What Makes Amherst Unique––from a first-year, international student’s perspective

Memorial Hill at sunset

Over the winter break, I went back to Shanghai and met some close friends studying at universities in the U.S. (West & East Coasts), Canada, and Hong Kong. As we all just started our college journey, we shared about our first semester experiences. From these conversations, I’ve summarized some points that made Amherst College unique….Continue Reading What Makes Amherst Unique––from a first-year, international student’s perspective

Adapting to Food at Amherst — An International Student’s Guide

A kitchen counter full of cooking ingredients for International Student Association cooking event

Coming from Vietnam where the things we eat are very different from typical United States dishes, I had a difficult time adapting to food at Amherst. While I’m extremely grateful for the food I get here, I find myself skipping meals a lot because they are just so different from what I’m used to eating…Continue Reading Adapting to Food at Amherst — An International Student’s Guide

Snow Days at Amherst

A picture of the First-Year Quad blanketed with a layer of snow on the ground.

Some might question the point of writing this blog, but I think that it answers one of my biggest questions about coming to Amherst/College in general. How/when do snow days happen? Being from the other side of Massachusetts, I knew it would snow, but I also knew that out west here around Amherst, it snows…Continue Reading Snow Days at Amherst

First Semester Reflection

Hello everyone! With the second semester already in session I’ve been taking some time to reflect on my journey through my first semester as a first-year student. From navigating new academic challenges to adjusting to college life and building a sense of community, these past few months have been a whirlwind of growth, discovery, and…Continue Reading First Semester Reflection

Let’s Talk About The Open Curriculum

Frost Library in the fall

Disclaimer: This blog post only shares my personal encounters with the Open Curriculum after one semester at Amherst. It does not reflect the experiences of everyone at Amherst, and my thoughts about the Open Curriculum may look different in the future! I don’t think people at Amherst talk about the Open Curriculum that much. As…Continue Reading Let’s Talk About The Open Curriculum

Reflecting on My First Semester at Amherst College — On-Campus Employment

Hello from Japan, as I write this blog post, I am packing my suitcase to head back to Amherst. In this blog, I wish to continue from my blog series of reflecting on my first semester, this time on the topic of on-campus employment at Amherst College. In this blog, I hope to offer you…Continue Reading Reflecting on My First Semester at Amherst College — On-Campus Employment