Join us for three weeks of college-style learning on the tree-shaded, historic campus of the prestigious liberal arts school, Amherst College. Excel’s small seminars are engaging, interactive, and free from the pressure of grades and exams. Explore your artistic side with a Drawing or Photography class or debate investment strategies in a Business and Economics seminar. Make new friends from across the country and around the world, and be inspired by your supportive and talented instructors. Take weekend excursions to some of New England’s most beautiful cities, beaches, and natural areas.
- Dates:
-
- June 24, 2012 - July 13, 2012
- July 16, 2012 - August 4, 2012
- June 24, 2012 - August 4, 2012
- Eligibility:
- Students completing grades 9-12
- Focus:
- Excel
- Typical Group:
- 80-120 Students, 15-25 Staff
- Duration:
-
- 3 week(s) (June 24, 2012 - July 13, 2012)
- 3 week(s) (July 16, 2012 - August 4, 2012)
- 6 week(s) (June 24, 2012 - August 4, 2012)
Overview
Located in Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley, Amherst College has been committed to the pursuit of academic excellence since its founding in 1821. As an Excel student on campus, you spend four hours a day pursuing two areas of interest in small, active seminars. Course size is limited to ten students or fewer. Seminars encourage collaboration and hands-on learning, getting out of the classroom often for field trips, experiments, performances, and field assignments. Afternoon and evening activities allow us to make the most of our summer and of campus life. Whether taking part in an instructional sports clinic, volunteering at a local daycare, visiting a local farm for some homemade ice cream, or playing a pick-up game of Ultimate Frisbee, there are plenty of chances to connect with other students and instructors, and to pursue new interests. You are encouraged to start clubs and introduce the community to your favorite activities, or try something new – maybe digital photography, a cooking club, or mountain biking – in a social environment that supports and shares your enthusiasm. Evenings also provide a special opportunity to relax and have fun with our nightly community meeting, talent shows, and movie nights.
At Amherst College, we live in single-sex residence halls located at the heart of campus, with easy access to playing fields, tennis courts, athletic and other college facilities, and to the town of Amherst. Rooms are doubles and the majority of students choose to room with participants they do not know prior to the beginning of the program. Dorms are equipped with social common areas, as well as laundry facilities and a computer lab. Eat the majority of your meals at Amherst’s high-quality dining facilities, which provide a wide range of choices of hot and cold entrees, salads, healthy desserts, and vegetarian selections. Cook-outs, picnics, and restaurant meals provide the occasional change of pace.
Some afternoons and on weekends we leave campus to see the best of what New England has to offer. Several afternoons during the program, you can choose to visit a full spectrum of New England colleges. In past summers, we have visited Middlebury, Dartmouth, Smith, Williams, and Trinity Colleges, as well as Harvard, Tufts, Brown, Wesleyan, and Yale Universities. Visits are generally led by our faculty who are alumni of these colleges. On our first excursion weekend, choose between two-day visits to New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the historic beaches of Cape Cod, or the cosmopolitan streets of French-Canadian Montréal. During our second weekend, the entire group takes a Saturday day trip to Boston to explore locations like Harvard Square, the Boston Science Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Freedom Trail, or Salem. On Sunday, seek out bargains at a local flea market in Hadley, Massachusetts, spend the afternoon at the provocative Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) in North Adams, or enjoy a few hours of biking, rollerblading, or hiking in the hills surrounding campus.
The program culminates with a final day of presentations and performances, allowing you to showcase your many accomplishments. Whether you perform an original a capella arrangement of a favorite song, deliver a knock out stand-up routine perfected in Public Speaking class, or present the runway debut of a chic dress you made in the Fashion Design seminar, this evening is your time to shine. Parents are invited to attend this wonderful event – the perfect way to say goodbye to each other and this amazing campus.
“Our goal was to have Sebastian experience life on a college campus, to gain some perspective on why he is working so hard in high school, and to expose him to some academics in a rich and fun way. It was wonderful to have our expectations met. The Amherst program helped him identify areas where he can ‘excel.’ The content in both of his classes enabled him to further his interests in both of these areas rather than just playing around with the ideas in his head on his own.”
- Jim and Julia Hood, Westport, CT
Highlights
- Polish your college essay or create a new short story in one of several writing workshops.
- Sample delicious local meals while participating in a sustainable food workshop.
