Is Amherst College considered rural?
I'm starting to research colleges and keep seeing different things about Amherst College's location. Some people say it's a small town, others call it rural, but then I've also heard it's near other colleges so it doesn't feel totally isolated?
I'm wondering if anyone who's visited or goes to Amherst can share what the vibe is really like. Does it feel super rural compared to other schools in Massachusetts or New England, or is there enough going on in the area to feel more like a college town?
I care a lot about being able to get off campus and find local things to do, so I'm trying to figure out if Amherst's area would be a good fit for someone like me.
I'm wondering if anyone who's visited or goes to Amherst can share what the vibe is really like. Does it feel super rural compared to other schools in Massachusetts or New England, or is there enough going on in the area to feel more like a college town?
I care a lot about being able to get off campus and find local things to do, so I'm trying to figure out if Amherst's area would be a good fit for someone like me.
4 months ago
•
62 views
Lily Fang
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Amherst is in a classic college town, and I would call it more rural/suburban as a 2018 grad. The town of Amherst has a population of 30,000, and UMass Amherst itself has around 30,000 students (not included in the census unless they're locals).
The town itself has plenty of restaurants and you can also take the buses to get to Holyoke Mall (where there are shops and a movie theater) and Northampton (where Smith College and lots of other local shops/restaurants are).
You can also go on some hikes in the Mount Holyoke range, and a couple are accessible by bus.
Outside of campus, you'll quickly find farmland, and that's what why I would call it a mix of rural and suburban. You do have easy access to grocery stores and chains, but you just as easily will find cows and farms.
It's not the most interesting place in the world to go to school, but it is beautiful, and you can take a bus to Boston in around 3 hours if you need your fix of bigger city life.
The town itself has plenty of restaurants and you can also take the buses to get to Holyoke Mall (where there are shops and a movie theater) and Northampton (where Smith College and lots of other local shops/restaurants are).
You can also go on some hikes in the Mount Holyoke range, and a couple are accessible by bus.
Outside of campus, you'll quickly find farmland, and that's what why I would call it a mix of rural and suburban. You do have easy access to grocery stores and chains, but you just as easily will find cows and farms.
It's not the most interesting place in the world to go to school, but it is beautiful, and you can take a bus to Boston in around 3 hours if you need your fix of bigger city life.
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