Questions from a prospective ED applicant

driftwood
Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:31:29 +0000

I’m becoming more certain every day that I want to apply early to Amherst. It’s not based on an overwhelming vibe I felt on campus, but after thinking about it for a while and comparing it to the other schools I’ve seen, I think it’s a better fit than any of the other schools I’m looking at. I love the size, the open curriculum which will allow for me to double major easily, the location, the town, the campus, and the close-knit student body. I was wondering if current students or parents of students could answer a few questions that I have, some relating to doubts I have about the school and others just general questions.


What would an “Amherst experience” be like for someone who participates in no sports, intramural or varsity? How would that impact social life, etc.?
Do students take advantage of all the extracurricular options available, or are extracurriculars an afterthought to academics and athletics?
I know the “preppy” stereotype is not at all representative of the student body, so could someone talk about what the student body IS like? I don’t think I’d be comfortable with a divide between preppy and artsy, as I’m sort of in between.
The off-campus fraternities…what’s up with those? Big influence, small influence?
Speaking of which, since there aren’t fraternities, what’s the social scene like? Is it mostly dorm parties, or what?
How easy is it, really, to double major?