When applying to colleges, my biggest worry was whether I could handle the academics. Was the education I received at my public high school adequate compared to private schools? Would I be behind my peers? Was I smart enough to attend an elite college?
During my first month at Amherst College, I feared that admissions had made a mistake by admitting me. It took me longer to learn topics than my peers and I failed my first-ever test at the college in the notorious Chem 155 (Fundamental Principles of Chemistry). I thought that failing the test meant that I would be doomed for the rest of my academic career at Amherst and that I wasn’t smart enough to pass future tests.
This was a terrible mindset and I soon realized that it wasn’t my intelligence that resulted in my poor test performance and failure to grasp specific topics right away; it was my studying/learning methods that were the culprit. My high school techniques (memorization via Quizlet and reading over class notes) were not enough.
A few friends visited Amherst’s Strategic Learning Center and shared methods that have helped me think critically about topics rather than memorizing them and blindly following class notes. I started using new techniques such as blurting (writing down all the information you can remember on a topic and then comparing them with notes), the Feynman Technique (writing about topics as if you’re teaching them to someone else), mind mapping (organizing information in a diagram), and spaced repetition (breaking up study sessions over time). I also formed study groups with friends, attended TA hours, and met with professors during office hours to deepen my understanding of topics by asking follow-up questions.
Once I found studying and learning resources/methods that worked for me, I was able to perform better on tests and grasp the material better. I haven’t failed another chem test since!
Amherst offers many academic resources, outlined on their website, that have truly helped me. If you struggle with writing or essay brainstorming, there is a writing center that offers one-on-one sessions. If you want support with math and science courses, Amherst offers tutoring at the Quantitative Center. If you want guidance on organizing your schedule or to find effective study methods, you can visit The Strategic Learning Center. Amherst College doesn’t expect every student to understand topics right away. People have different educational experiences and learning methods that work for them. Every student at the college belongs and is capable of excelling academically.
If you’re worried about academics at Amherst, trust me when I say that the college will support you in any way they can. Yes, the academics are rigorous, but they will help you develop critical thinking skills that will serve you well beyond college. Don’t let fear of academic difficulty discourage you from applying.
Thank you for reading! If you have any questions about academics at Amherst College, or specific resources the college provides, or want study tips, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at ipatel28@amherst.edu.