It's time to rethink college tours
Traditional campus tours feel impersonal and can leave you with more questions than answers. You’re just a face in the crowd following a scripted tour led by a random guide. Is this really the best way to make one of the biggest decisions of your life?
SchoolScoops is the smarter, more personal way to tour colleges
Private and personalized tours
With traditional tours you’re just a number in a big group, making it hard to ask the questions that matter most. With SchoolScoops 1-on-1 tours and video chats you can ask all the questions that are important to you.
Choose your own guide
On a typical college tour, the school assigns you a guide. SchoolScoops lets you pick a guide who matches your academic interests, hobbies, and personality. You'll get authentic insights and advice from someone who truly gets you.
No scripts, just scoops
Traditional campus tours are essentially a sales pitch—the guide works for the school and their job is to show you the highlights. SchoolScoops guides don’t work for their school, so there’s no sales pitch—just genuine advice to determine if the school is a good fit.
Find the school for you
Choosing where to go to college is a major decision and a huge investment. SchoolScoops 1-on-1 tours and video chats go beyond the basics to help you make a well-informed college decision.
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What customers are saying
Get to know Amherst College
Amherst College is a premier liberal arts institution recognized for academic excellence, close faculty-student collaboration, and a vibrant intellectual community, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, and fostering engaged global citizens.
Overview
Amherst College, founded in 1821, is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts. It offers an open curriculum with a wide range of undergraduate programs and emphasizes small classes and close faculty-student engagement.
Size
Amherst College has a total enrollment of approximately 1,900 students, all of whom are undergraduates, fostering a close-knit academic and residential community.
Acceptance rate
Amherst College has an acceptance rate of around 9%, making it one of the most selective liberal arts colleges in the country. Half of admitted students who submitted test scores have an SAT score between 1450–1550 or an ACT score between 33–35.
Cost
For the 2024 academic year, Amherst College does not charge tuition for students with family incomes below a certain threshold and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. Approximately 60% of undergraduates receive financial aid, with an average need-based award of over $60,000.
Ranking
According to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Amherst College holds the #2 spot among National Liberal Arts Colleges, based on widely recognized measures such as graduation rates, faculty resources, and student outcomes.
Academics
Amherst College offers more than 40 majors in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, with the flexibility of an open curriculum. It maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1, fostering close academic mentorship and personalized learning.
Traditions
Amherst College’s most cherished traditions include the annual City Streets Festival celebrating global cultures, the Homecoming bonfire on the Quad, the Winter Carnival, and the longstanding rivalry with Williams College, highlighted by the historic “Biggest Little Game in America” football matchup.
Campus landmarks
Amherst College’s most iconic landmarks include the stately Johnson Chapel at the heart of campus, the historic Frost Library, the scenic Mead Art Museum, the Beneski Museum of Natural History, and Memorial Hill with its sweeping views of the Holyoke Range—all reflecting the college’s rich history and picturesque New England setting.
Student body
Over 90% of Amherst College students come from outside Massachusetts, with a student body representing all 50 states and more than 50 countries worldwide, reflecting a strong commitment to geographic, cultural, and international diversity.
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Become a guideYour Amherst College questions, answered
Is Amherst as good as the Ivy League?
Yes—Amherst is considered on par with the Ivy League in terms of academic quality. Remember, the Ivy League is primarily an athletic conference, and even within it, some schools are more prestigious than others. If rankings matter to your dad, Amherst is currently ranked #2 among liberal arts colleges and often alternates between #1 and #2 nationally.
What GPA do you need for Amherst College?
Amherst College doesn’t have an official minimum GPA requirement, but most admitted students have a GPA of 3.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Competitive applicants typically excel in rigorous coursework such as AP, IB, or honors classes. While there’s no strict cutoff, a GPA below 3.0 would generally make admission highly unlikely.
What kind of students get into Amherst?
Amherst College has an acceptance rate of around 9–10%, making it highly selective. Among those who submitted test scores, half of admitted students scored between 1450 and 1550 on the SAT or 33 to 35 on the ACT. A quarter of admitted students scored above these ranges, while another quarter scored slightly below, showing that Amherst values more than just test scores—strong academics, intellectual curiosity, and meaningful extracurricular engagement all play a role.
What are the top 3 majors at Amherst College?
The most popular majors at Amherst College are Economics, Mathematics, and Psychology (with a focus on Research and Experimental Psychology). These fields consistently attract the most students and account for a large share of degrees awarded each year.
Is Amherst College religious?
No, Amherst College is not a religious institution. Although it was originally founded by Congregational clergy, it is now a fully independent liberal arts college with no formal religious affiliation.
Why is Amherst so popular?
Amherst is highly regarded for its close student-faculty relationships, supported by a low 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It’s also one of the few colleges that meet 100% of every student’s demonstrated financial need, making it more accessible.
What are Amherst students called?
Amherst students were historically referred to as the Lord Jeffs, named after Lord Jeffery Amherst, the town’s namesake. However, the college has since moved away from that mascot due to controversy surrounding his legacy. Today, Amherst’s athletic teams are known as the Mammoths.
How do you take a tour of Amherst College?
Amherst offers student-led campus tours that include a walk through the main academic and residential areas along with an information session about admissions and campus life. Visitors can also explore on their own with a self-guided tour or take a virtual tour online.
Does Amherst College offer private campus tours?
Yes, through SchoolScoops, you can book a private campus tour led by a student guide of your choice.
Interested in other schools?
SchoolScoops also offers tours and video chats at many other schools
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