- Discuss Aristotle, Camus, and Marx in the shade of the campus quad with your Philosophy class.
- Record a CD of original music in Music Composition and Performance.
- Improve your soccer or tennis game with a professional coaching staff.
- Hike up Mount Washington, the highest peak in New England.
- Follow in the footsteps of history on the Freedom Trail in downtown Boston.
- Gear up for the big test with a Kaplan SAT prep class.
- Practice your language skills with new friends from around the world.
What to Expect
Students must be able to think critically and creatively while engaging in thoughtful discussion with classmates. Excel at Amherst College gives a taste of college life and provides flexibility, and students are expected to be correspondingly mature and productive in their free time. Rules prohibiting alcohol and tobacco use, setting curfew times, and providing a safe and structured environment are in place and enforced. Our courses are not affiliated with Amherst College and are not for credit.
At Putney we take pride in our reputation for careful, thorough planning and attention to detail. The descriptions of our programs are based on our experiences in previous summers and our plans for this summer. It is inevitable that some things described here will not happen exactly as presented. To get the most out of the Putney experience, participants need to be flexible in responding to unforeseen situations, and creative in taking advantage of unexpected opportunities. We expect Putney participants to share responsibility for the success of their experience.
Fees
Tuition:
- $4,990 (June 24, 2012 - July 13, 2012)
- $4,990 (July 16, 2012 - August 4, 2012)
- $8,990 (June 24, 2012 - August 4, 2012)
As part of the late afternoon activity program, we offer optional instructional clinics in tennis and soccer where you can polish your techniques and maintain your level of skill over the summer. Clinics meet three times a week throughout the program, allowing time for you to get involved in other campus activities. Space is limited to ensure individualized attention, and clinics fill up quickly. Participation is determined on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a supplemental fee for sports clinics.
Itinerary
Click here to read last year’s program blog.
This program begins and ends at Amherst College.
Arrival • Join your group as we begin the campus experience at Amherst College, one of New England’s most picturesque and preeminent liberal art schools. You and your family are welcome to arrive directly at Amherst College, or our staff is happy to arrange pick ups from the Amherst bus or train station, or nearby Bradley International Airport in Hartford, CT.
Campus Life • As an Excel student at Amherst College, your day is much like that of any college undergraduate, but with a structure that is appropriate and will keep you busy and engaged throughout your summer. Participate actively in stimulating, seminar-style courses and spend time with like-minded individuals who quickly become good friends. Get involved in a host of fun and fascinating activities, from pick-up sports games to college visits to unique course-generated projects.
College Visits • Several afternoons during the program, you can choose a school to visit from a full spectrum of New England colleges. In past summers, students have visited Middlebury, Dartmouth, Smith, Williams, and Trinity Colleges, as well as Harvard, Tufts, Brown, Wesleyan, and Yale Universities. Visits are generally led by our faculty who are alumni of these colleges.
“The staff was so passionate about the seminars they taught but also had other hidden passions that presented themselves when they led afternoon and evening activities, like flash-mob practice or jam sessions. It was such a joy to be part of Excel at Amherst. There was a strong sense of community and were always activities going on so that every moment was a blast!”
- Rebecca Ganellen, New Trier High School, Wilmette, IL
Excursion Weekend • Our first excursion weekend showcases some of the best of what the Northeast has to offer. Choose from the following trips to the White Mountains, Cape Cod, and Montréal.
The White Mountains: Explore some of the best-preserved wilderness in the East with two days in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a group, we hike in the magnificent Presidential Range, take in spectacular views from the top of Mount Washington, and canoe, kayak, or swim in some of the region’s many lakes. If you choose this excursion, get excited about hiking, canoeing, and staying in a rustic hiker’s lodge! The cost of this excursion is included in the Excel at Amherst College tuition.
Cape Cod: Historic Cape Cod is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Northeast. On this excursion we stroll the lively streets of Provincetown, swim on one of the Cape’s pristine beaches, and toast s’mores over a bonfire under the stars. Whale watching trips, beach volleyball, and Frisbee round out a wide array activities. There is a supplemental fee of $390 for this program.
