Is it harder to get into Williams or Amherst?

Williams College is a harder school to become accepted to than Amherst. This reverses decades of Amherst College dominance at the top of the Liberal Arts Colleges. However, around 10 years ago Williams surged ahead and has not looked back!

Let’s dive into a comparison of the two schools!

Williams College – Griffin Hall. Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA.

Williams and Amherst are two of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the United States. Both institutions are highly selective and receive a large number of applications each year.

Rebellion Research’s CEO lecturing at Amherst College

Let’s explore the admissions process of both colleges and attempt to determine which institution is more challenging to gain admission to.

Is it harder to get into Williams or Amherst?

Rebellion Research talks with Amherst College Dean & Law Professor

Williams College, located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, a private liberal arts college founded in 1793. The college has an acceptance rate of around 12 percent, making it one of the most selective colleges in the country. The admissions process at Williams stands highly competitive. Furthermore applicants find themselves evaluated on a range of factors. Moreover, including academic achievement, extracurricular activities, leadership potential, and personal character.

Dartmouth College President Sian Beilock talks with Rebellion Research

The admissions committee at Williams looks for students who have a strong academic record and a demonstrated passion for learning. The college places a great deal of emphasis on intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a desire to make a positive impact on the world. Students who excelled in challenging courses and pursued a range of interests outside of the classroom become highly valued by the admissions committee.

Amherst College, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, is another highly selective liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of around 11 percent. Like Williams, Amherst evaluates applicants based on a range of factors, including academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and personal character. The college places a particular emphasis on intellectual curiosity, critical thinking skills, and a commitment to social justice and community engagement.

One key difference between the admissions processes at Williams and Amherst is that Amherst is test-optional!

As a result, applicants are not required to submit standardized test scores as part of their application.

Designed by Amherst to ‘level the playing field’ for students who may not have had access to test prep resources or who may have faced other barriers to standardized testing. However, it also means that the admissions committee at Amherst places even greater weight on other aspects of the application, such as the student’s essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities.

Our view is that this policy does not befit a super elite school. Rather frankly an example of another ‘soft’ woke policy implemented by an administration more concerned with playing politics than actually catching up to Williams.

Or maybe Amherst decided Williams is too far ahead in the race for the #1 spot? Amherst desperately needs strong leadership after Biddy Martin’s reign witnessed a fall in practically every meaningful comparison with Williams. But at least Biddy spent college funds on a famous photographer to take her picture. That clearly sets the right example. Rather an example of ‘blind ivory tower’ ruling. Which Amherst has witnessed for far too long.

Title Page to the Angevine Report.
Angevine Committee – http://wso.williams.edu/wiki/images/archive/c/c1/20060606170912!Angevine_Title_Page.jpg

Overall, it is difficult to say definitively which institution is more challenging to gain admission to, as both Williams and Amherst are highly selective and admit only a small percentage of applicants each year. However, there are a few factors that may give one institution a slight edge over the other.

For example, Williams has a slightly higher acceptance rate than Amherst, which could suggest that it is slightly less competitive. However, it is important to note that the difference in acceptance rates is relatively small, and the admissions processes at both institutions are highly selective.

On the other hand, Amherst’s test-optional policy to its defenders, make it slightly more challenging to gain admission. Thus, as it means that applicants must make an even stronger case for themselves through other aspects of their application. We disagree.

Additionally, Amherst’s emphasis on critical thinking, social justice, and community engagement may make it slightly more challenging for students who have not demonstrated a strong commitment to these values.

In conclusion, both Williams and Amherst are highly selective liberal arts colleges that admit only a small percentage of applicants each year. While there are some differences in their admissions processes, it is difficult to say definitively which institution is more challenging to gain admission to. Ultimately, both colleges are looking for students who have a strong academic record, a range of interests and talents, and a demonstrated passion for learning and making a positive impact on the world.

Portrait of Ephraim Williams Jr. (1715–1755) from The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Volume X, 1904

Is it harder to get into Williams or Amherst?

Let’s ask another question: is Middlebury an Ivy League school?

