Amherst College is one of the most prestigious and highly ranked liberal arts colleges in the United States. Founded in 1821, Amherst College had a humble beginning as an all-male school with just 14 students and two faculty members. Today, Amherst boasts a student body of over 1,800 undergraduates from around the world who come to study in its renowned academic programs.
Located on a sprawling 1,000-acre campus in western Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley, Amherst offers more than 30 majors and interdisciplinary concentrations across four divisions: Humanities & Arts; Natural Sciences & Mathematics; Social Sciences; and Interdisciplinary Concentrations. Within each division are diverse departments that offer rigorous coursework coupled with unique experiential learning opportunities such as research collaborations with faculty mentors or internships at local businesses or organizations.
In addition to its award-winning academic programs, Amherst has long been known for fostering an inclusive community focused on developing leadership skills among its students both inside and outside of the classroom setting. Students have access to many extracurricular activities including performing arts groups (like theater companies), competitive sports teams (the Purple & White are NCAA Division III champions!), robust student government initiatives (like our Community Engagement Projects program which encourages civic engagement) along with numerous clubs devoted to areas like service work or spiritual practice.
The college’s commitment to diversity extends beyond campus boundaries into nearby towns—Amherst works closely with local leaders on issues related to economic development projects that benefit both communities through meaningful partnerships. From mutual aid agreements between neighboring universities during times of crisis such as natural disasters or public health emergencies, there is ample evidence that this dedication towards creating strong bonds has allowed for increased collaboration between schools throughout New England regionally and nationally too!
Finally, alumni from Amherst can be found making notable contributions around the globe – leading Fortune 500 companies, working within government agencies tackling global challenges like climate change mitigation efforts – but no matter where they go what remains true is their pride in being part of this amazing institution!