University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Academics

As a large research institution and the state’s flagship campus, the University of Massachusetts Amherst offers “immense resources and opportunities” for enrollees. Students at this university can choose from over 110 majors. Many are eager to sign up for exciting courses such as a botany class where undergrads visit a “new garden where food is made for [the] dining halls” or a “bookbinding class,” and even a “science course called the science of craft where [students] get to learn how to blacksmith, make pottery, brew, and blow glass.” There are also “many niche seminars for first year students that allow them to explore their identities and eccentric interests.” In addition to “unique and interesting courses,” undergrads say “the ongoing research and new ideas coming from here are amazing.” With access to “new facilities and very high tech labs” and “great research opportunities” from professors who “eagerly accept undergraduate assistants,” many agree that “school keeps [them] busy, but it’s worth it.” And if there's somehow not enough for students to do at Amherst itself, there's a free inter-campus bus for those who want to take advantage of cross-registering at one of the five other Massachusetts colleges that the school is in a consortium with.

Behind these “very engaging” courses and research opportunities are “kind and knowledgeable” professors. Students note that faculty are “super personable” and make it “easy to ask questions in big lectures with TAs and office hours.” While every instructor’s course is different, the “group-based [and] interactive learning” complements the “big lectures” offered by the school. Students feel that professors are constantly “bringing the class to life with new teaching styles” in order to “make sure that each individual is grasping the material.” Many undergrads indicate that their instructors “obviously care about the subjects [they teach]” and “care about their students’ well-being.” Above all, it feels like professors “want their students to succeed.”

Student Body

While finding your place among 24,000 undergrads might sound intimidating, students note that it's "a large school that you can make smaller so easily by building your own community." There are so many potential new friends to choose from amongst this "diverse, tolerant, inclusive" group, most of whom are described as "very kind and respectful" and who "love to have a good time and learn." The size is actually an advantage, in that it's easier to "find people you identify with . . . which helps a lot when moving in the first year." Ultimately, students suggest that "there's a place for everyone," whether you're from Massachusetts, like much of the campus's population, or from "different parts of the country or the world."

Campus Life

On campus at UMass Amherst and in the nearby cities, “there's always something to do if you keep your eyes peeled and are willing.” You can find students hanging out in the dining halls (where “the food is off the charts good”), tinkering in the craft center, or exercising at the rec center’s fitness classes. The university has “an array of fun activities” for “people with many interests like sports, music, theater, and other clubs.” On the weekends, people tend to “hang out a lot and sometimes go to parties.” Amherst also has twenty-one Division I sports, so attending games—particularly cheering on the “great hockey team” and showing your spirit at “fun tailgates”—is a frequent pastime. The school “has so many interesting opportunities to get involved that it’s nearly impossible to be surrounded by completely identical people.” The school’s location in the Northeast “gives [students] many opportunities to explore” the surrounding area. Consequently, students love to “travel to nearby cities like NYC or Boston.” The neighboring city of Northampton has several “fun shops” and students can be found in downtown Amherst “sitting in a local tea shop” and trying out “cool little restaurants.” On the whole, “there’s always something to do.”