Congratulations to those admitted to the Class of 2029! As you start imagining what life will be like here, I wanted to share a bit about one of the resources that has made my Amherst experience so much more academically manageable.
You might hear the phrase “writing-intensive” thrown around when people describe Amherst’s curriculum, and it’s true. Regardless of your major, you’ll probably write a lot here. But if that sparks any anxiety, know that you won’t be doing it alone. The Writing Center, staffed by professional, non-student associates, and housed in the library, is a really valuable resources at Amherst. Whether you’re in the initial brainstorming phase for a paper, writing a job application, or dealing with minute grammatical details, the Writing Center’s associates are there to help. And it’s not just for humanities or social science majors. I’ve seen people in all disciplines, even the STEMmiest, come by for support.
Writing Center associates aren’t just there to correct grammar (though they’ll help with that, too); they ask thoughtful questions that push you to clarify your ideas. Freshman year, when I was just getting my footing in essay writing, I often brought in just a draft of a thesis statement and they structured a brainstorming session to turn a thesis sentence and a bunch of ideas into an outline. This semester, I have a penciled in time every Friday to bring thesis progress, which has been a great way to set short-term deadlines and get support as I go.
The Writing Center also hosts workshops and provides writing resources. This winter break, I participated in a thesis writing retreat, which included breakfast and coffee and three hours every morning of quiet work alongside other thesis writers, with a check-in before and after to set goals and reflect on the writing process. Having a writing community (even a mostly silent one) and an accountability space is a big deal when you’re in the midst of drafting and a lot of your ideas are still tied up in your head.
For those of you who are already thinking about how you’ll navigate college-level writing, consider checking out the Writing Center’s resources online. And once you’re here, don’t hesitate to make an appointment, even if you just want to chat through an idea or get a handle on what a college professor expects in a paper. Especially in your first year, it can be an indispensable resource while transitioning from high school to college writing.
If you have any questions about life at Amherst, whether it’s about the writing center, student life, or anything else, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to chat and help you get a sense of Amherst. Until next week!