Frequently Asked Questions

When will my summer mailings arrive?
When do I register for courses?
When will I learn my housing assignment and roommate?
When can new students move in?
When does Orientation begin?
How long should my parents stay?
Should I get a cell phone?
Where should I bank?
Will there be a chance to go shopping?
When can I use my Amherst e-mail account?
When will I get my Amherst I.D.?
Where can I get proof of enrollment for insurance?

Q: When will my summer mailings arrive?

A: The "May Mailing is actually mailed out in late May, so you should expect to receive it in early June. For those who need online access to those forms, they will be posted on the website starting May 1 and will be available as pdf files. The summer reading assignment will be mailed out in early June, information about off-campus trips during Orientation will be mailed out in early June, and roommate assignments, post office boxes and a final informational packet will go out in early August.

Q: When do I register for courses?

A: During the summer, you will receive a packet with information about First-Year Seminars, and you will fill out a sheet indicating your preferences. This is the only course you will register for prior to arriving on campus. This mailing will also include a form called the "Academic Portfolio" which will assist us in assigning you an advisor, but is not used to assign classes. On the second day of Orientation, Monday August 25, you will meet with a faculty advisor to discuss your interests and choose your fall semester courses.

Q: When will I learn my housing assignment and roommate?

A: Residential Life will mail out housing assignments and roommate information in mid-August.

Q: When can new students (first-year and transfer students) move into dorms?

A: New students can move in on August 24, 2008. Keys will be available in Converse Hall during the welcome morning, and after that will be available at the Campus Police department which is open 24 hours.

Q: When does Orientation begin?

A: Orientation begins the morning of August 24 and officially ends on the first day of classes, September 2, although activities continue throughout the first week of classes.

Q: How long should my parents stay?

A: We have events scheduled for parents during the day on Sunday, August 24 and in the morning on Monday, August 25. Events scheduled after lunch on Monday are for students only.

Q: Should I get a cell phone?

A: The majority of students use cell phones. When purchasing a phone and plan, you should check with the carrier to verify that they have coverage in the Amherst area.

Q: Where should I bank?

A: There is a page of "General Information for New Students" in your May Mailing and after May 1 available online as a pdf . It lists local banks and their telephone numbers. There is an ATM machine in the Campus Center, which charges a fee for use.

Q: Will there be a chance to go shopping?

A: There are two mall trips during Orientation, and local buses make hourly trips between Amherst College and the nearby shopping centers.

Q: When can I use my Amherst e-mail account?

A: In mid-June, your e-mail account will be activated and our IT department will mail you your username and password, and instructions for logging on and using your Amherst e-mail.

Q: When will I get my I.D.?

A: You will receive your I.D. in your New Student packet which you will receive on the first day of Orientation in Converse Hall. By July 1, you should have submitted a passport-sized photo to our Public Affairs Office, which will be used to create your student I.D.

Q: I need a "proof of enrollment" letter certifying my status as a student at Amherst College for my parents' health insurance. Where do I get that?

A:Please complete the "Certification Request Form" available on the Registrar's Office website: http://www.amherst.edu/~registra/.