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.
Articles
Consider the source when taking adive from reviews such as this one! This person is still thinking like a highschool kid, putting people into catagories. You do not have to "feel like a number" at UMass, but it's up to you to make it happen. UMass is a miniature version of the world you will be living in when you graduate. Thriving here is great practice for thriving in the years beyond.