No, Middlebury College is not an Ivy League school. The Ivy League is a collegiate athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the northeastern United States. Middlebury College, on the other hand, is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont.

Middlebury College was founded in 1800 by Congregational minister Gamaliel Painter. It was originally chartered as a men’s college. But it became coeducational in 1883. The college has a rich history and has played a significant role in shaping the intellectual and cultural landscape of Vermont and the United States.

One of the defining features of Middlebury College is its commitment to environmentalism and sustainability. In 2006, the college became the first higher education institution to achieve carbon neutrality, and it has continued to prioritize sustainability in all aspects of its operations. The college also offers a number of academic programs in environmental studies and sustainability, and its campus features several eco-friendly buildings and facilities.

Middlebury College also became known for its strong language programs!

It was the first college in the United States to offer a degree in international studies, and it has a long-standing reputation for excellence in language education. The college offers courses in more than 50 languages, and students are required to complete a language requirement as part of their graduation requirements.

Another distinctive aspect of Middlebury College is its study abroad programs. The college operates its own study abroad programs in more than 40 countries, and it has partnerships with universities and institutions around the world. Middlebury students can choose from a wide range of study abroad options, including language immersion programs, environmental studies programs, and cultural exchange programs.

In recent years, Middlebury College has become recognized as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. It consistently ranks highly in national rankings, and it has produced a number of notable alumni, including Pulitzer Prize-winning author Julia Alvarez and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean.

In summary, Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Vermont. A rich history and known for its commitment to environmentalism, strong language programs, and extensive study abroad opportunities. While it is not an Ivy League school. Moreover, it became widely recognized as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States.

Let’s ask another question, is Pomona College an Ivy League school?

No, Pomona College is not an Ivy League school.

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Founded in 1887, Pomona College is located in Claremont, California. And is part of the Claremont Colleges consortium. Which includes several other highly respected liberal arts colleges. Pomona has a long and distinguished history of academic excellence and intellectual curiosity. And its graduates have gone on to achieve great success in a variety of fields.

Pomona’s academic programs designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and intellectual curiosity. The college offers over 45 majors and minors in a variety of fields, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Pomona’s faculty-to-student ratio is 1:8!

And the college became known for its highly engaged faculty who work closely with students in small seminar-style classes.

Pomona’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is another hallmark of the college. The school has long been a leader in promoting social justice and equality. And its student body is one of the most diverse and inclusive in the country. Pomona’s commitment to diversity becomes reflected not only in its student population but also in its curriculum. Which emphasizes multiculturalism, global citizenship, and social responsibility.

In conclusion, while Pomona College is not a member of the Ivy League. It became widely regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. Its academic programs, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and focus on intellectual curiosity and social responsibility make it a highly respected and sought-after college for students from around the world. Pomona College’s tradition of academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and social responsibility continue to make it a valuable institution in the American higher education landscape.

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Is Bowdoin College an Ivy League school?

Bowdoin College is a highly selective private liberal arts college located in Brunswick, Maine. Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has a long and distinguished history of academic excellence. And social progressivism that has made it one of the most highly regarded colleges in the United States.

While not a member of the Ivy League, many often compare to Ivy League schools due to a rigorous academic curriculum and highly selective admissions process.

Bowdoin consistently ranks among the top liberal arts colleges in the country and has produced numerous notable alumni, including several Pulitzer Prize winners, a Nobel laureate, and a U.S. president.

Bowdoin’s academic programs became designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and intellectual curiosity. The college offers over 40 majors and minors in a variety of fields, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Bowdoin’s faculty-to-student ratio is 1:9.

And the college became known for its highly engaged faculty who work closely with students in small seminar-style classes.

Bowdoin’s history is closely tied to the history of the United States, and the college has played an important role in many key social and political movements. In the 19th century, Bowdoin was a leader in the abolitionist movement and was one of the first colleges in the country to admit African American students. In the 20th century, Bowdoin became a center of student activism and counterculture, and many of its students and faculty were involved in the civil rights, anti-war, and feminist movements of the 1960s and 70s.

