About

See what students say:

Academics

Opportunities, connections, and fresh perspectives abound at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the state’s flagship campus. Even with more than 23,000 undergraduates, the university is “organized for its large size” and there are “so many resources to help students excel.” Students laud the “diversity of experiences and research available,” including more than seventy study abroad programs, the Center for Data Science, numerous work experience courses, and over one hundred majors. On top of that, one can scratch any intellectual itch they have before and after choosing a major. “I love having options and UMass Amherst definitely provides them,” says a student. Additionally, the school is part of the Five Colleges Consortium, allowing students to take classes, borrow books, and work with faculty at nearby Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges.

Professors here are “kind and thoughtful and always try to help students with their studies.” They “take the time to get to know you and want you to succeed.” “All faculty members are respectful and show a love of the content they are teaching.” Though there are a fair number of lectures, many classes are hands-on or even student-run, and some require field visits, class events, or community service. Lectures also often include discussions, which are “incredibly helpful for comprehension,” in which students “feel a much more personal connection to the class and the professor,” as “participation shrinks lecture halls.” As a research institution, it has “excellent STEM facilities and so much research being done,” much of which students can take part in; the school provides “plenty of resources on campus to help you access internships and research for out-of-class learning experiences.”

Student Body

The university has made great strides in fostering an “inclusive attitude toward all students, independent of race, religion, or other sociocultural differences,” and the student body here is made up of “well-informed and … very intelligent people” who are “very open and generous … [with] good morals.” The Commonwealth Honors College draws “many high-achieving students,” and there is “a wide range of personalities.” There are a lot of people “yet it still feels like a community”; there is “a great camaraderie among the campus population and … excitement to attend UMass.” “We show pride in our teams, our academics, and everything in between,” says one student.

Campus Life

Students at UMass Amherst are engaged and “really motivated to establish a vivid life on campus.” “There [are] the kids that do nothing but study, the kids that do nothing but party, and the kids doing both,” so “it’s not difficult to find people like you here,” and “everyone can find their place no matter their interests.” There are many extracurricular organizations and clubs, and the students involved in these activities are “passionate and enthusiastic.” People here think a lot about food, and the school delivers: students are universally thrilled with both the quality and the healthy selection of “fantastic food” available in the dining halls and on the “huge” campus. Students spend a great deal of time lingering in the dining halls or in their dorms, and many have onor off-campus jobs, as well as devoted workout routines. Occasionally, students will head into the college town of Amherst, or explore “the many sites of Western Mass.”

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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
A comprehensive listing of attractions in Western Mass is available from the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (http://www.valleyvisitor.com/visitors.html) 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-Fri 11am, 1:30pm, 2:30 pm; Sat 11am, 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 (800-343-9999) links the campus to Bradley and Logan airports as well as to points throughout the region. Amtrak trains (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 serves the Five College Area.

Driving Instructions to Campus
For driving instructions to campus, please visit the UMass Visitor's Center website: http://www.umass.edu/visitorsctr/directions

Local Accommodations
Hotel UMass (413-549-6000) is on campus. The University Motor 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. Information on B&Bs in the Amherst area can be found at http://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/
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Admissions

Applicants: 41,612
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average HS GPA: 3.90






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