Orientation
Once you’ve decided to enroll at UMass Amherst, you will participate in several New Student Orientation and Transitions (NSOT) programs, including programming for all new Commonwealth Honors College students specific to your experience.
Commonwealth Honors College Group Advising
All new CHC students will be required to participate in a virtual group advising meeting. The meeting will provide you with a broad overview of the CHC curriculum and how to incorporate CHC requirements into your course scheduling for your first semester and beyond. While you will not register for classes during the group advising meeting, the content will better prepare you to register for courses when you have an individual advising appointment with your major advisor.
Commonwealth Honors College Welcome Meeting
CHC welcome meetings will be held both in person and virtually, for those who cannot travel to campus. The meetings provide new CHC students the opportunity to:
- Meet CHC advisors and learn more about our advising services
- Learn about the benefits of the CHC experience
- Connect with other new CHC students
- Learn more about the CHC curriculum and ways to fulfill CHC requirements
- Review the CHC Terms of Agreement to better understand our student expectations
Individual Advising and Course Registration
As part of NSOT, you will have a virtual individual advising appointment with an advisor in your major. It is during this appointment that you will register for classes for your first semester. The information provided during your CHC group advising meeting should prepare you to register for one or two honors courses. These include:
- HONORS 201H: Ideas That Changed the World—All first year CHC students should take this course during their first year.
- ENGLWRIT 112H: College Writing—All first year CHC students should take this course in their first year, unless they already have credit for a College Writing equivalent (AP credit, transfer credit, exemption).
- An honors General Education course—There are many courses that fulfill both a UMass General Education requirement and a CHC requirement.
- Any honors course—Students with many AP or transfer credits that fulfill College Writing and all other General Education requirements can take any other available honors courses of interest if they have completed the necessary prerequisites.
If you’re in an Honors Residential Academic Program (RAP), you only need to take the honors courses listed for that RAP.
Housing and RAP Choices
- During NSO, you must confirm your housing and RAP choice.
- Only CHC students may choose to live in Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community housing.
- If you have decided not to be in a RAP, you will need to confirm your housing preferences online.
