Your Transition to College

Your guide to UMass and Commonwealth Honors College

An aerial view from Southwest of the UMass Amherst campus

Everything You Need to Get Ready for Life at Commonwealth Honors College (CHC)

As a CHC student you start college with access to a close-knit community, but we know the transition can still be intimidating. Our team at CHC has put together information that will make that change easier and smoother. From dorm tours to advice on places to get food, CHC has got your back with inside information on the college experience in Honors and at UMass Amherst.

Take a look below to start strong in Honors!

In the Spotlight

Mari Casteneda headshot

We've assembled these resources to help you transition to Commonwealth Honors College successfully. We want to foster a welcoming environment, and in Honors we practice a Culture of Care: showing kindness to yourselves and others, creating spaces where everyone feels valued, and maintaining a commitment to justice, equity, and inclusion.

Dean Mari Castañeda
Leila giving her dog a kiss

Far From Home But Not From Heart

If you were to ask me the hardest part about going to college far from home, I would say it has been experiencing life events without some of the most important people in my life. But just because the distance can be challenging at times, that doesn’t mean it has to taint your college experience.
Read Leila's 5 tips for keeping close far from home!

The Honors Experience

Spend a day with an Honors student, see how our students are transforming the world, and find out how CHC has helped alums succeed!

The interviewee posing for a picture in front of a mountain lake

Elena Bauer's path from ISP to a Fulbright

When Elena Bauer, Biology '25, first heard about the International Scholars Program (ISP) at UMass Amherst, she didn't know it would lead her to live in two countries thousands of miles from home...

Read about Elena's story!
Alex Holmes poses with her hand to her head in front of a building

Alex Holmes' Journey into Transformable Fashion

For most students, a weekend getaway is a time to relax and escape the busyness of college. For senior operations and information management major Alex Holmes, it was the origin of an Honors Thesis idea that bridges high fashion and data-driven consumer research.

Read about Alex's story!
Hadiya Williams

How a Thesis Changed the Path for Hadiya Williams

Throughout her time at UMass, Hadiya Williams '18 was headed towards a certain path, medical school. As she progressed and experienced the opportunities UMass could offer, Williams faced a hard truth about her journey.

Read about Hadiya's story!
Michael Nicholson, mayor of Gardner, Masschusetts in a library

The Journey of Mayor Michael Nicholson

"College is the ideal environment to try new things, explore your interests, and maybe even develop a new passion," says Honors alum Michael Nicholson `17.

Read about Mike's story!