Why UMass - Amherst? Big Can Also Mean Good

Many educators have long thought of Boston as the center of higher education in Massachusetts. After all Boston is home to Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern University and half dozen other well regarded smaller schools. But among graduating high school seniors each year there is a growing number for whom UMass-Amherst has become the school of choice, and for good reason. UMass-Amherst is the flagship school for the Massachusetts system of state universities. It is working hard to build a solid reputation from its outpost in the western part of the commonwealth.

Size Does Matter For students considering attending UMass-Amherst, it is really important to recognize the size of the school and what that size might mean in terms of their overall educational experience. For some students the size of UMass-Amherst is overpowering. The college population is more like that of a small New England town with more than 18,000 undergraduates in attendance. For some students this size simply puts UMass-Amherst out of the running .

But those who give it a chance may discover that the size of UMass-Amherst though undeniable is also not always a negative thing. Lots of students and lots of buildings can add up to confusion but they can also add up to diversity, choice and excellent opportunities for student growth. At UMass-Amherst size is seen as a positive.

Academic Buffet. One of the most obvious advantages of the size of UMass is the incredible variety of majors offered and the exciting courses that are available. Students have to complete basic required courses but then find a world of opportunity available. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst is really the equivalent of nine separate institutions each with its own specialties. Students are assisted in crafting together a course of study that suits their particular needs, interests and abilities.

In addition to what is offered on campus, UMass-Amherst is part of the Five Colleges, a program that allows students to select courses of study that are offered at nearby Smith, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Amherst College. There is little chance that with all those choices students can't find a perfect blend for them. There is confusion that comes from living on a mega campus but there is also incredible opportunity, especially in your selection of courses.

Living Space. On a campus the size of UMass-Amherst one can correctly expect a great variety of living accommodations. All students in their first two years at the University are required to live in school dormitories. There are some 41 dorms and each has its own character. The last two years students are allowed to move to off campus housing which is plentiful and within easy commute to campus.

On campus buildings are spread out and some students might complain of the long hikes from one side of campus to the other but for the most part students are more likely to appreciate the open feeling the large campus size produces. Compared to some of the more densely populated campuses in Boston and in other urban areas, UMass-Amherst seems almost bucolic.

Incredible Extras Diversity on the campus of UMass-Amherst is celebrated not restrained. There appear to be extra curricular activities to meet the interests of all. The school plays Division I sports and has music programs that are nationally recognized. There are fraternities and sororities but there is also the Stonewall Center that supports the needs of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender students. There are service options and small clubs springing up to meet requests for socialization opportunities.

Because it is a state owned and operated facility UMass-Amherst has a responsibility to offer extra activities for all its students and most would say it's doing its job quite well.

Home Town, USA UMass Amherst is located in the town of Amherst which is very much a college community. Many professors, graduate students and alums live in Amherst and make it a pleasant place for students to call their home town while in college. The town of Amherst can't provide students with the museums,restaurants, theaters or sports events that Boston offers college students in the state capital. But Amherst does give young people a feeling of being at home and being liked. Students provide a great economic boost to the town of Amherst and really have a strong influence on the atmosphere of that town.

Students can go into the town easily as it is only about a mile from any point on the campus . When they do go to Amherst they can find creature comforts and things that just plain remind them of home.

UMass-Amherst is not the leading academic institution in Massachusetts, but its popularity seems to continue growing. Leaders there ahve made it a point to cut back on the "party school" imagethat once plagued the school. the recent Nobel Prize awarded to a member of the UMass-Amherst faculty may be a sign that the shcool really can be taken seriously. Its size, diversity and great opportunites are likely to continue drawing applicants sufficient to fill its campus and then some.