Today, Bowdoin continues to be a progressive institution committed to social change and civic engagement. The college’s Office of Community Service coordinates a wide range of community service projects and volunteer opportunities for students, and Bowdoin students are actively involved in local and national advocacy efforts on issues ranging from climate change to racial justice.

In conclusion, while Bowdoin College is not a member of the Ivy League, it is widely regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Its academic programs, commitment to social justice, and rich history of activism and social progressivism make it a unique and valuable institution in the American higher education landscape. Bowdoin’s tradition of academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and social responsibility continue to make it a highly respected and sought-after college for students from around the world.

Is Bowdoin College an Ivy League school?

Is Wesleyan University Ivy League?

Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts university located in Middletown, Connecticut. Founded in 1831, Wesleyan has a rich history of academic excellence and social progressivism that sets it apart from many other schools in the United States.

While Wesleyan University is not a member of the Ivy League. However, it is often compared to Ivy League schools due to its academic reputation and selectivity. Wesleyan has been consistently ranked as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News & World Report, and its alumni include Pulitzer Prize winners, MacArthur “genius grant” recipients, and other accomplished scholars and professionals.

Wesleyan’s academic programs are designed to foster critical thinking, creativity. And interdisciplinary exploration. The university offers over 900 courses in 45 majors and 14 interdisciplinary programs, and its faculty-to-student ratio is 1:8.

In the 19th century, Wesleyan was a leader in the abolitionist movement and was one of the first colleges in the country to admit African American students.

Today, Wesleyan continues to be a progressive institution committed to social change and civic engagement.

Is Wesleyan University Ivy League?

Is Swarthmore College Ivy League?

Swarthmore College is a private liberal arts college located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1864 by a group of Quakers who sought to create a college that would prepare students for a life of service and social responsibility. The college became named after the nearby town of Swarthmore. Named by early Quaker settlers after Swarthmoor Hall, the home of early Quaker leader Margaret Fell.

The early years of Swarthmore College were marked by financial struggles.

But the college managed to survive and thrive through the dedication of its founders and early faculty members. In 1906, the college was granted a charter by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which helped to solidify its status as a leading institution of higher education.

Over the years, Swarthmore College has become known for its commitment to academic excellence and social responsibility. The college has consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States, and has produced a number of notable alumni, including Nobel laureates, Rhodes scholars, and Fulbright scholars.

To be considered for admission to Swarthmore College, applicants must have a strong academic record, as well as demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and service. The college does not have a minimum GPA requirement for admission.

However, the average GPA of admitted students is typically in the range of 3.9 to 4.0.

In addition to academic performance, the college considers a variety of factors in its admission process, including extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation.

Overall, Swarthmore College has a rich history and a strong commitment to academic excellence and social responsibility. It has produced many accomplished alumni and continues to attract some of the brightest and most talented students from around the world.

Is Swarthmore College Ivy League?

What GPA do you need to get into Williams College?

Williams College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Founded in 1793, making it one of the oldest colleges in the United States. From its early beginnings as a small, all-male institution, Williams College has grown to become one of the top liberal arts colleges in the world.

To be considered for admission to Williams College, applicants must have a strong academic record, as well as demonstrate a commitment to extracurricular activities and community service.

While the college does not have a strict minimum GPA requirement, the average GPA of admitted students is typically in the range of 3.9 to 4.0. However, GPA alone is not the only factor that Williams College considers in its admission process.

Williams College uses a holistic approach to evaluating applicants. As a result, taking into account a wide range of factors beyond just grades. For example, the college considers the rigor of a student’s high school curriculum, their standardized test scores, their essays, and their letters of recommendation. Additionally, Williams College places a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities and community involvement, seeking students who have demonstrated leadership, creativity, and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.

In recent years, Williams College has become increasingly selective, with an acceptance rate of around 12%.

What GPA do you need to get into Williams College?

Is Duke in the Ivy League?

Education

Duke University is a highly respected private research university located in Durham, North Carolina. While it is not officially part of the Ivy League, it is often compared to Ivy League schools in terms of academic quality, prestige, and overall reputation.

