Hey everyone! How are you guys doing? This is Rachel again.
I hope everyone is staying cool and doing well in this hot summer weather — whether you’re at home, on campus, or somewhere in between. Today, I want to talk a bit about what it’s been like being a rural student at Amherst and some of the efforts we’ve been a part of to help rural students feel a stronger sense of belonging here.
Before coming to Amherst, I was really worried that I wouldn’t belong academically. I didn’t know if I was prepared for such a challenging environment. I wasn’t confident I could do well in classes, and I had no idea what resources I was supposed to use. But honestly, that fear started to fade as soon as school began.
Attending different kinds of panels, getting emails about support resources, going to the Writing Center, and hearing professors encourage us to attend office hours and ask questions all made a huge difference. I realized I wasn’t expected to have all the answers, but I was expected to reach out, try, and learn.
Some of you already know this (or maybe didn’t!), but Amherst College recently joined the STARS College Network (Small Town And Rural Students). This is a pretty exciting national partnership between 16 top colleges and universities, including Amherst, aimed at helping students from rural and small-town backgrounds get to college, succeed while they’re here, and graduate feeling supported.
The STARS Network was launched with a gift from Trott Family Philanthropies. The goal is to address some of the unique barriers rural students often face, such as fewer school resources, limited access to college counselors or prep programs, and fewer opportunities to visit campuses. Colleges in the network are working together to help bridge that gap.
As part of this effort, Amherst created a brand-new role last year: Rural Student Ambassadors. I’m incredibly grateful to be one of them.
We’ve been involved in a few different projects, but one of our main goals is to connect directly with prospective students from rural backgrounds. One way we’ve done that is by reaching out to campus tour guests who identify as rural and offering to meet with them before or after their visit. I got to chat with a student who had a lot of questions about social life and academics. I shared my own experiences with resource centers, clubs, and what weekends usually look like here. It was a great reminder of how helpful it can be to hear from someone who’s been through it.
This past April, Kara (another ambassador) and I also gave a virtual tour for admitted rural students who couldn’t make it to campus. It meant a lot to be able to offer them a glimpse of Amherst and help them imagine what life here could be like.
One of my favorite moments from the year was during BAM, or Be A Mammoth, which is Amherst’s big spring event for admitted students. We hosted a s’mores night just for rural students and invited everyone from small towns or rural communities to join. I got to meet people from all over, including a few from Colorado, and it was such a fun, relaxed space to hang out and connect. You could really feel the excitement and relief of meeting others with similar backgrounds.
If you’re a rural student thinking about Amherst, or already on your way here, just know that there’s a place for you. We’re working hard to make that place even stronger, more welcoming, and more visible. You belong here, and we’re excited to welcome you.