University of Massachusetts-Amherst Top Questions

From my college experience, I have obtained a healthy curiosity. An odd thing to say, I'm sure, but that's how I feel. When anything strikes me as interesting or odd, I like to prod and understand. When my professor says that hedging on an inside straight in Poker is a beginner's trap, I'd like to know why. If there is a physical phenomenon that is unituitive, I want to try to understand the mechanics behind polarized film and how light is blocked out. My curiosity also applies to the social aspect of campus life. Many denominations tend to gather on campus, many either preaching the beliefs of their religions or simply vendoring information. I like to ask those people sometimes where their faith comes from because I am interested on how they think and where they come from. I remember a woman named Catherine who was a good Christian woman who's only wish was to save everyone she could. I also met a set of Mormons who were more interested in their lady friends than in teaching me their faith, even when I asked them for guidance. Strange world...

There are a lot of great people to meet, awesome professors and a great variety of majors. People push you to do what's best for you and you really feel accepted.

My college experience has been amazing so far; I love every aspect of it. It makes me cringe when people say, "you're half way done", because I would honestly stay forever. I have made great friends and met diverse people. All types of personalities are welcome, including Harry Potter! Seriously though, there is an active Quidditch club team on campus, complete with brooms between their legs! Living in Amherst is a great change of scenery for me, as I’m used to life in the Boston suburbs. College has opened me to new experiences. I am now a proud member of the UMASS Women's Club Rugby team. I had never considered playing nor heard much of the sport, but it has become one of my favorite activities. It is a nonstop, 80 minute game full of contact and intensity. It has tested my mental and physical abilities more than ever. We practice Monday-Friday, with games every Saturday. This serious commitment has forced me to keep my life in order socially and academically. If anything, I would say that being in college has taught me time management, and to welcome new people and experiences.

The most valuable things I have gotten out of my college experience would be my knowledge, many credits out of the way for cheap, and life long lessons. I am attending a local community college and living at home. As much as I wanted to have fun at a big university, I am thankful I stayed home and saved money. By taking these two years at a community college I have gained many credits for a much cheaper price. These classes will all be able to transfer to wherever I decide to go in the future. Within the past year and a half I have decided on a career and major. I have realized that there is a huge world out there and you will have to be active in going after your dreams.

I never thought that I would attend just a public state school for college. I have learned after 2 years at the university that this school offers you anything you want. I have learned how to live on my own using the transition that the university provides its students. It has taught me valuable life lessons and ways to compose myself in all situations in life. I feel ready for the real world and am excited to see what is to come this upcoming semester.

One of the most important things I have gotten from my college experience thus far is the relationships that result as being a student here. Given the size of the university, you have to put a large amount of effort into not forming a friendship with someone that you can connect with on several levels. Such an esteemed university attracts these different types of people, giving students the option to get to know one another and learn from each other. Other than the fact that your fellow students can become good friends, they also are fantastic resources. The people you meet here can be very helpful, whether it be in reference to a class or subject or where to find the best ice cream in town!

I started college over 30 years ago and was not able to complete my education due to life circumstances. Going back to school as an older adult was the most rewarding, exciting, challenging, and fulfilling experience since the birth of my children. Actually, I could liken the experience to my pregnancies. The expectations of the experience, the anxieties of whether or not I would be able to really finish the process and be good at it, the labors of the day to day, the unknown of what will be once I finished, were all part of the experience. Now that it is done, I am left elated and saddened at the same time, for I miss the whole process. The journey to finish my schooling was really the education. It was so much more than academics. It was getting to know myself better. It was getting reacquainted with my younger self and saying, I remember you. It was stepping into a world that seemed tailored just for me, welcoming yet challenging. The experience helped me grow not just academically, it also bolstered my self esteem, my confidence, and my outlook on the world and my place in it.

College, has been a real building block in life helping me really figure out what i want and how to attain my goals.

With my degree I am prepared to find a job right out of college. I have found life-long friends, mentors, and educators that I will help me suceed in my future career.

During the one year of college that I have attended, I have learned many invaluable lessons. The first of which was learning how to take care of myself. Needless to say, getting basic needs wasn?t as simple as asking my parents for them. I had to acquire a job far away from the help and advice of my parents; and when the company that I was employed for shut down, I found other jobs that kept me employed for the remaining year. Also, I learned that hard work is rewarded greatly, and studying well results in superior grades. Some other knowledge I acquired was that heeding authority is more important than doing what you think you should be able to do. During the two semesters I have also been required to dwell among roommates. I learned much about how to relate to individuals, and I also made many friends that I still keep in contact with. Learning to take care of myself aided in the realization of how extensively my parents and those in authority do to ensure my wellbeing, and learning how to coexist with my fellow roommates gave me a much greater appreciation for my four siblings.