As I am writing this, December 4th, 2020, it is officially the last day of finals here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for the fall 2020 semester. For myself, this marks my final day as an undergraduate student here at UMass Amherst. After three and a half years, I can hardly believe that this lovely chapter is coming to a close. While this may not be the way I envisioned the ending of my time here to look like, I feel incredibly happy with the time I had and all the wonderful memories that I was able to create.  

With my time at UMass Amherst coming to a close, here are my final thoughts and advice as I close this chapter. 

With most University of Massachusetts classes happening remotely this semester, there are undoubtedly numerous students missing the liveliness and energy of campus life, I know I am! As a final semester senior, I am acutely missing life on campus. With the semester already in full swing, I found myself feeling a bit detached from the semester in my new remote work environment. This had me thinking; how can I bring the energy and spirit of UMass to my new found off-campus workspace? 

Find yourself missing life at UMass Amherst like myself? Here are four ways that you can keep your UMass spirit alive while you are away from campus.

Meet Allison Evans, a senior here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst studying biomedical engineering.

For many of us here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, this is our first entirely remote semester, which could be a significant adjustment for students who are accustomed to traditional face to face learning. You may not have been prepared to turn your living space into your workspace for this entire semester. Suddenly your bedroom, dining room, or even your kitchen has turned into your new classroom and workspace, which can be a rough adjustment especially if you are living with other people who have completely different schedules.

To help make this new normal a bit more manageable, here are four tips for working remotely that will make your experience this semester less stressful and more productive.

When I was applying to colleges, I remember spending the summer going into my senior year of high school working on my college applications. I already had my SAT scores (this was before UMass went test optional), my personal statement written (thanks to my wonderful AP Literature teacher), and a list of colleges I wanted to apply to. Having already gone through the process of applying to colleges, read on for my two major tips for students looking to start their college application process.

It is hard to believe that the spring 2020 semester has officially concluded. Though it's had its highs and lows, every student deserves a warm congratulations for pushing through such an unprecedented semester, especially to the graduating seniors. Here on the UMass Amherst Admissions marketing communications team, we have four seniors who are graduating today. Angela McNamara, Xenia Arinez, Jonathan Lang, and Eric Rybicki have been valuable  members of our team and have worked tirelessly to provide engaging content for prospective students. 

To celebrate our graduating team members, here is what the graduating interns here at admissions have to say about their time at UMass Amherst and their advice for the incoming class of 2024. 

As a soon to be rising senior (scary, I know!), my junior year of high school feels like a lifetime ago. Since I have been home due to COVID-19, my junior year of college has become oddly reminiscent of my junior year in high school. Being home, in my childhood bedroom, has me thinking a lot about my process of applying to colleges.

Meet Nyah Webb, a junior legal studies and sociology student here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. With aspirations to work in law enforcement, here is how UMass Amherst is helping prepare her to reach her goals.

Meet Esha, a sophomore biomedical engineering (BME) student here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. With aspirations to explore biotherapeutics and drug development, here is how UMass Amherst is helping prepare her to reach her goals.

Deciding which college to attend is not easy, especially when you have a lot of great options. So, how do I decide what university to attend? Here are four of the reasons why I decided to attend UMass Amherst.

Truthfully, I came into online learning rather skeptical. I have very little experience with Zoom, the online video platform UMass students are using to attend class, and could not imagine how this would function normally. I am so used to physically attending class. How could I possibly focus, or even have the drive, to attend class remotely? I had my doubts about how seamless this transition would be. 

Like many other college students, I have little experience with online courses, let alone taking them from my childhood home. Despite the change, I am determined to make the most out of this situation by placing a lot of focus and passion into my academics. I have been thinking a lot lately about how I will maintain my usual productivity under such different circumstances than I am normally used to. So, how do I plan to remain productive in a time of change and uncertainty? Here are the three things I am doing to stay productive and motivated.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is well known for its number one campus dining. With a mission to contribute to the campus life experience by providing a variety of healthy and flavorful meals featuring local, regional, and world cuisine in a sustainable and environmentally conscious manner, UMass Dining is an integral part of the UMass experience.

Almost everything has myths, even colleges. When I first decided to attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I thought I knew everything there was to know about the school. Needless to say, I found that many of my assumptions to be wrong, especially once I came to know the school on my own.

My time in college is quickly dwindling. It feels like just yesterday I was a nervous freshman frantically refreshing Google Maps in attempts to find my way around campus. Looking back, it always makes me laugh when remembering how much of a lost puppy I was. Now, I could map the campus with my eyes closed. But in a few short months, my vision of campus will only be a far off memory. 

I have a lot of fond memories here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, but I am eager to flourish into adult life. My internship experiences have given me a taste of the corporate workforce, and I have been missing it since I left. While my future is uncertain, uncertainty excites me, and so does a challenge.

