The University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Date: Feb 17 2012
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
I came to UMass because it was my only option. I really didn't know what schools I wanted to go to, but I did want to go out of state.

Needless to say, I should have decided no when I visited. The admitted students day was nice, but it was freezing and the tour lasted hours. We ate in Franklin (the worst DC), but the food was good the first time I had it. Franklin was overcrowed, loud, and smelled.

When I came for NSO, all the people I met were rude, cliquey, arrogant and stuck up. The NSO counselors were trying to get everyone hyped up on UMass. It felt fake and rediculous. We were housed in Northeast, which are the oldest dorms but still decent. They're very small, though, especially Crabtree.

Food: Berkshire is the best DC, but do NOT expect to get a seat between 5:30-7. People literally grab your table once it looks like you're done eating. Late Night is crazy, only the potheads who have the munchies go. Hampshire is good, Worcester is really good and great if you want to eat alone in Northeast, and Franklin is decent. They don't have much variety. The YMCP helps if you want to go to Blue Wall or Pitas which are great at night.

Classes: are ridiculously huge, especially for intro courses. Gen chem=300 people, intro psych=250 to 300 people with six or seven TAs, Calc I and II are like 300 kids each. Classes are too big to even get to know the professor, unless you sit right in front. They pack you into the lecture halls. I personally like to have a connection with the professor, and I love smaller classes, so if you want a school with small intro classes, DO NOT GO HERE.

Housing: UMass poured concrete everywhere. It's constantly windy and the housing situation is bleak. Southwest is crazy thursday-saturday, expect to see vomit everywhere, beer bottled and disgusting bathrooms the next day. Central is for artsy kids and apparently potheads, Northeast is NOT stereotypically Asian and it's generally very quiet. SW is far away from class and it feels like a city. The towers are ugly and theres always mobs of people. Sylvan is very far away, mostly transfers and unlucky sophomores. North is the on-campus apartments, and Orchard Hill is for smart kids.

I would not go to UMass if I had known what it was like. Do NOT come here if:

You want small classes

Close connection with teachers

Friendly people

Not insane partying

Rioting

UMass isn't for everyone, and I'm leaving at the end of this year. I hate the school and I hate feeling like a number. I don't care at this point… it's not worth it for me to stay. Some people love "the zoo," but the rioting and the tuition increases give us a very bad name. Really think carefully if you want to come here.