We offer scholarships to students, says Amherst president

As India is emerging as a new economic power, foreign educational institutions want to make their presence felt. Tony Marx, president of Amherst College, the US, was in Mumbai recently to promote his college in the field of liberal arts. In an exclusive interview to Employment & NRI Times, Tony said his college students will in the future responsible leaders of the global society, students will get exposure to study at diverse schools with tremendous resources. Excerpts:

Tell us about your organisation and its operation in the US and other countries?
We are a small Liberal Arts College located in Amherst, Massachusetts, dedicated to educating the most talented and accomplished students from around the United States and the globe. Our philosophy of a Liberal Arts undergraduate education emphasises the development of analytical and critical thinking skills in the humanities, social sciences, and the natural sciences. We believe that we educate students in such a manner that they can develop academic interests as well as passions that can lead to a myriad of professional fields without limiting them to a pre-professional track that mandates a particular career. We also incorporate opportunities for experiental learning into our curriculum. Internships and community service are both emphasised as vital supplements to the education taking place within the classroom.

What are your organisation’s interest in India?
As a school with a small but diverse student body, we believe that recruiting students from India not only gives us some brilliant minds in the classroom, but it also creates a global community on campus where students from around the US and the world are able to exchange ideas freely and learn from each others life experiences and backgrounds. Currently, we have 11 Indian citizens enrolled at Amherst -- though this might seem like a small number, keep in mind that there are only 1,600 students enrolled at Amherst and Indian students make up one of the largest sections of international students.


What is the prospect for Indian student in the US?
Students can come to Liberal Arts Colleges such as Amherst and receive a first-rate education in which they interact closely with renowned professors in intimate classroom environments. Education at Amherst imparts the skills and confidence necessary for today's students to become responsible leaders in a global society.

Does your institute provide any assitance, such as scholarship to Indian students?
We provide need-based scholarship assistance to all students admitted to Amherst. We guarantee to give scholarships to any student who is admitted to Amherst College but unable to pay the full amount of our tuition due to financial constraints.

What do you like to say about Indian students who are willing to study in the US?
While it is no doubt a difficult adjustment to leave home and commence your studies so far from friends and family, you will form new, lifelong friends at schools like Amherst, form meaningful relationships with your professors, and generally benefit from the exposure you will receive to studying at diverse schools with tremendous resources.

Why should student join your college?
Students should join Amherst if they are bright, intellectually curious and excited about the prospect of learning with some of the finest faculty and most accomplished students from around the world.


According to you, what would be the career focus in the 21st century?
The 21st century is a time of rapid change and increasing globalisation. It is, therefore, important for students to have a broad understanding of our world -- including the experiences of people from diverse backgrounds. That's why Amherst is committed to enrolling the most academically talented students from all backgrounds, including international students. We aim to educate leaders who are able to navigate this changing career landscape and who are capable of finding effective solutions to the many complex problems facing our society today.

How is your college different from others?
We are recognised by any number of measures as one of the leading educational institutions in the world. Amherst is, among the liberal arts colleges, one of the most selective and the most diverse, combinations that is educationally powerful and of which we are very proud.