Okay, so real talk — when I first started looking at colleges, I was hyper-focused on the “important stuff.” You know, majors, rankings, academics, the whole serious checklist. But no one really tells you that it’s the tiny, random, sometimes silly things that end up making a campus feel like home. For me, Amherst is full of those little gems — things I didn’t even know to look for when I was applying. From free food (yes, FREE) to massages during, to a petting zoo (??), Amherst has this way of sprinkling unexpected joy into the everyday. So, if you’re wondering why people fall in love with this place, let me show you just a few of the little reasons that make Amherst shine.
Pop-Up Petting Zoo
Yep, you heard me — a petting zoo, casually chilling on campus. Every now and then, especially during midterms, REW surprises us with little stress-busting events, and this one takes the cake. Picture this: you’re power-walking to the Science Center, mind racing about that upcoming exam, and suddenly… bunnies, ducks, guinea pigs, and more are just there, waiting for you to cuddle them. I swear, nothing melts away academic stress faster than hugging a fluffy bunny between classes.
Massages During Finals?!?!?
Reading period is genuinely one of the most stressful YET a bit underrated parts of the semester. CAB and Wellbeing step up big time with free massages, arts and crafts, and other small but meaningful events designed to keep us sane while writing those 15-page papers or prepping for exams. It’s not just a “good luck” — it’s “we’re here for you.”
Bubble Tea at Almost Every Event
Everyone loves free food, and one thing you’ll quickly discover when you come here is that almost every event offers some kind of free food and bubble tea. It’s a guaranteed way to get people to show up and get excited. I mean, who doesn’t love free boba?
The Community + Free Use of the Kitchen
My friends and I love making the most of the halls with kitchens — Sunday mornings are our favorite for crepes (huge shoutout to Liam for making the best ones!). It’s such a fun way to hang out, share some laughs, and cook a meal together. Nothing feels more like Amherst than finding your people and making these little moments count.
Free Laundry
This one’s pretty straightforward. My main advice is to always wash everything on the delicate cycle and try to do your laundry on a weekday. Weekends are usually the busiest, so if you go during the week, you won’t have to wait around for other people to finish.
Events that AAS Plans
Not to brag or anything but I am really close to a few people on AAS who plan really cool events. A couple days ago we had a rage room!!!
I have way more but these are just a few things that Amherst does that I think are very cool!