University of Massachusetts-Amherst Top Questions

The social life is fantastic. It's laid back, open-minded, and perpetual for some people. It doesn't get much better than Umass.

The best thing you can do to better your social life at UMass is to join a sorority or fraternity. Joining a fraternity like Theta Chi or a sorority like Alpha Chi Omega can give you an amazing experience. These are the types of friends you will forever remember and cherish for decades after college. They have the highest retention rates, as in students who join enjoy their experience at UMass and are less likely to transfer elsewhere. These fraternities and sororities no longer have the terrible "Animal House" image. These are driven men and women who value academics, the community, all while having fun every second of their college years. The locations are on campus and are a better living experience than in the dorms.

Hockey and football games were my favorite sporting events to attend! My closest friends were people that I met in my dorm second semester. My first semester I hated where I was put to live, so over winter break I requested a new housing assignment, and got placed into one of my top choices of where I wanted to live! Whether or not students leave the dorm room doors open depends on where you live and the people you live with. Leaving your door open is one way that can make getting to know people easier!

There is always something going on. Whether is be a concert, sporting event, lecture, musical performace, guest speaker etc. It is very easy to make friends. In my freshman dorm our doors were always open. At any given time of the day you could find someone to talk to. Some people party every weekend and some don't. You dont alwasy have to go to big parties either, you will meet people that know people etc.

The most popular sports teams are the hockey and basketball teams. The most attended games are probably the hockey games. I am involved in a group called Alpha Lambda Delta which is an academic honors society for freshmen who had GPAs of 3.7 or higher..I think. They have academic, fundraising, and community service events. I've heard that students keep their doors open, but mostly during freshman year. (During my freshman year, almost everyone kept their doors open, but I heard that after freshman year, more people start to keep them closed..I'm not sure why.) I met my closest friends in my dorm. Almost all my friends that I spend the most time with were in my hall. If I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday, I'm just hanging out with my friends, maybe watching tv. A lot of people party often, maybe every weekend, including some Thursdays. Frats and sororities don't seem to be that important, but a lot of people go to frats on the weekends to dance and party. If you don't want to drink, there are movies at the campus center on Friday nights, or you can go to the mall or movies in Amherst (or maybe it's Hadley, a town nextdoor), or take the bus to Northampton. There are many arts events at the Fine Arts center or at the surrounding colleges (Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire), you just have to find out when they are. Off campus there is a small mall and movie theater nearby and places like Northampton a bus ride away.

For three years, I have lived with many of the same people (in dorms) who I met my freshman year. Our dorm halls have always been places conducive to socialization. I've heard good things about most of the athletic events, but have only attended football games. The easiest thing to find to do on a weekend night? Definitely drink/party. Off campus, there are always lots of alternative activities though: independent movie theaters, concerts, great restaurants, etc.

Typically pretty boring. There are a lot of clubs and activities but they're not all that interesting and not many people attend.

The Marching Band is GREAT amounts of fun. We go to away games every once in a while, and the people you meet will be lifelong friends. I met my boyfriend while in Marching Band, and I don't regret it at all. Lots of people choose to leave their doors open, and some don't. If you want to make friends on your floor, it's a great way to meet people. Finding potential relationship people isn't so hard either. You can reach out to a club or activity, go to sporting events, or to frat/sorority parties and meet lots of great people, just be careful about the parties.

There is so much to do on campus, its amazing! The sporting events, which are free for all Umass students, gain a lot of attention and are usually packed with a sea of maroon and white. Since there are so many clubs and organization on campus, over 300, there are a lot of different performances or events that are hosted to attract students. Aside from that, there are thousands of lecturers and speakers coming to campus to either gain political interest or explain the newest research. I've attended some worldly performances like the Moscow Ballet and Symphony perform the Nutcracker, or an improvisational group from Chicago. The great thing about most of these performances on campus is that they are either free or have reduced ticket prices for students, which is wicked awesome. Aside from the different performances hosted by clubs or organizations, the University hosts barbeques, concerts, and fun events for students. During the spring, Umass is booming with different events like the Taste of Umass, which different restaurants and companies dish out free food and drinks for students. Point is, there is too much to do on campus.

Most of the dorms are pretty friendly. Sylvan can be really quiet and weird. I lived there for 3 years and people don't usually come out of their rooms or suites it seems. As long as you put yourself out there though it is not hard to make friends. There are a ton of frats and sororities and parties every weekend if you are into that thing. Night life is pretty busy on the weekends down in the center of town. There are lots of things to do without drinking such as movies, the mall, bowling and many other activities.

UMass party scene--awesome. Especially the bars. Go to a frat to experience it, but don't make a habit out of it.

Many sports teams to join. Many volunteer opportunities.

