Is Amherst College more liberal or conservative?
I've been doing some research on different colleges, and I'm a little confused about Amherst. I keep seeing people say it's a super liberal environment, but then once in a while I read comments that there’s some diversity of thought.
I’m someone who leans pretty moderate, maybe a little left of center, and I want to make sure I fit in wherever I go. I’m also kind of interested in student political organizations and campus debates. Does Amherst have a reputation for being very left-leaning? Or are there enough conservative or moderate students where it doesn’t feel overwhelming if you disagree with the majority?
If anyone there could give some examples of what it’s actually like, especially for discussions in class or social stuff, I’d really appreciate it.
I’m someone who leans pretty moderate, maybe a little left of center, and I want to make sure I fit in wherever I go. I’m also kind of interested in student political organizations and campus debates. Does Amherst have a reputation for being very left-leaning? Or are there enough conservative or moderate students where it doesn’t feel overwhelming if you disagree with the majority?
If anyone there could give some examples of what it’s actually like, especially for discussions in class or social stuff, I’d really appreciate it.
4 months ago
•
92 views
Lily Fang
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Amherst College is very liberal. The majority of students and professors are progressive/left-leaning.
There are conservative groups on campus, like the Amherst College Republicans, but they are definitely a minority and likely experience pushback for their beliefs.
For the most part, this divide doesn't manifest itself in the classroom unless you're in political science courses I imagine (I was a math and French major and am progressive).
However, there are sometimes widespread protests, such as Amherst Uprising in 2015 (https://amherststudent.com/article/seeing-double-what-is-amherst-uprising/), and those can certainly be a big part of campus life for their duration.
If you're more moderate, you probably wouldn't feel alienated, but I would definitely say that conservative students would.
There are conservative groups on campus, like the Amherst College Republicans, but they are definitely a minority and likely experience pushback for their beliefs.
For the most part, this divide doesn't manifest itself in the classroom unless you're in political science courses I imagine (I was a math and French major and am progressive).
However, there are sometimes widespread protests, such as Amherst Uprising in 2015 (https://amherststudent.com/article/seeing-double-what-is-amherst-uprising/), and those can certainly be a big part of campus life for their duration.
If you're more moderate, you probably wouldn't feel alienated, but I would definitely say that conservative students would.