amherst is also one of the most ethnically diverse of the top liberal arts colleges. 48 percent of the students in the Class of 2012 are either men and women of color, or international students.

Amherst isn't preppy, and there isn't a "mold" to fit. It is as "preppy" as the other liberal arts colleges and the Ivy League schools, in the sense that all of them were bastions of white privilege at some point in the history of their existences. But, this is no longer the case, as you can see.

'rentof2

Kwu is totally right. I'm not sure what a person would find "stuffy" about it, but everyone has their own responses to a place.

Just a note on Pell recipients, though, my son is one of those Pell recipients but is not getting a "full ride". I have NO complaints about the incredibly generous financial aid at Amherst. I am full of gratitude and my son knows we expect him to donate generously as a future alum. (And he's committed to doing so!) There are though, Pell recipients whose families also pay a portion of the costs, as well as those students being expected to contribute summer earnings as well as work during the term. The Pell grant is awarded on a sliding scale. The highest available amount is somewhere around 5K/yr. There are recipients though that receive smaller amounts based on the family's income and assets. Perhaps those receiving full Pell grants get a "full ride" -- I don't know, although I assume they are also expected to work summers and during the school year. Other families, like ours, still stretch like most everyone else to make those tuition payments, albeit reduced ones. Amherst makes it do-able, though, and the students will be able to graduate without debt. If I was a religious person I'd say "and God bless them for it!"

mpnsoft

People often see what they want to see. And interpret one another’s comments in the same vein. My youngest daughter is a freshman at Amherst. She has always avoided & condemned superficial and materialistic peers. She doesn’t buy expensive clothes. (Yes, we can afford them.) And the fastest way to turn her off is with your concerns about “status.” She is a dedicated musician & athlete, loves Amherst, and has made great friends from diverse backgrounds over the past few months. I do know her friends come in a variety of colors – and no doubt that many (including white lest you misinterpret my point) receive substantial financial aid. I’m sure you can find students afflicted with the “snob” gene anywhere – including Amherst. But stereotyping an entire student body? Wow. Please don’t judge the school based on those comments. If you review Amherst’s enrollment stats, you’ll find they’re likely quite diverse as compared with your local college (38% students of color according to the September 2008 enrollment stats posted on their website).

BTW, the day we moved her in to her dorm, there was an extremely diverse set of families on campus. And everyone was excited… together. Your daughter may find she shares more similarities than differences among her peers at this school.

unalove

This is just a general comment given my very limited experience with Amherst (I got flown over here by the UChicago reference.) My best friend in the whole wide world is a Lord Jeff, and while he might look "traditional" or "preppy," in that athletic/social/poli sci major way, he's got a weird streak a mile wide (he would have to, he's my best friend, after all.)

I think he would agree that Amherst has somewhat of a "traditional" personality, but, like any elite school, it's a dump for the kinds of kids who spent a lot of time reading interesting books and doing interesting things in high school. So there are all types.

OldbatesieDoc

Of course anyone who has gone there or had a child there is going to say it isn't "stuffy" or "preppy". Of course it is a great LAC. Just trying to share a non-positive impression, no personal attack meant. My son didn't like either of his 2 visits at Amherst. He didn't feel welcomed. The Admissions person who gave the talk couldn't answer a question from the audience if there was a synagogue or Hillel on campus. The tour guide was terrible. Just putting it out there for the mill...

'rentof2

Fair enough, OldbatesieDoc. (Love your screen name.)