Virtual Experience for Admitted Transfer Students

Congratulations and welcome to the University of Massachusetts Amherst!

As a prospective student, you read about the countless opportunities and resources the university offers. Now, as a member of our campus, you can begin planning your future as you more fully explore our remarkable learning and living community.

While it is an exciting time for you, our faculty and staff understand that the unknown can be daunting. Our goal is to answer your questions and provide guidance as you transition to the university.

We wish you all the best as you embark on this journey defined by intellectual, personal, and professional development. Once again, congratulations and Go UMass!

Learn more about your major

Learn more about Commonwealth Honors College

Important information for entering transfer students

Welcoming Transfer Students to UMass Amherst

Transfer Question & Answer Panel

Experience a virtual Q & A session with our student ambassadors in this series of videos.

Take a Virtual Tour of UMass Amherst

Launch Experience

Virtual Tour Navigation Guide

If you need help navigating through the tour, check out the video below. It explains how to move through the campus, and also how to find bonus content at each stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

I was accepted. What’s my next step?

Complete the “Your Decision” form on your student status page and submit your $500.00 enrollment fee. Once these are completed you will be confirmed for the upcoming semester.

How do I cancel my admission?

If you decide to decline our offer of admission, please follow this link and select “I would like to decline my offer of admission.”

When is the deadline for accepting my offer of admission?

To ensure your space in the incoming class, please use the deposit deadline indicated in your acceptance letter. Generally, the enrollment deposit for the fall semester is June 1 and the spring semester is December 1.

I wasn’t admitted to my first choice major. Will I be able to change once I enroll?

Each department has their own requirements or prerequisites. We recommend looking at the department’s website to see what their requirements are for current students to change to that major. Some may only require a change of major form, while more selective programs may have additional requirements.

What does it cost to attend UMass Amherst?

Please check our Bursar’s Office website for the current tuition and fee schedule. For an estimation of the tuition and fees, please see our Financial Aid Services website.

Do I have to live on campus as a transfer student?

If you are transferring in as a sophomore, junior or senior you are not required to live on campus. If you are transferring in as a first-year student then you may be required to live on campus. Please see the following link for requirements for living on campus: https://www.umass.edu/living/assign/requirements.

How do I find out about living off campus?

The following link has information about off campus housing options and resources: https://offcampushousing.umass.edu/.

How do I know which credits transferred?

About three to four weeks after acceptance your official Transfer Credit Evaluation will be posted to your SPIRE account under Academics > Transfer Credit.

Where do I send my Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or A level exams to receive credit?

Students can receive credit through Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), and International A Level examinations. Strong scores may allow for a course waiver or course credit. All scores MUST be sent to the Office of Admissions directly from the testing agency. It is also helpful to have a copy of your test scores on hand when first meeting with an academic advisor. This will let academic advisors know what credits you have earned.

Visit the Registrar's website for more information about transferring credit.

What do I need to do if I’m an international student?

Welcome! Each year we admit students from over 70 countries around the world. Please see our checklist for admitted international students. Also, our International Programs Office works with international students throughout their academic careers, assisting with initial immigration advising and documentation, orientation, and ongoing advising and counseling.

When can I register for classes?

Once you have submitted the “Your Decision” form on your Student Status Page and paid your enrollment fee, you will be able to register for New Students Orientation (NSO). During NSO, you will work with an advisor to register for your courses for the upcoming semester.

How do I know who my advisor will be?

The advisor you work with during New Students Orientation will be a general advisor from your academic department and may or may not be your permanent advisor. Your permanent advisor will be assigned to you on your Spire account on the “Student Center” tab at the beginning of your first semester.

How do I sign up for housing?

Housing forms will be available on your Spire account after you submit your enrollment fee. The housing deadlines for students starting in the fall semester are in early June, and for students starting in the spring semester the deadlines are in early December. Please visit the UMass Office of Residential Life for additional information.

Do I need to send my final transcripts?

Yes. Your offer of admission is contingent on successful completion of all courses in progress or planned prior to your entry to UMass Amherst.

Official high school transcripts can be submitted via email to mail@admissions.umass.edu.

All post-secondary institution transcripts (community colleges, other colleges, etc.) must be sent to us electronically through one of the following services: National Clearinghouse, E-Script Safe, or Parchment. If any of these services require you to provide an email address, please use elcolts@admissions.umass.edu.

If a high school or post-secondary transcript needs to be mailed, the address is:

UMass Amherst Undergraduate Admissions Office
Mather Building
37 Mather Drive
Amherst, MA 01003

When do you need my transcripts for college courses I took in high school?

