Amherst College Visit Report by phanatic

Visit Activities:

Campus Tour: Yes - Our tour guide was cheerful and witty. She pointed out a lot of interesting features of the campus, but could definitely have handled questions better. The tour seemed to barely cover the campus.

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Campus:

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The tour guide was friendly, but everyone else seemed a little annoyed to see the tour.

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The woman in the admissions office who helped facilitate the tour was friendly, efficient, and engaging. She made me feel comfortable.

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It's very pretty there, and seems to be well-kept.

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The buildings we saw (Charles Pratt dorm and the Museum of Natural History) were very modern and pleasant while maintaining the old-fashioned Amherst architecture. It was a clean and pleasant campus.

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We only saw one dorm, and it was clearly the newest one, but the rooms seemed large, carpeted, and comfortable. The lobby was gorgeous--hardwood floors!

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There didn't seem to be anything to worry about at Amherst as far as security was concerned, and the guide assured us that the college had both a blue-light system and a security escort patrol.

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Simply put: I liked it, but I wasn't crazy about it.

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Off-Campus:

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Very pleasant--old-fashioned New England town.

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Further down the road were plenty of other stores and places to hang out that would probably help a college student relieve campus boredom.

Campus Visit Notes for Amherst College

Visit Description:

I liked Amherst, but it felt like people were not as engaged as they could have been. Perhaps it was because it was relatively early (it was a nine o'clock tour), but I did not hear students walking around and chatting; those who did move about the campus tended to stick to themselves. Students who saw our tour kind of rolled their eyes, seeming to have forgotten that they were once prospective students. This gave the campus a bit of an unfriendly vibe.

The mountains in the distance are gorgeous, and the campus seems well-kept. I was very impressed by the lack of Greek life on campus and the efforts Amherst has made to address the potential gap that could have been created (i.e. Campus Center).

Overall, my impressions were mostly positive, but I can't say it is the best college I have visited. It just didn't feel like home.

Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:

Courtyard Hadley Amherst (423 Russell, Hadley, MA).