Montréal: The cultural vitality and hospitality of French Canada are enticing reasons to visit Montréal. From our base at McGill University, we explore the cobblestone streets of the Old City and soak in the Parisian atmosphere of Rue St. Denis. Activities include jet-boating on the St. Lawrence River, shopping for a picnic lunch at the sprawling Marché Atwater, and catching an outdoor concert at the International Jazz Festival. There is a supplemental fee of $390 for this excursion.

The Cape Cod National Seashore is one of Massachusetts' gems, and a great option for our excursion weekend.
Boston Weekend • Our second weekend begins with a group day-trip to Boston to explore locations like Harvard Square, the Boston Science Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Freedom Trail, or Salem. On Sunday you can visit a locally famous flea market in Hadley, MA, visit Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) in the afternoon, or enjoy biking, rollerblading, or hiking in the hills surrounding campus.
Final Night • Invite family and friends to attend the culminating Final Night Show. You and your fellow students make presentations on what you’ve learned in class, give concerts, explain projects, display artwork, and say goodbye to your instructors and new friends from across the country and around the world.
Departure • Staff escort students from the Amherst College campus to the Amherst bus or train station, or Bradley International Airport. Families can also arrange pick up directly from campus.
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Destination
Background • Located in Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley, Amherst College has been committed to the pursuit of academic excellence since its founding in 1821. The town of Amherst bustles with interesting shops and cafés and is surrounded by rolling hills and rivers, ideal for hiking, canoeing, and biking. The Mead Art Museum, Emily Dickinson Homestead, and the Robert Frost Library stand out among the rich cultural resources of the area. During the summer artists, writers, and musicians make the Amherst area a lively and exciting place to be.
Population • Amherst College is situated within the town of Amherst, a community of about 35,000 people. The College quad is a short walk from Amherst’s single main street. This cozy size allows for a safe, small-town feel while providing great shops, restaurants, and a burgeoning art scene for students to explore.
Climate • Summers in the Pioneer Valley are pleasant, with moderately warm afternoons and the occasional rainy day or short heat wave. Temperatures can be quite cool in the morning, with overnight lows in the 50s but generally warm into the 80s during the day.
Cuisine • Students take most meals the Amherst College cafeteria, which provides a wide range of hot and cold entrees, salads, healthy desserts, and vegetarian selections. Cook-outs, picnics, and restaurant meals in-town provide an occasional change of pace.
Currency • The town of Amherst has numerous ATMs available for students if they would like additional spending money during their stay. Coin-operated laundry facilities equipped with change machines are available in the dorms.
“After doing Excel, I felt very excited for my future. I made friends from all over the world, I watched movies I never would have seen, I listened to music I never would have heard, and I feel like I gained an overall sense of achievement because I had found a program that was not only preparing me for college, but was also a lot of fun!”
- Shelby Crants, Ensworth School, Nashville, TN
The Excel at Amherst College program is directed by Maggie Strassman. If you have questions, are interested in receiving more detailed information, or would like to talk further about the program, please get in touch!
Maggie Strassman
Maggie Strassman: University of Wisconsin, B.S., Geography, International Studies. A former National Geographic intern, Maggie has lived in Austria and the Czech Republic and has traveled throughout Europe and beyond. She has led programs in Dominica and at Amherst College. Maggie now coordinates Putney programs in North America and Turkey, and is also part of the Admissions Team. She enjoys trivia, riding her bike, and playing frisbee.
How To Apply
Step 1: Log On.
If you are new to Putney Student Travel, visit our Online Application.
If you are a Putney Student Travel alumni family, use your existing account information to Log In.
Step 2: Hold A Space In The Program.
You can hold a space in a program by completing the Online Application Form and providing the $700 Application Deposit by Mastercard, Visa, or Discover Card through our secure online system or by sending a check to our office. Our admissions staff is also available to take credit card information over the phone. We will hold a space in a program for a reasonable time, pending completion of the full application process. See Step 3.
After March 15, to hold a space in a program an application must be accompanied by full payment made by check or wire transfer and the signed Agreement Form.
Step 3: Complete the Application Process.
Before we can make a final admissions decision, an application must be complete. In addition to the Application Form and Application Deposit described above, a complete application includes:
- Applicant Statement
- Two Teacher References
- Signed Agreement Form
These documents are available as part of our Online Application. We review a completed application within a few days, and notify families of our admissions decision by e-mail.
For a full description of eligibility, admissions policies, and terms of payment, please visit our Terms & Conditions.