The convenience of having a Peter Pan Bus stop right here on the UMass Amherst campus (located in the Haigis Mall) is a huge perk that I believe is extremely overlooked. Whether you are heading home for the weekend, traveling with friends, or just about any of your other traveling needs, the Peter Pan Bus is a great mode of transportation.

I applied to the University of Massachusetts Amherst as an English major back in 2017. Throughout the entirety of my schooling, I have always been fascinated by literature. I was a textbook book worm. I always had my nose in a book and I was constantly on the hunt for the next piece of literature I could get my hands on. When I was in high school, my love for English flourished. I took Advanced Placement Literature and the course challenged me to explore the depth of the discipline, and left me hungry for more. Back in high school I also had the most compassionate and vibrant English teacher, and her passion for the subject led in part to my decision to pursue a career in English. Despite adding a secondary major in communication, my love for English is still as strong as ever. 

As much as I love food, especially the number one campus dining offered here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I am an awful cook. I do not even think that I am capable of cooking a simple dish at the moment, that is how awful I am. Given that I am moving away on my own this summer for work, I am scrambling to learn how to cook before I starve to death or run solely on carry out. Thankfully, my wonderful friends that live off-campus treat me to their phenomenal cooking whenever I come over. Over this semester, I have been shadowing each meal preparation so that I can to finally teach myself how to cook.

Good old winter break. A much needed time of relaxation that never feels long enough to truly satisfy my need to curl up in bed with no responsibilities and watch Netflix all day. As I am writing this, I am now back at the University of Massachusetts Amherst ready to tackle this new semester. With classes starting in a few days, I have been able to take the time to reflect on what I have been up to this winter break. From getting my first tattoo, spending time with friends and family, traveling, and spending much needed time with my cat and dog, I would say that I had a very enjoyable winter break. 

Recently, I stumbled upon an old Facebook memory. On December 16, 2016, I posted about my acceptance into the University of Massachusetts Amherst. When my Facebook memories brought up the post, I could not believe that it had already been three years since I was first accepted. I sent a screenshot of the post to some of my friends here at UMass, and we all could not believe how old we felt. It was surreal to see that letter again after all these years, especially with my time here at UMass quickly coming to a close. This letter resurfacing made me stop and think about who I was then and who I have become now. While I am incredibly proud of the person I was, there is so much I wish I could go back and tell myself. With this in mind, here are four things I wish I could tell my past self before embarking on my journey here at UMass. 

Final exam season is likely one of the most dreaded periods on any college campus. From late nights at the library, way too much coffee, and really regretting that you spent all of your dining dollars earlier in the semester, final exam season can be a little stressful. Thankfully, finals week is also marked by de-stress events with puppies, lots of free food and gear, and other free events.

As a junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I have been on both sides of the spectrum; applying for colleges and applying to jobs. The start of your college career will be marked by applications and so will the end of it — but you will go through big changes during this time period. Thinking about who I was when applying to colleges and who I am now while applying to jobs, I feel like a completely different person with vastly different interests and goals. For myself, it is not that surprising how much I have changed over the years. I have always pictured college, much like searching for your first job, to be a time marked by exploration and self-discovery. 

There are many things I wish I could tell myself at the start of my journey here at UMass, so today I will be sharing my top five mistakes to avoid during your time at college to ensure you take the most out of your experience here at UMass. 

Hear from a tour guide at the University of Massachusetts Amherst about the best questions to ask and places to see when visiting campus.

Here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Spire will be your hub over these next four years where you can register for classes, view and pay your bill, pick your housing assignment and much more, so it is really important that you have a solid grasp on the website, something that NSO advisors will run through with you. 

Professional development opportunities are key to expanding and navigating your career path.

Few careers give people the ability to not only provide medical aid but bring happiness to individuals and their families, and comfort to those in need. Nurses are the backbone of the medical field and often provide unique attention to their patients that extend beyond medical care. Nursing is a highly popular and competitive major here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for just that reason.

Where you live — and with whom — plays a crucial role in your college experience.

I am a first-generation college student. As defined by the Common Application Systems, this means that neither of my parents completed a baccalaureate degree. Nearly a third of undergraduate students in the United States are first-generation and here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, about 25 percent of the population of each entering class is first-generation, revealing that a majority of college students are not first-generation. This means that many college students likely have a parent or relative that understands the collegiate process firsthand and can provide mentorship throughout the student’s journey — a huge resource that many first-generation students lack. It is hard to navigate college and the difficulties that come with it on your own, especially when your own parents do not understand what it is like in your shoes. Being first-generation comes with many challenges and benefits. Here is what my experience has been like as a first-generation college student at UMass Amherst. 

Hi everyone! My name is Aaliyah Quintal and I am a junior English and Communication double major here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.