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The Ivy League is a group of eight prestigious universities located in the northeastern United States, including Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University. These universities are known for their selective admissions process, rich history and traditions, and strong academic programs.

Duke University is often compared to Ivy League schools because it shares many of these characteristics.

Duke has a highly selective admissions process. Admitting only around 8% of applicants. As a result, which puts it on par with Ivy League schools in terms of selectivity.

Additionally, Duke has a strong academic program. With a faculty-to-student ratio of 1:6!

Furthermore, a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. In fields such as the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and medicine.

Duke is also known for its research capabilities.

Additionally, with a number of research centers and institutes dedicated to areas such as environmental studies, public policy, and health policy. The university has a strong focus on interdisciplinary research, encouraging collaboration across different fields and departments.

While there may be some differences between Duke and Ivy League schools, it is clear that Duke is a highly respected institution that is on par with many Ivy League schools in terms of academic quality, prestige, and overall reputation. For many students, Duke may be an excellent alternative to the Ivy League, offering a high-quality education with a strong focus on research, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to attend Duke or an Ivy League school will depend on a variety of factors, including a student’s academic interests, career goals, and personal preferences. However, for students who are looking for a top-tier education with a focus on research and innovation, Duke is a strong contender alongside the Ivy League schools.

Is Duke in the Ivy League?

What is the GPA to get into Duke?

Education

Duke Professor & Executive Director of Duke’s Master of Engineering in FinTech. & Master’s In Cyber Secruity Dr. Jimmie Lenz

Duke University is a highly selective institution, with an acceptance rate of just 8% for the class of 2025. As such, applicants to Duke must have a strong academic record, including a high GPA, in order to be considered for admission.

The average GPA of admitted students at Duke is around 3.9.

Yet, many feel without a differentiating factor, an applicant must boast a 4.1 GPA or higher.

However, it is important to note that GPA is not the only factor that Duke considers in the admissions process. The university also looks at other factors. Such as standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, essays. And letters of recommendation, when making admissions decisions.

In addition to a high GPA, Duke also looks for students who have taken rigorous courses in high school. This means that applicants should take challenging courses in a variety of subjects. Including advanced courses in their areas of interest.

It is also worth noting that Duke has a holistic admissions process. As a result, which means that the university takes a comprehensive view of each applicant. Thus, considering their academic achievements. Moreover, personal qualities, and potential for success at Duke and beyond. As such, a high GPA is important. But it is not the only factor that Duke considers when making admissions decisions.

What is the history of Duke University?

Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1838 as Trinity College. And it became renamed Duke University in 1924 in honor of James B. Duke, a wealthy tobacco magnate and philanthropist who made substantial contributions to the university.

During its early years, Trinity College struggled financially, but it began to gain a reputation as a leading institution of higher learning in the late 19th century under the leadership of President John Franklin Crowell. During this time, the college expanded its academic program, adding new courses in the sciences and humanities, and it also established a law school and a school of medicine.

In the early 20th century, James B. Duke became a major benefactor of Trinity College.

Moreover, providing significant funding that enabled the university to expand its facilities and programs. In 1924, Trinity College was renamed Duke University in honor of Duke’s father, Washington Duke, and the university continued to grow and evolve in the following decades.

During World War II, Duke played an important role in the war effort, serving as a training center for the U.S. Navy and providing research support for the military. After the war, Duke underwent a period of expansion, with the construction of new academic buildings, residence halls, and athletic facilities.

Today, Duke University is widely regarded as one of the leading universities in the United States, known for its strong academic programs, world-class research facilities, and commitment to social responsibility. The university has a student body of over 16,000 students and a faculty of over 3,000 professors, and it offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and medicine. With its rich history and reputation for excellence, Duke University continues to be a major force in higher education and research in the 21st century.

What is the GPA to get into Duke?

The average GPA of admitted students at Duke is around 3.9, which indicates that the university places a strong emphasis on academic achievement. However, it is important to note that GPA is not the only factor that Duke considers in the admissions process. The university also looks at other factors, such as standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation, when making admissions decisions.

