University of Massachusetts--Amherst | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Ben

Class: Senior
Major: Biology
Gender: M

High School: Melrose High School
Transfer Student: N

Big Picture

UMass Amherst has an amazing atmosphere. Amherst serves as a true college town. So many of the town's venues exist only to serve the college students. There numerous coffee shops, a mall, a movie theater, book stores, bars, great places to eat, pretty much anything you'd need day to day. Plus the atmosphere is supplemented by the presence of other schools like Mount Holyoke and Hampshire College. At first I thought the school was very big, but after a while you get used to the settings. After a month it all seemed perfect. Your really get the feeling that it is its own community. For example city schools have so many distractions, because theres so much going on in metropolitan areas. However, when you're at UMass Amherst you feel immersed in it. You will always feel great here, which most schools can not say.

Academic Life

There is a wide array of majors and courses at UMass Amherst. It offers a challenging yet satisfying curriculum for whatever you take. If you can manage at least a 3.0 GPA you should definitely consider enrolling in Commonwealth College, the honors program at UMass. If you did not get into your top school of choice, then this is an excellent way to get prestige out of your degree. From classes with over 100 students to independent studies, the numerous types of courses will turn out a better academic experience.

Student Body

UMass Amherst offers a diverse community. Every day you will come in contact with various ethnicities and racial groups. No one would ever feel out of place here. There will always be a niche for everyone to feel at home. Even with these diverse groups, there are varying financial backgrounds. Some students are very well off while others aren't as much. Most students come from Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and other New England States. Still students come from all over the nation. Students are politically aware, as the school has a rich activist history since the '60s. Most of the student body is Democrat or has no preference. Still Republicans have safe haven at the school as well.