University of Massachusetts-Amherst Top Questions

Most students here think this is a party school.

Very diverse and aware.

UMass claims to be diverse, but it's very stereotypical. The five residential areas are characterized by who lives there -- Southwest includes the party people and the athletes; Central houses the druggies; Orchard Hill is where the dorks live; Northeast is where the Asians live; and Sylvan is for the freaks, and the people who tried to live in Southwest but couldn't get in. These aren't my own opinions, but if you asked anybody on the UMass Amherst campus to describe the residents in each housing area, that's more or less what they would say.

I have noticed that Umass is open to all types of people. Most Umass students are very active and involved in politics. In April, I attended a PHENOM rally at the State House in Boston to let our representatives know about funding for public higher education. Most of the students who attend Umass have to take out student loans and work a part or full time job in order to pay bills and stay in school. These students come from middle class working families who do not have much money to send their children to college.

Most people are from Mass. 9/10 students are from Mass and 10/10 students like the red sox. As ethnicity/race and gender go- there is a prevalent representation of almost all of them. There are generally little problems between ethnicities- besides the stabbings and room break-ins of course...

The studetn body at Umass Amherst is very diverse from religions, race, LGBT, economics it is an enviroment that any one could find a friend in someone that is similar to them. There are an amazing amount of clubs and student activities.

There's a place for everybody at Umass. You might feel out of place if you choose a certain dorm area/ building but you can always move or spend your free time in other areas. Most students are Democrats, however there are plenty of closet/ inactive republicans and there is a Republican club.

I am sad to say that the school was more racially diverse when I was an undergrad then it is now. The CCEBMS and BCP programs did a lot to help students of color make it academically and to manage the sometimes complext administrative system. That said, the enviornment is still more open than most to GLBT issues, racial and socio-economic issues. There is also a strong international community.

I don't know of any group of people, based on their race, creeds, hobbies, etc. that would feel out of place. In the classes themselves, there are people who sit together with common interests or characteristics, and that is where most friendships are made. Other social groups are founded at parties, so a student need only look around in a class or a social event to find people they'd be comfortable with.

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.