In addition to a high GPA, Duke also looks for students who have taken rigorous courses in high school. This means that applicants should take challenging courses in a variety of subjects, including advanced courses in their areas of interest.

It is also worth noting that Duke has a holistic admissions process, which means that the university takes a comprehensive view of each applicant, considering their academic achievements, personal qualities, and potential for success at Duke and beyond. As such, a high GPA is important, but it is not the only factor that Duke considers when making admissions decisions.

Is Williams College as good as Ivy?

Education

How does the amazing liberal arts school stack up against the famed Ivy League?

Williams College, a highly respected liberal arts college, consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. While it is not technically part of the Ivy League. Though, many people still consider Williams College to be on par with Ivy League schools in terms of academic quality and prestige.

The Ivy League consists of a group of eight prestigious universities located in the northeastern United States. Furthermore, including Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University. In addition, the University of Pennsylvania. Princeton University. And Yale University. These universities became known for their academic excellence. Additionally, selective admissions process, and rich history and traditions.

While Williams College, not officially part of the Ivy League. Many often compare Williams to these institutions for several reasons.

Firstly, Williams College boasts a highly selective class. Moreover, admitting only around 12% of applicants each year. As a result, which puts it on par with many Ivy League schools in terms of selectivity.

Additionally, Williams College became known for its rigorous academic program.

Offering an amazing faculty-to-student ratio of 1:7!

Furthermore, a strong emphasis on critical thinking, writing, and research. These factors contribute to Williams College’s reputation as a highly respected institution of higher learning.

Williams College has also produced a number of notable alumni. Moreover, including three Pulitzer Prize winners, four MacArthur Fellows, and several political leaders and public figures. The college has a strong track record of preparing its graduates for success in a wide range of fields, from academia and the arts to business and public service.

While there may become some differences between Williams College and Ivy League schools.

Williams College stands as a highly respected institution. One that is on par with many Ivy League schools in terms of academic quality, prestige. And success in preparing its graduates for the future. For many students, Williams College may be an excellent alternative to the Ivy League, offering a high-quality liberal arts education with a strong focus on critical thinking, writing, and research. Ultimately, the decision of whether to attend Williams College or an Ivy League school will depend on a variety of factors, including a student’s academic interests, career goals, and personal preferences.

Is Williams College as good as Ivy?

What is the history of Williams?

Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Founded in 1793 with a long and distinguished history. As one of the leading institutions of higher learning in the United States.

Founded by Ephraim Williams Jr., a wealthy landowner and soldier who died in battle during the French and Indian War. In his will, Williams left a bequest of funds to establish a free school in his hometown of West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, with the condition that the school be named after him and that it be transformed into a college within four years of his death.

In 1793, the trustees of the Williams Free School opened the College of Williamstown, which was later renamed Williams College in honor of its founder. The college was originally a men’s college, but it became coeducational in 1970.

During its early years, Williams College struggled financially, and it was not until the early 19th century that the college began to gain a reputation as a leading institution of higher learning. In 1806, the college appointed its first president, Zephaniah Swift Moore, who transformed the college into a center of academic excellence. Moore emphasized the importance of classical education and established a rigorous academic program that focused on Greek and Latin literature, mathematics, and philosophy.

During the mid-19th century, Williams College continued to expand its academic program and facilities. In 1846, the college established a department of natural sciences, and in 1851, it opened a new building to house the college’s library and scientific collections. The college also added new courses in modern languages, literature, and history, and it began to attract students from across the United States.

In the 20th century, Williams College continued to grow and evolve. During World War II, the college established a naval training program, and it also began to offer programs in engineering and the sciences. In the postwar period, the college underwent a major expansion, with the construction of new academic buildings, residence halls, and athletic facilities.

Today, Williams College, widely regarded as one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the United States. The college has a student body of approximately 2,000 students. And a faculty of over 300 professors. And it offers more than 40 majors in a wide range of fields. Including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics.

