University of Massachusetts-Amherst Top Questions

The best advice would be to go to the campus and talk to students who attend the university. Instead of going on tours and talking with people who 'are getting paid to make the school sound good.' Just go to the dining common and sit near some students and ask them what they really think about the school. Also, ask a student where a large (400 student) lecture hall is. Then just sit in on a class to get a feel for how classes are run at that university. If it is a large class, the teacher would never know that you werent a student in that class. Also, go in a dorm and ask someone if you can look at their room... this way you can see what the dorms look like once it is filled with soemone's belongings. Doing all of these things will let you get a feel for the real college life, instead of the college life that you see in movies and brochures.

Just choose a place with a nice campus that seems to have a diverse range of people. You should not go to this school if you are some kind of bigot or are otherwise closed-minded. If you do, you will miss out on meeting a lot of cool people for some really poor reasons.

dont choose your college for anyone else but yourself. stay open minded. visit before you attend. work hard. have fun!

I would advise parents and students to do as much research and preparation ahead of time as possible. The earlier, the better. Study and work hard in high school because college will be sneaking up on you before you know it. Take as many high level classes as possible, especially APs. Get on top of standardized tests and financial aid applications. Get involved in community service and extracurricular activities. It wouldn't be a bad idea to get a parti-time job during the school year and work over the summer either to save up. Even if your parents are generous about handing you money, you will need funds at your disposal in college! On that note, also be sure to get plenty of practice in self-control and fiscal responsibility before you come to college.

In choosing college all I have to say is that one should choose based not only on the obvious like financial aid offered, majors etc, but on how happy people look when you walk past them. Once you get there, for students I would have to say that first of all you should know that it's okay if you don't know what you're doing with the rest of your life when you start. A lot of people change majors in the middle of their four years anyway. Take time choosing and know that it isn't permanent, anything can change. So don't worry. The next thing, perhaps the most important, is that you must not let any outside pressure from anyone determine the major you choose, when you do choose one. Take advice from teachers, parents, and friends that you respect, but take it all with a grain of salt and if you really love some study, go for it, no matter what anyone says. And don't be afraid to take a semester or a year off and just learn to live.on your own. It is difficult enough without school at first.

apply to a variety of schools and visit as many as you can so you can find out what suits you best. If you apply to four schools with over 25,000 people and one with 3,000 adn then decide you like the smaller school atmosphere, then you really only have one option,. start looking early so you have as much time as you need. Dont be afraid to ask questions when you have one becasue finding the answer on your own is much more difficult and less reliable than asking the scource. dont be afraid to just do it comitting to a school is hard, and moving there is even harder, but once you do it, it becomes the most experiance. Enjoy the first year because it is full of so many firsts that you will never be able to relive. Go for the things you love and dont be afriad to do something you like to do. Get involved on campus, put yourself out there and you will be rewarded. Have fun and savor the tiem you have in college.

The most important thing is to tour the campus, but also experience the daily activities in a non regulated setting; rather than be led on a tour by a guide because often important features of campus life are neglected. I would also advize students to stay focused on maintaining a good gpa but also do become involved in otehr activities such as sports or other campus organizations- it is essential to keeping a balanced life style.

I cannot put enough emphasis on the importance on visiting schools beforehand. The deciding factor in my attending UMASS was not that it was cheaper than the other schools I applied to and checked out, but that it felt right. The second I got on campus I knew I belonged there, I could just kind of sense it. It was also incredibly helpful meeting and talking with people from the school. I was able to get a feel for the focus of the school, the environment of the dorms and the students. Ivy league or community college, I firmly believe the vibe and environment are what influences an education most. If a student does not feel comfortable and accepted at their school, they are simply not going to get the most out of their education. College is an experience, social and academic, not just a place you hang your hat for 4 years.

My first piece of advice is to make sure you're comfortable with things like the distance from home, the size of the campus, and the number of students that attend, because when you're comfortable with those three things, it takes a lot of the stress out of starting out at a brand new school. Parents, don't pressure your kids into going somewhere they aren't comfortable going. My second piece of advice is, once you're in college, don't let people sway your feelings. If partying or drinking alcohol or having a huge social circle scares the daylights out of you, you DON'T have to pursue those kinds of things! There are plenty of people just like you; it just takes a bit of digging around to find them. If those things are right for you, then go for them. This applies to any situation, though; those are just examples. There will be pressure and there will be many people telling you what to do with your life, but you must do what feels right to YOU. Parents and friends can give you advice, but part of the college experience is making decisions for yourself.

Just go all out. Don't be shy. Meet knew people. Visit the campus and see if you fit in. Don't choose a major right away because you will change your mind.