Time Management: High School Vs. Amherst

When a few students from the upcoming Class of 2029—fellow QuestBridge matches like me—reached out to me on Instagram asking for advice on time management at Amherst College, I knew exactly what to share. In high school, I thought I had time management all figured out. Classes were predictable, extracurriculars rarely overlapped, and everything fit…Continue Reading Time Management: High School Vs. Amherst

Until We Meet Again

I still remember the first day I met Eva and Weixin––one of the first friends I made at Amherst. We were sitting at the lounge of Bank of America, waiting to open our bank accounts. I learned that Eva is an exchange student from Yonsei University and Weixin is from Japan. That day was kinda…Continue Reading Until We Meet Again

Recommended Museums Near Amherst

If you love museums, you will enjoy Amherst because there are many places you can visit. There are two on-campus museums that you should definitely check out:  Mead Art Museum Mead houses the Fine Arts collection at the college, which includes a variety of art to enjoy: American and European paintings, Russian art, Mexican ceramics, Assyrian…Continue Reading Recommended Museums Near Amherst

Navigating Travel as an Amherst International Student and an International Journey to Japan

In this blog post, I hope to share a glimpse into my journey as an international student traveling back home for winter break. For many of us at Amherst College, one of the most pressing concerns isn’t just the excitement of the holidays but also the logistics of transit. When I first arrived in the…Continue Reading Navigating Travel as an Amherst International Student and an International Journey to Japan

The Christmas Season

“All I want for Christmas is you~” As Mariah Carey “defrosted,” the Christmas season is finally approaching! Maple Tree Lighting On December 6, my friends and I went downtown to witness the 50-plus-year-old tradition of lighting a living maple tree in the Town Common. There was a market beside selling cute Christmas souvenirs, delicious snacks,…Continue Reading The Christmas Season

College Application Tips

Building at Amherst at sunset

As someone who applied to TWENTY colleges (yes, twenty!) I feel as though I have a good sense of how to frame powerful applications. If you’re a first generation student or had parents who did not attend college in the United States (like me), this process may seem very daunting. Even if those don’t apply…Continue Reading College Application Tips

The One And Only Val

Do you know that Amherst has only one dining hall, Valentine Hall? More lovingly known as Val by the Amherst community, Valentine Hall is where most students stop for meals. Whenever my friends ask if I’m going to lunch/dinner, I know right away that they are asking whether I will be at Val. After all,…Continue Reading The One And Only Val

The Secret Life of College Study Breaks: What I’ve Learned from Wasting Time

study space

In the beginning, I thought that “wasting time” was the ultimate college sin. Like many first-year students, I entered Amherst with an intense desire to prove myself—overwhelmed with assignments, a packed schedule, and a mountain of expectations. Every moment of downtime felt like a wasted opportunity. If I wasn’t studying or doing something productive, I…Continue Reading The Secret Life of College Study Breaks: What I’ve Learned from Wasting Time