About

See what students say:

Academics

The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a large university with all the perks: “so much opportunity and so many different people to meet… both socially and academically.” Its status as the flagship of the UM system is well-earned: it’s not just the largest public research university in New England but also “a great institute… [with] an amazing faculty that wants to help you.” The 24,000 undergraduates (and 100+ majors) are also served by UMass being a part of the Five College Consortium, which allows access to a broader array of courses, academic resources, facilities, and libraries across five campuses in the Pioneer Valley. This scale means that some general education classes are very large, but students note that even here, they feel able to interact and network with professors, and they cite innovative approaches to keep things fresh (“Team-Based Learning classes where a large portion of the class is working with other students to solve problems”) or to help support students (“recording lectures and automatically transcribing them”).

The “teachers foster good learning environments” wherein they “try and connect with us on a personal level to make us feel more a part of the class.” A student says: “My architecture classes have built-in work times where my professors stay and give feedback during the process.” Faculty are “very aware of the world and how things connect” and provide a gateway to plenty of “internship opportunities and service learning courses.” Some professors “are very good at engaging students by using anecdotes and demonstrations,” and there are “wonderful opportunities and resources available to enhance learning.”

Student Body

The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a collaborative environment where people “are extremely dedicated and hard-working students” and “everyone truly wants you to succeed with them.” Students suggest that the majority of students are in-state, but still “a diverse group that comes together to pursue their different goals.” One commonality, however, is “there are a lot of outgoing people here,” or as one student puts it: “everyone is very nice and it’s definitely a good community to be in.” In essence, it’s a “large student body so you meet a lot of people, but still small enough communities that you can make really good friend groups.” This “unique and smart” bunch is “open, kind, [and] welcoming” and “love to share who they are with everyone.” UMass students are also “very involved in campus and active members of the community” and “everyone is so willing to learn and cooperate in classes as much as possible.”

Campus Life

The school features a “great mix of social and academic life” and has the facilities to support both. The rec center offers classes that students admire, the Student Union provides plenty of opportunities for “volunteering in different events,” we’re told that “people love to go to the gym,” and many simply like to “hang with friends on my floor.” Intramurals and “lots of outdoor activities” are quite popular, from “sports such as flag football, softball and basketball, plus the LUG ice hockey league.” In short, as with the academics, there are “lots of resources, and lots of advertising of those resources” on the part of the school, and “so many options in regard to clubs, classes, and especially food.” No wonder, then, that students say they “mainly fill their days with classes and friendships.”

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Address
Undergraduate Admissions Office
37 Mather Drive
Amherst, MA 01003

Phone
413-545-0222

Email
mail@admissions.umass.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
The Campus Center & Student Union
The Learning Commons
The Recreation Center
The Mullins Center
The Fine Arts Center

Most Popular Places Off Campus
0.5 miles - College Town of Amherst
Amherst, Smith, & Mount Holyoke Colleges
1 hour - Skiing and Hiking in Vermont
2 hours - Boston
3 hours - New York City
Information for prospective students on the Amherst area is available here: https://www.umass.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/visit/meet-amherst. A comprehensive listing of attractions in Western Mass is available from the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (https://explorewesternmass.com/) and from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (https://www.massvacation.com/regions-towns/western-massachusetts/).

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center
Monday-Friday
8:30am-5pm
413-545-0222

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Mon-Sat 11:30am, 1:00pm, 1:30pm
Average Length: 1 hour

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
No

Information Sessions
Available

Times
Mon-Sat 10AM, 12:30PM; call 413-545-0306

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Year-round

Arrangements
Contact Coach Directly

Advance Notice
Other

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Varies

Arrangements
Contact Visiting Center

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Limitations
N/A

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Bradley International Airport near Hartford, CT, is 45 miles south of the University. Logan International Airport in Boston is 90 miles to the east. Peter Pan Bus Lines (peterpanbus.com; 800-343-9999) links the campus to Bradley and Logan airports as well as to points throughout the region. Amtrak trains (www.amtrak.com; 800-872-7245) serve Springfield; the station is 2 blocks from the Springfield bus station, where you can get a Peter Pan bus to campus. Amtrak also serves Northampton, with a station stop 10 miles from campus. Once on campus, the Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority (www.pvta.com) serves the Five College Area.

Driving Instructions to Campus
For driving instructions to campus, please visit the UMass Visitor's Center website: https://www.umass.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/visit

Local Accommodations
Hotel UMass (hotelumass.com; 413-549-6000) is on campus. The University Lodge (345 N. Pleasant St.; 413-256-8111) is within walking distance (a half-mile walk). There are several bed and breakfasts within a 1-2 mile radius of the campus, including the Inn on Boltwood (www.innonboltwood.com). Information on B&Bs in the Amherst area can be found at www.fivecollegebb.com. There are numerous other lodging options slightly farther from campus. Visit the Hampshire Hospitality Group's website (http://www.hampshirehospitality.com/) for information on the local Holiday Inn Express and Howard Johnson's, as well as several other nearby accommodations. The most comprehensive listing of information for visitors to the area -- including our numerous Bed and Breakfasts -- is found on the Chamber of Commerce's website: http://www.amherstarea.com/

Admissions

Applicants: 45,451
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average HS GPA: 4.02







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