After all college courses are completed, please have the official transcripts sent to us directly from the college. If the courses are transferrable, then the credit hours and grades will be added to your UMass Amherst record once you begin your first semester. Student-printed transcripts are not considered official.

Financial Award FAQs

How is the merit scholarship distributed?

The merit scholarship is applied as a credit toward your university bill. Half of the merit scholarship is applied in the fall semester, and the other half applies to the spring semester. Therefore, if your merit scholarship is $10,000, you will see a $5,000 credit on the fall semester bill and a $5,000 credit again on the spring bill.

Do I have to take any steps to renew the merit scholarship?

The merit scholarship is renewed automatically, as long as you maintain the minimum requirements of satisfactory academic progress. The minimum requirements of satisfactory academic progress can be found in the Academic Regulations available on the University Registrar website.

What happens if I change my approved academic load to part-time?

Sometimes a graduating senior (in their final semester) does not need to attend full time (12 or more credits) to graduate. In these cases the merit scholarship will be adjusted (prorated based on number of credits) to recognize the part-time enrollment status. For all other students, the merit scholarship requires full-time enrollment (12 or more credits per semester).

Federal immigration regulations severely limit international students with visas to be enrolled less than full time, but it may be allowed in some circumstances. If you find yourself in this position, please contact the International Programs Office.

What happens to my award if I miss a semester?

We strongly discourage students from missing a semester, however we understand that there may be extenuating circumstances when you may need to do so. This includes students with medical issues, students that are called to active duty, and those needing to withdraw from the university after the semester has begun. If you find yourself in this position, please contact Financial Aid Services.

Is my merit scholarship affected if I take a semester for study abroad or a similar academic credit-bearing program?

No, as long as you contact Financial Aid Services prior to leaving campus and enroll in an approved academic program you will be eligible to continue to receive your merit scholarship.

Can I use the merit scholarship for winter or summer sessions?

No, the merit scholarship is only available for fall and spring semesters.

Does changing my residency status affect the merit scholarship?

As a public university, the UMass Amherst cost of attendance is lower for residents of Massachusetts and higher for nonresidents. This is typical at all state universities. The merit scholarship for nonresidents is designed to help academically qualified nonresidents meet the cost of attendance. If you change your residency status from nonresident to resident, the merit scholarship will be eliminated because your cost of attendance would be reduced with the residency change. It should be noted that this isn’t likely to be an issue since it is extremely rare for students to be able to change their residency status once they have been admitted.

UMass Amherst participates in the New England Board of Higher Education’s Tuition Break program, which is known as the New England Regional Student Program (RSP). Besides Massachusetts, the states that are part of the program are Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This program enables New England residents to enroll at out‐of‐state New England public colleges and universities at a discount. Students from the aforementioned states are eligible for the RSP tuition break when they enroll in an approved major that is not offered by the public colleges and universities in their home state.

Students cannot obtain both the RSP discount and a merit scholarship, but in this unique situation will be assured of receiving the greater of the two, which is always the scholarship. For example, this year's RSP discount is $6,937 per academic year. If your merit scholarship is $10,000 you will be receiving an additional $3,063 per year by taking the scholarship. More details on the RSP are available at: http://www.nebhe.org/programs-overview/rsp-tuition-break/overview

Does changing my major affect my merit scholarship?

No, changing your major will not affect your merit scholarship.

If I don’t maintain satisfactory academic progress, do I lose my merit scholarship immediately?

Students are given one semester to improve their academic performance. At the end of this semester the student is expected to be maintaining the minimum requirements of academic progress to continue to receive their merit scholarship.

Whom can I contact for additional information?

You can contact a Financial Aid staff member either by phone at 413-545-0801 or by email: finaid@finaid.umass.edu.

Next Steps

PAY ENROLLMENT DEPOSIT: Let us know whether or not you will accept our offer of admission by letting us know your decision. You'll find a link to do so on your acceptance letter. If you accept, you will pay the non-refundable $500 enrollment deposit online at that time.
SIGN UP FOR NEW STUDENTS ORIENTATION: Once your enrollment deposit has been processed, and the orientation registration site opens, you can register for New Students Orientation. Students who have paid their enrollment deposit receive an email when the registration site opens.

Questions? Contact Us!

We'd love to answer any questions you have about UMass Amherst!

If you're wondering about the admissions process and your application to UMass, please email our admissions counselors at mail @admissions.umass.edu.

If you have questions about being a student at UMass, please email our student fellows at tours@umass.edu.

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