When I decided to come to UMass Amherst in the midst of a global pandemic, I had no idea if I was making the right choice. I would be jumping from a graduating class of 100 to a school with over 20,000 undergraduates, which was just as nerve-wracking to think about as it was exciting. Now, as a senior, I can absolutely say that I made the right choice in coming here. However, a few things about UMass differed from my expectations and assumptions — keep reading to find out what!
- Campus Becomes Small
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When I was touring UMass, my tour guide kept telling the group how easy it would become to navigate campus after a week or two. When I came back for an accepted students day at Isenberg, my guide was saying the same thing and talking about how Isenberg would actually feel like a small school! At the time, my head was spinning with the sheer number of students and the sprawling campus, but lo and behold, the guides were right. Though there are still plenty of buildings on campus I have left to explore, the campus itself feels familiar and comfortable.
- The Food is As Good as they say
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You can’t apply to UMass Amherst without hearing about its #1 Dining. I figured the food would be good, but I didn’t expect it would be this good. Not only does it taste great, but there is such a wide variety of dining options on campus. Food from all around the world can be found in the four dining commons, Blue Wall (kind of like a food court for all of you non-Minutemen), and countless different retail dining locations and cafes around campus. There are even grab-and-go options in the dining commons for students who don’t have the time to sit down for a meal. Definitely one of my favorite things about UMass!
Meredith Kress / Her Campus - Student Farmers’ Markets
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On Fridays in September and October, you can find the student farmers’ market happening in the middle of campus! I hadn’t heard about this before coming to UMass, but it’s one of my favorite parts of the fall semester. There are so many talented and creative students here, so getting to support them is wonderful. You can find produce, secondhand apparel, art, handmade clothing and jewelry, and other unique items for sale.
- Campus Culture
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When coming to such a big school, I wasn’t sure what the overall campus vibe and culture would be like. However, over the past few years, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the kindness I see here at UMass! While there are always going to be outliers, most people are super open and helpful, and it isn’t uncommon to get compliments from strangers. People feel like they’re part of a community at UMass, and you can see that in the overarching campus culture.
- There Really Is Something for Everyone
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I knew there were a lot of clubs and groups at UMass, but I didn’t know there were this many. Whatever type of extracurricular or community you’re looking for, it’s definitely here. UMass also has a bit of a reputation as a party school, but if that isn’t your thing there are so many other things to do, either on campus or in the Amherst area. When you go to a school the size of UMass, you get to meet so many different people and do so many new things; there really is something for everyone!
Coming to UMass has been one of the best decisions of my life. I’ve made lifelong friends, gotten out of my comfort zone, learned a lot, and had a great time doing it. It’s been an even better few years than I could’ve imagined, and I’m looking forward to finding out what other surprises are in store for my senior year!
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