In conclusion, Williams College has a long and distinguished history as one of the leading institutions of higher learning in the United States. Founded in 1793, the college has evolved over time, expanding its academic program and facilities to become a center of academic excellence. Today, Williams College remains committed to providing its students with a rigorous and engaging liberal arts education that prepares them for success in a rapidly changing world.

Is Williams College as good as Ivy?

What GPA do you need to get into Amherst College?

Amherst College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. It has a competitive admissions process, and the college evaluates a range of factors when considering applicants for admission, including academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and personal qualities.

While Amherst College does not have a set minimum GPA requirement, the average GPA of admitted students is typically very high. According to the Amherst College Common Data Set for 2020-2021.

The average high school GPA for admitted students was 4.12 on a 4.0 scale, which is well above an A average.

However, essential to keep in mind that Amherst College uses a holistic admissions process. And takes a comprehensive approach in evaluating an applicant’s overall academic record and achievements.

Apart from academic records, the college also considers other factors such as personal essays, letters of recommendation, and standardized test scores (either the SAT or ACT) to determine admission eligibility. The college also looks for applicants who have demonstrated leadership, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to their communities.

It’s important to note that although academic performance is a crucial factor in admissions decisions, it is not the only one. Amherst College seeks students who demonstrate a passion for learning and have a diverse range of interests and experiences. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to present themselves as well-rounded individuals with unique qualities, experiences, and perspectives that will add value to the college community.

In summary, there is no fixed GPA requirement for admission to Amherst College, but the admissions committee looks for highly motivated and academically talented individuals with a range of achievements and experiences. To increase your chances of admission, it’s essential to maintain a high GPA, take challenging courses, and showcase your unique qualities and experiences in your application.

What GPA do you need to get into Amherst College?

Amherst College Endowment : An Interview With Amherst College Endowment Chief Investment Officer Letitia Johnson

Is Middlebury an Ivy League school?

Amherst College Endowment : An Interview With Amherst College Endowment Chief Investment Officer Letitia Johnson : In today’s tangled global financial markets, Amherst College Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Letitia Johnson brings an international sensibility. Born in Singapore, her family shortly afterward moved to London. There she stayed until the age of 7 when, yet again, her family relocated to a new location: Japan. Letitia Johnson attended the American School in Japan, located in suburban Tokyo, before coming to the United States when she was 14.

Following the trend of many other school’s wealth management teams, the Amherst College Investment Office recently relocated to Boston from its former spot in Amherst, MA. There is no doubt Johnson has a strong understanding of Boston’s financial industry. All of Johnson’s experience in finance has taken place in Boston, though she has occasionally engaged in extensive travel for past jobs.

While talking to Johnson, the topic of the Amherst liberal arts curriculum came up. Johnson expressed strong support for the study of the liberal arts, arguing that studying a wide variety of subjects develops balanced thinking and reasoning skills. She urges all young students to first determine what their absolute must haves are, and then use that as a starting point to narrow down what career paths they might be interested in. After all, how can one know their most specific goals if they have not even resolved what their primary desires are?

Even the path Johnson took wasn’t exactly what she first predicted. In fact, Johnson didn’t find her career in institutional investing until after her time at Yale Business School. There introduced to the world of endowment management, she hasn’t looked back since.

What GPA do you need to get into Amherst College?

An International Eye : Profile of Investor Letitia Johnson

What is the Amherst Investment Office?

The Amherst Investment Office is a team of people that reports to an investment committee of the board and to the Amherst Chief Financial Officer Kevin Weinman. Our primary responsibility is to manage Amherst College’s endowment. Our job includes reporting transactions and making sure cash goes to the right investments when we alter our portfolio. The Amherst Investment Office invests for the long run. We must ensure that we are investing our funds to meet school objectives over a long time period and growing our endowment in real terms.

Typically, the endowment supports roughly 50 to 60 percent of the College’s budget. Over time, it has outgrown other income streams. Ultimately, we aim to take 4-5% out of the endowment every year without digging into its principal so that it can continue to grow.