My experience in the university's Chamber Choir was incredible. Most of my fellow musicians were music majors, but the experience was no different for me than it was for any of them. The athletic events at UMass are pretty fun to attend. Our football team is perennially one of the best in division 1-AA, and hockey, basketball and lacrosse are all popular. The social scene is largely based on partying, though there are other ways of getting to know people. I made most of my friends through singing, my housing situation, and my work in the film studies program.

Football games are a big event, even though it's only a D1-AA school. The hockey games are great fun and we're usually pretty good. You'll definitely meet friends in the dorms, so drag them with you. Depending on your floor and area, most people will leave the doors open. The first few weeks try to meet as many people as possible. Usually there is at least one party per floor every weekend. Some get crazier than others. The frat houses usually have parties as well. They get pretty packed usually, but that may be your cup of tea. With so many people to meet, you'll probably find a gal/guy to your liking. Aside from the stuff on campus, you can go to a movie theater in the mall (bus ride), or check out the independent film theater, or just hang out around town. There are places to go on dates :) There are also places open late. I got a sub from Chicago pizza at 3am, as I was just wondering the town with a buddy of mine (somehow I still think it's the best one I've ever had). Antonio's has the best and strangest pizza combinations (pesto chicken is delicious). Bueno-Y-Sano has the best deal on a dinner - $5.75 for two tacos, rice and beans, and a jalapeno popper. There is also Black Sheep bakery with some good sandwiches, pasta e basta - good italian food, Amherst brewing Company - more traditional american food. When you turn 21, make sure to check out the Moan and Dove - bar for beer snobs. They have over 100 bottles on the bottle list and at least 10 beers on tap every night. It's a low key place - no one goes there to get drunk. Intramurals are great here. The only catch is you gotta find a team (if it's a team sport). Go to the singles meetings and they'll throw you on one. There is also a skating rink open to public. The skates there are pretty dull, but if you have your own, you're all set. There are great hiking trails here. Sadly, you'd need a car to get to some of them. If you get a chance, check out skinner state park - grab some stuff to grill and have a ball, the Mt. Holyoke range, Mt. Sugarloaf, to name a few. There is also a corn maze in Sunderland (north of campus). All in all, there are a lot of things to do, but some require a little bit of exploring :)

There's a group for just about everything. Dorm life varies depending on where you are on campus but its easy to form a tight group of friends. The resident communities where people of the same interest and major live together help a lot and I found that some of the best friendships are formed there. Partying happens frequently although its about on par with any other big school.

UMM we like to drink a lot. I know I said that was a stereotype but like, honestly, at least my group of friends likes to drink a lot. And like Southwest is where a lot of the drinking happens. I dont really know anything about the other parts of campus but its definitely not as crazy. The weekend starts on Thursdays and everyone goes to the bars and stuff or like to Puffton or Townehouses (where juniors and seniors live off-campus). Greek life isn't that huge but its a good place for partying. Its not necessary to join one or go to their parties though. Some of the frats are sketchy and I've never heard of a sorority hosting a party. I met my closest friends freshman year, we lived on the same floor and now we're inseperable. My roommate and I met at Orientation. Its important to be open in th ebeginning of college. Even if you wanna shut your door you should leave it open becasue you'll look like you dont wanna make friends and thats a bad first impression. Now that its my 2nd year everyone is like always going in and out of rooms and stuff. Its a ton of fun once you get used to it.

athletic events are not popular. did not join any clubs or groups. frat life is pathetic, don't join one. you cannot do anything that doesn't involve drinkin on a SAt nite unless you have no friends. People party 4 times a week at least. Not much off campus; driving range, movies, thats about it. The town of Amherst sucks

My experience witht the social life at UMass was not positive. The people here mostly care about partying. Living in a dorm I have been awoken at 3,4,5 a.m. on weekdays. If you want a school that lives up to its party stereotype then this is it.

Social life is great. I'm not even going to bother to list my social life experiences because no matter what your interested or like to do you can find it and do it here.

all RSO's are popular. there is a RSO for everyone and if not you can make your own. um in he dorms i leave my door open all the time when i am in my room but i do lock it when i leave just because my valuables are in the room . everyone goes to the games there free so why not go and act a little crazy. most relationships last 2 weeks but there are those select few that make it. being awake at 2am is normal for me i am usually in my room chillin, playin taboo, yesterday i was in the longue just talkin with my friends on my floor. or i am at a party because there is always a party sometimes there wack but hey not all of them can be good. the frats and stuff are nice you get that brotherhood or sisterhood but it is hard from what i have seen. last weekend i was at the library just because i had to catch up on my work cause summer is coming and it is suchnice weather outside that why not go out. and not everything invlolves drinking i know how to party without a drink it depends on who you are i dont need a drink to make me happy i am content the way i am cause truthfully i am allready crazy so a drink which just not be good for me