Amherst Admissions

<img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4234/35689080452_60dfc868d6_o.jpg" width="147" height="200" alt="William_Seymour_Tyler-th"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Welcome to Amherst College, a literary institution of the highest order. My name is William S. Tyler, and I will be examining you today. Pardon me, but are you a young [[gentleman|Money Matters]] or a young [[lady|Mount Holyoke]]?

I trust you've procured the necessary funds? Tuition this year is $36 dollars per term, and tuition for the first term must be paid upon admission. Do you have the requisite tuition? [[Yes, I have $36|Excellent]] [[No, I do not.|Indigent]] $36 in 1841 is roughly equivalent to $850 today. With three terms for four years, the cost of Amherst in the 19th century would be about $10,200 today

I believe you're looking for the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. There's a stagecoach leaving for South Hadley in an hour from Amherst House, the local inn owned by the Boltwoods. Why don't you have a look around the College until then. [[No thank you. I would rather wait in town.|In Town]] [[That sounds splendid. I shall have a look around.|Campus]]

<img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4240/35017501254_406cf36911_c.jpg" width="800" height="520" alt="The Path to Amherst"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [[Would you be admitted to Amherst in the 1840s?|So You Want Higher Education in the 1840s...]]

Excellent! A few more formalities, and then we will begin your examination. I trust that you are older than fourteen? [[Yes|Discharge]] [[No|Older]]

As you know, we have a scholarship for indigent young men of piety seeking to go into the ministry. Do you have an established gentleman ready to vouch for your intentions and inclinations as such? [[I do|Excellent]] [[I do not|Boltwood]]

Ah, I see. Perhaps you should seek a sponsor or apply elsewhere. If you've nowhere to stay for the night, consider the local inn, Amherst House. <img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4253/35746821681_3440dde256.jpg" width="500" height="289" alt="lov1083_aad96ddfc0"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I am sorry, lad. We require all applicants to be past their fourteenth year of age. Please apply again when you're older.

Have you attended another college previously? We get many applicants from Harvard and Hamilton. [[I have|Discharge2]] [[I have not|Examination]]

I see. Have you brought a certificate of regular dismission? [[Right here, Sir.|Examination]] [[Unfortunately, I did not.|Unfortunate]]

Superlative! Then let us commence with the examination. With which subject would you like to begin? [[Latin|Latin1]] [[Greek|Greek1]] [[Grammar|Grammar1]] [[Arithmetic|Arithmetic1]] The 1841 catalog lists the following admission requirements: <img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4262/35052328563_6e2ccc317a_n.jpg" width="320" height="99" alt="AC 41 course reqs"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

How unfortunate indeed. I am afraid that without a certificate of regular dismission we cannot accept you into our institution. Character is of the upmost importance for students at this College. Perhaps you should seek admission elsewhere.

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Let us commence with something simple. What are the six Latin cases? [[First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth|Oh Dear1]] [[Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative, Ablative, Vocative|Latin2]] [[Primus, Secundus, Tertius, Quartus, Quintus, Sextus|Oh Dear1]]

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//In town, you wait by Amherst House for your stagecoach to arrive, staring out at the busy street.// <img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/35709147172_c1361cd390.jpg" width="500" height="313" alt="Amherst House"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[[//Head into Town//|In Town]]

Oh dear. You clearly lack a basic understanding of Latin. I'm afraid we cannot allow anyone without a solid grounding in the classics into our institution.

Certainly, young man. Now, do me the favor of translating the following: //Socrates responsum sic judex exardesco, ut caput homo innocens condemno.// [[The judges were so provoked by the answer of Socrates, that they capitally condemned a most innocent man.|Latin4]] [[Enraged by the judges, Socrates responded that he would condemn the head of an innocent man|Oh Dear1]] [[Socrates responded, enraged, that judges had capitally condemned an innocent man|Oh Dear1]] This exercise is from //Andrews and Stoddard's Latin Grammar//.

I see your Latin grammar is satisfactory. Now for a few questions on content. To which famous orator do we owe the following quote? //Num negare audes? Quid taces? Convincam, si negas.// [[Cicero|Latin5]] [[Caesar|Oh Dear2]] [[Sallust|Oh Dear2]]

Ah, I am afraid that is not quite right. How about one more question. Lucius Catalina, infamous for the Second Catalinarian Conspiracy, had his crimes and character detailed by which of the following prominent Roman writers? [[Cicero|Close Enough]] [[Sallust|Close Enough]] [[Caesar|Oh Dear3]] [[Virgil|Oh Dear3]] [[Cicero and Virgil|Close Enough]] [[Sallust and Cicero|Splendid]] [[Sallust, Caesar, and Virgil|Oh Dear3]]

Excellent! //Gallia ist divisa in partes tres// begins Caesar in his commentary on the Gallic Wars. What tribes compose these three parts? [[//Helvetii, Germani, Galli//|Sigh]] [[//Aquitani, Belgae, Celtae//|Splendid]] [[Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths|Sigh]]

*Sigh* I suppose I can forgive a single lapse. Let us continue and see if you are as well-versed in Greek as you are in Latin. [[είμαι έτοιμος|Greek1]] [[I am ready, sir.|Greek1]]

Exemplary, young man! Now, would you prefer to be examined in Greek, English Grammar, or Arithmetic next?

My apologies, young man. It appears your Latin knowledge is not quite satisfactory. Please consider returning when you have a better grasp on the classics. May I suggest reading some more Cicero, Sallust, and Caesar?

Very near, my boy. It was Sallust and Cicero who wrote about the dastardly Catalina. Are you amenable to now being examined in Greek? [[Of course, sir|Greek1]]

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Would you be admitted to Amherst in the 1840s?