Advising is the best way to get guidance along your academic journey. You don’t have to figure things on your own! Get assistance with selecting classes to make sure you are on track for graduation and get advice on adding a double major, minor, or certificate. Consider your advisor & your advising center your first stop resource!

As you prepare for your first year at UMass Amherst, there are a few steps you can take to better assist you with the transition process. Register for advising to get guidance through your academic journey. Join a Residential Academic Program (RAP) and get involved in Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) to connected with your peers & communities! 

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My RAP Experience: Divya '25

Major: Psychology on the Neuroscience Tracks and Human Pathophysiology (BDIC)
Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA

My UMass experience really began in my RAP class. Before arriving at UMass, I had registered for a RAP: PHIL164 Medical Ethics in Cance Hall. Even though I am a member of the College of Natural Sciences, I was excited to register in a RAP that covered Humanities and Fine Arts. I knew I had to take an Arts/Literature class as a general education requirement at some point during my four years here, so I jumped at the chance to take one first semester freshman year.

As a student on the pre-medical track, I figured Medical Ethics would not only be the most interesting to me, but also the most useful for my career path. Little did I know that this RAP would be a fantastic way to meet new friends that lived just down the hall from me. I was able to collaborate on group readings, philosophy papers and more with my next-door neighbors. More importantly, I never had to worry about who I would be getting lunch with after our 12:30 p.m. lectures.

The content of the class itself was also extremely interesting: we covered medical dilemmas from abortion to euthanasia, and learned how to formulate a proper philosophical argument. Many of my peers loved this class just as much as I did — to the point where we were  actually excited to read the philosophy papers we were assigned each week. My roommate actually began a philosophy minor after taking this class! In all, I am so glad that I was able to take this course as a RAP, and am extremely thankful to have started my UMass experience with such a great class.

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My RSO Experience: Alejandro '23

Major: English; Minor: Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Although I have only been a part of the HFA Student Leadership Board for this year, I so wish I had joined earlier in my freshman year. The Student Leadership Board is in charge of a weekly meeting held on Tuesdays where students come and work on different committees, which are: Small Events, Showcase, Field trip, and The Scribe. For these committees, there is an E-Board, a group of students who are voted on and decided to lead each committee during the meetings. For example, the Small Events committee, which I am a co-board member of, is in charge of organizing the weekly meetings, the activities we do during the meeting, and any special celebrations throughout the year. Not only is this good for building leadership skills, but it also gives you the chance to meet people and socialize.

On a big campus like UMass (and if you’re introverted like myself) it’s so helpful and fun to be able to meet people that share your interests and passions without the pressure of being in a classroom or Zoom meeting. The SLB has a great mix of students with all different backgrounds and educational aspirations, and we always manage to have a good time during our meetings. It’s a chance to get to know other people, participate in fun activities, and is a way to unwind with friends at the end of the day.  

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My RSO Experience: Amanda

I have been in the Humanities and Fine Arts Student Leadership Board (HFA SLB) for four years and I can count the amount of times I’ve missed a meeting on one hand. I joined my first month on campus as a first-year student. I was immediately drawn into the energetic, playful environment of the group. We worked collaboratively to run student events such as the Student Showcase and the college-wide field trip to New York City, but also allowed time at the end of every meeting to play a game or activity. I am the type of college student to fill my schedule to the minute with jobs, classes, and extracurriculars. The last 20 minutes or so of every Tuesday meeting was a time to allow myself to relax without an attempt at being productive. I loved the group so much, I decided to take on even more leadership by the end of that first semester by joining the executive board. The SLB was a safe place to practice my leadership skills before bringing them into my jobs and teaching experiences as an English and education double major. The collaborative and compassionate nature of the SLB allows you to slowly build confidence as a leader while other students support you. 

Use your first semester to learn how to get around campus, become familiar with your class schedule and campus resources, make friends and build community! Once you find your groove, apply for internships and leadership positions, delve into research, and explore opportunities to travel! 

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My Internship Experience: Jorge '23

During my spring semester of sophomore year 2021, I got involved with Phallacies and Radius MFA after attending our digital HFA Internships and Career fair. Phallacies, a men and masculinities performance and support group, was an invaluable moment of learning and understanding for me as our weekly meetings would always strive to challenge every aspect of Toxic Masculinity as it was present in our lives. From developing skits, to engaging in group therapy, my time with Phallacies went far in developing my understanding of what it meant to be a part of an involved and caring community that strived to better both the people it served and the minds that made it happen.

With Radius MFA, we worked on developing community outreach in the Holyoke area by teaching digital literacy and storytelling. As a student, I was brought on as a grant writer and learned much about the process of scouting out possible foundations as well as learning step-by-step how to develop an informed grant proposal, something I had supplemented in my previous years as a UMass student where professional writing courses had me engaged with much of the same.

Without a doubt, my time with these two groups was extremely developmental in my experience as a part of HFA as it provided me with the valuable interpersonal knowledge I needed to further expand my interest in non-profit and community-oriented work. 

My Study Away Experience: Emily '22

Double Major: Special Education and Spanish, with a certificate in Developmental Disabilities and Human Services 
Hometown: Milford, MA

I studied abroad in Southern Spain for about three months. I attended a school in Granada that was part language school and part flamenco school. This program was a full Spanish language immersion, so I lived with a Spanish-speaking family, all of my classes were taught in Spanish, and even socially there weren’t too many English-speakers around. I learned more in the first two weeks of this program than I did with YEARS of high school Spanish classes. My classes (which were all capped at five students) were really challenging and intense, and I’m certain that this experience was the best thing I could have done for my Spanish language development. But my study abroad experience  was also so FUN and EXCITING!! I got to spend time in the city, make new friends, lay on the beach,  and travel all over the country. I have amazing photos and memories and connections for when I return. One last important detail: this semester abroad was significantly less expensive than a semester in-state at UMass (which is already my best financial option). Through the support of UMass Financial Aid and the International Programs Office, I was able to coordinate my housing, visa, flights, and all the logistics of living abroad — while actually saving a lot of money. I would highly recommend studying away to anyone who’s even a little bit interested because the range of opportunity and support from UMass makes it easier than I expected, and my time in Spain was amazing.  

As the Commonwealth’s flagship public research university, UMass Amherst is dedicated to educating the public, generating new knowledge, and applying discoveries to the betterment of society. Our research is a major contributor to the Massachusetts economy through leadership in advanced materials and manufacturing, applied life and health sciences, data and computational science, the arts and creative economy, climate science and sustainability, and equity and inclusion. 

Thank you for taking the time to explore URep UMass: Virtual Edition!  

Please join HFA for a URep Virtual Session on Monday, April 11, from 7:30–8:30 p.m. (Students will receive an email invitation to sign up.)

If you would like to make UMass Amherst your university home, here are the next steps for enrollment! 

1. Pay your Deposit: The enrollment deadline is May 1 
2. Register for New Student Orientation & Transitions 
3. Enjoy the rest of your senior year! 
4. We hope to see you at UMass Amherst in the fall.