The Investment Office is responsible for managing the endowment, but this doesn’t mean we pick stocks on our own. Instead, much of what we do involves choosing third party fund managers. We put a lot of thought into who the partners who will manage the money for us are.

Currently, we are working with less than 40 managers. We even have a manager who we have been collaborating with for 20 years. We strive to pick a manager earlier in their career so that we can expand and evolve with them. This aligns with the Office’s very long-term outlook.

What is your process for picking managers?

A lot of it comes down to scrutinizing the people running the funds. We invest in people. Strategies can change over time, but hopefully the people we entrust our money to don’t. Do they have a cohesive strategy that makes sense and can endure in terms of adding value?

The quality of the manager trumps everything, including the strategy. We won’t pick a mediocre manager just because he’s in the right space and using a hot strategy—we stick with only A+ managers. I like managers who can write down and express the thesis of what they are doing—something stressed in an Amherst education. Skilled managers should be able to articulate what they are seeking to achieve.

We do think about portfolio balance. It’s important that we understand the mix of managers we have and what strategies they use. We’ll routinely check up on how our managers are doing, see if there is anything we need to worry about. Our team also performs a top-down sector and asset exposure analysis. That way, if things become too imbalanced, we can step in and make changes.

What is your investing philosophy (value investing, growth investing, etc)? How do you build a portfolio?

We don’t require our managers to have one single investing philosophy, we prefer to have a mix—though we do have views of which types of investing might be better suited to certain areas of the market. Our system emphasizes flexibility. Therefore, we don’t have asset allocation targets per se. Instead, we have ranges. A too rigid process can undo what managers do best. When we find good managers, we put some trust in them and regularly communicate with them.

Treasury rates have been rising recently, with the Fed slightly cutting back on measures in fear of inflation. Any downsides? How are you adjusting to this?

The rates question is this endless debate in the investing field. We in the Investment Office are not in the business of trying to figure out what’s going to happen and guess the Federal Reserve’s moves. We should not—and do not—make investment decisions on this basis. If rates spike, markets are likely to tend downward. We can also consider what parts of our portfolio might be more impacted. For example, typically, tech could fall considerably because it’s a long duration asset and is generally growth-oriented.

How do you deal with inflation?

Investors have spent a lot of time on the inflation question. Inflation is related to Fed rates, and unanticipated inflation can be quite harmful for bonds and stocks. We look back at the stagflation of the 1970s as a historical example and see how we could have protected against it. Unfortunately, protecting against inflation is extremely costly and highly unreliable.

Trying to defend against inflation through assets such as commodities and real estate can also be unreliable. Not to mention these asset classes can themselves be volatile and costly to hold relative to alternatives. What we’ve learned is that it’s better to concentrate on ensuring we can meet annual obligations and maintain good liquidity, through crisis planning. Today, we avoid holding long bonds. Other than that, we think about maintaining liquidity reserves and investing the rest in a balanced way.

Ultimately, equities serve as a pretty good inflation hedge. Inflation should eventually be reflected in earnings. It’s worth mentioning, though, that some equities have better inflationary sensitivity, like those with pricing power. We would want a manager that cared about things like that.

Our portfolio is very equity heavy.

How effective is gold as an inflation hedge?

Gold is not the reliable inflation hedge some people make it out to be. The truth is, there’s no good way to value it. How do you trade something you can’t value? How do you know when to hold, sell, or buy more? In that sense, it’s kind of like bitcoin (though we do like crypto generally!). It’s very hard to invest in gold well. The only ones who seem to get it right are families who stockpile it and forget about it.

Amherst College doesn’t need a store of value. It needs to make a set of balanced investments that grow over time, and gold isn’t right for this purpose.

Who picks the assets in the Investment Office?

Dawn Bates (Manager of Investment Operations) and Heather Heath (Operations Analyst) are in charge of running operations for our office. Every morning, the whole team meets together to talk about what’s on the docket for the day. Debrief on the day prior, and so on. On the investment side of our office are Shane Levy (Investment Officer), Yunfei Liu (Investment Analyst), Adam McPherson (Investment Analyst). And myself, Letitia Johnson (Chief Investment Officer). Together, we all spend a lot of time evaluating managers and finding new ones.

