The University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Date: Nov 15 2004
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
The school has far more negatives than positives. The area called "the Pioneer Valley" is beautiful nature wise, the view out of my dorm window last year was amazing. There are alot of student clubs but considering the size of the school there is little student interest in them. Also, UMass offers a huge amount of majors. Even though the school is in a very rural area there is an ok amount of stuff to do off campus that is accessable by the free bus system. Although bringing a car makes life easier it isn't basically neccessary like some rural colleges.

Now all the bad stuff. The school is continuously facing budget problems due to lack of state funding, resulting in a number of problems. Classes are huge in the 200-500 student range. I have had a total of 5 classes that were not large lectures in the 3 semesters I have been here. Large lectures with semi-ok instructors plus discussions taught by undergrads makes for far less than stimulating classes. There seems to be a big turnover with instructors as well making it difficault to contact them ater if need be. Classes fill up quickly and can be scheduled at any time so getting a god schedule of classes that you need to take can be problematic. This results in many of the students not graduating for five years.

Administration is awful, expect to stand in line for hours and be greeted by rude people if you need to deal with financial payment issues. It is difficault to get straight answers from departments about pre requisites for classes, how to apply to be in a specific major, etc. You may get a different response from each person you talk to about anything. Housing assignments may not be the same as you were told, etc. The campus is full of political tension; the student government doesn't get along with the dean of students, students are frequently protesting and getting ignored etc. etc.

I am always searching for the diverse student body university brags about. The majority of people here seem to be the frat/serority type. General student conversation tends to revolve around being drunk the night or weekend before. Students personalities are very seperated by the living areas they are in. Also students here seem to stay away from the real world with anyone who has any goals in life is planning on going to grad school and only coming here because it is inexpensive and others who just have no clue or don't care about their futures.

Student life is a problem because even though a large amount of students stay on the weekends they have little desire to do anything but stay in their dorm and get drunk. (I live in the supposed dorms for geeks too) Bathroom floors frequently are covered in vomit not because they are not cleaned but because students are simply getting drunk so often. Parties at the frats or in dorms are dull as they are full of the same type of students wanting nothing but getting drunk. Drug use on campus is popular. The school has some on campus events such as comedian performances and movie nights but they are attended by few. The campus is described as a city in a rural setting, but only expect for it to be busting with people and excitement durring the middle of weekdays when casses are in sesion. If you actually like to study (most don't seem to) that is difficault since the dorms are loud and the library is far less than comfortorble and modern.

I came to UMass not because of the low in state tuition or because I couldn't get in anywhere else but because I wanted to. I came in with an open mind excited about my college choice but now nobody can convince me UMass is a great place. I feel like my instate tuition price which is continually going up, is still far too much for the quality of education. I am transfering after 3 semesters. It was stupid for me not to leave after the first as i'll have alot of catching up to do to make up for my time at UMass. I will miss my friends but not UMass. Stay away from Umass Amherst!