Amherst Overenrolled

Cre8tive1
Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:19:46 +0000

Don’t worry, we have housing for up to 1800 students at Amherst without making dorm life uncomfortable.

As far as course instruction and teaching, the only effect this tends to have are:

1) Upperclass courses get overenrolled: Amherst freshmen tend to be adventurous with the open curriculum and take the same courses that juniors and seniors have waited 3 years to take. However, classes are still capped, so class sizes are unaffected and freshmen have an advantage b/c virtually every big name faculty that has overenrolled courses (Sarat, Corrales, Bassler, etc.) enjoys freshmen.

2) Intro-level sciences, economics, and law get cramped - You get the sense that everyone in freshmen class intends to be pre-med, pre-law, or a polysci-econ double major. This translates to endless freshmen pre-registrations for these courses (Intro Econ, Intro Chem, Social Org of Law, Intro Pysch especially). My advice, intro to econ will always be there, social org. of law is the only intro offered only in the fall, so take it, it will significantly harder to get into as a sophmore. The rest of the intro courses will always be there.

Only thing I would have any concern about are peak meal time crowds at Valentine, our only dining hall, and athletic facilities, especially in the winter. Club sports and intermural basketball are extremely popular in the winter competing for space with the winter varsity teams and spring varsity training. If you want gym facilities, even a treadmill, for personal use…GOOD LUCK getting in the way of all those teams. If their are any young politicans and civic leaders in the freshmen class, feel free to join the Amherst Senate and help address some of these issues.

But best advice, don’t worry, don’t stress, don’t lolly your hours around on Facebook inquirying about every nook and cranny in Class of 2011 and Orientation. Sit back, relax, and think more about the issues and specific, topics, activities you care about in life…Amherst is lot better for students when they have an idea about what they like, value, and want to do with life.