In the Investment Office, we do comb over individual stocks. However, this isn’t to say that we select individual stocks to invest in. We find it’s helpful to have a good understanding of what our managers like. That way, we can better understand how they are developing and seeing the market change over time.

For example, we had a period in which the team did a lot of talking about automobiles. Electric vehicles, manufacturing, dealerships, tech in autos, etc. This happened very organically, through talking to managers. We would speak to a number of our different managers about car dealerships. And then make connections and evaluations ourselves based on what they said. By focusing our discussion on one specific line of business. As a result, we got a lot smarter on the whole space and were able to better engage with our managers.

I don’t particularly like the traditional asset allocation framework, and prefer to think in terms of ecosystems. For example, using the label hedge fund isn’t particularly helpful. Instead, I would rather consider ecosystems like healthcare. This would include everything from early stage biotech venture capital to Big Pharma. As you would imagine, a whole range of overlapping companies, capital systems, and managers would fit into this ecosystem.

Ecosystems are a holistic category. Adam and his team spend a lot of time on the biotech ecosystem. Yunfei and his team spend a lot of time on the China ecosystem. Other ecosystems might include tech and value.

Amherst College Endowment : An Interview With Amherst College Endowment Chief Investment Officer Letitia Johnsonn Written by Ryan Cunningham

(The interview, conducted on Zoom on March 19, 2021, has been edited for length and clarity.)

Johnson, Letitia L. | Faculty & Staff | Amherst College

Tech Investing

Amherst College Endowment : An Interview With Amherst College Endowment Chief Investment Officer Letitia Johnson

What GPA do you need to get into Amherst College?

Austin Sarat Amherst College – Rebellion Research

Is Amherst as good as Ivy League?

Education

According to the rankings on Forbes.com, Amherst College is the 16th best school in the United States. At that spot, Amherst outdoes respected schools such as the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago, as well as Ivy League school Brown University.

Amherst College, a highly respected and prestigious liberal arts college in the United States. While it is not a member of the Ivy League. Moreover, often considered to be on par with Ivy League schools in terms of academic rigor and selectivity.

In fact, Amherst College has consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country in various college rankings, and its graduates have gone on to achieve success in a wide range of fields, including academia, business, law, and politics.

Ultimately, whether Amherst College is “as good as” Ivy League schools depends on a variety of factors and individual opinions. However, widely recognized as an outstanding institution of higher education and one that offers a world-class education to its students.

Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. Founded in 1821 as an attempt to provide a nonsectarian alternative to nearby Williams College. Which at the time boasted an affiliation with the Congregational Church.

Austin Sarat : Amherst College Dean & Law Professor

The idea for the college was first proposed by the Reverend Noah Porter, a Congregational minister in Connecticut, who suggested the creation of an institution “for the education of indigent young men of piety and talents for the Christian ministry.” The idea became well received. And a group of leading citizens in Amherst, including the town’s founder, General William Shepard, and the Congregational minister, Reverend Ebenezer Snell, began to raise funds for the college.

In 1825, the college admitted its first students, with an initial enrollment of 15.

The early years of Amherst College became defined by both challenges and triumphs.

During the latter half of the 19th century, Amherst College underwent a period of significant growth and expansion. Under the leadership of President Julius H. Seelye, the college constructed a number of new buildings, including Walker Hall, Converse Memorial Library, and the Pratt Museum of Natural History. These new facilities helped to establish Amherst as a modern, forward-thinking institution of higher education.

An Interview With Amherst College CIO

The early 20th century became marked by a number of important changes at Amherst College. Moreover, in 1915, the college became one of the first liberal arts colleges to establish a dedicated department of economics. The following year, Amherst College joined with Williams College and Wesleyan University to form the Little Three athletic conference.

During the mid-20th century, Amherst College underwent another period of significant growth and development. Furthermore, in the years following World War II, the college saw a surge in enrollment. In addition, several new buildings became constructed to accommodate the growing student body.

In conclusion, today it is one of the most respected schools in America.