Why Commonwealth Honors College? UPDATE DRAFT
About
Five Reasons to Choose Commonwealth Honors College
- When you join Commonwealth Honors College, you become part of a first-rate community of scholars within the larger campus life at UMass Amherst.
- You will build your own close-knit community in Honors—through attending fun Honors events, taking part in small classes, and making direct connections with renowned professors as well as fellow students who are passionate about learning.
- As an Honors student, you will also have access to dedicated advising staff to help you navigate college life, and can receive financial support for your thesis through Honors Research Grants.
- You will build the foundations for your own success in the future, working to create skills and a collection of work that will be helpful in your postgrad life.
- Last but not least, you will have access to the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community, a special place where classes are taught, you can study, and hang out with the Honors students who make it their home.
Why Commonwealth Honors College at UMass Amherst?
Curious what makes UMass Amherst stand out? Hear from Mimi about her unique journey to choosing UMass Amherst and Commonwealth Honors College.
Video produced by Mimi Letsaroj. Videography by Theo Nims and Mimi Letsaroj
A Community of Scholars
You will benefit from a tight-knit community, close ties with faculty, small Honors classes, valuable Honors advising, and access to special programs, merit scholarships, and research grants.
A Campus Full of Opportunities
As a Commonwealth Honors College student, you will have access to the extensive resources of UMass Amherst—a large research university with more than 100 majors, including the option to design your own, and wide-ranging opportunities for student engagement.
Your Passion, Your Project, Your Future
Dive into your passion with the Honors Thesis. It’s not just another homework assignment. The Honors Thesis is an opportunity to delve into a topic you choose, work on a personal level with mentors, and build your confidence and research skills.
Small Classes, Big Ideas
The Honors curriculum promotes education that is both broad and deep.
Through Honors General Education courses, you can reach beyond the boundaries of your academic major, while advanced scholarship tracks provide opportunities to delve deeply into your topics of interest.
In-Depth Curriculum
Small, discussion-based courses taught by faculty members from a variety of disciplines encourage extended explorations of ideas and facilitate meaningful interactions. You will have many opportunities to enrich your academic interests through in-depth independent work.
Advising
Honors advisors provide invaluable guidance and support for all aspects of your CHC student journey: your Honors academic experience, campus academic and cocurricular opportunities, scholarships and research funding, and your Honors Thesis.
Honors Living-Learning Community
With Honors living, you can live with other Honors students who ‘get’ you. It’s where you’ll find your place among ambitious friends, share late-night study sessions, and cheer each others’ success.
Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community
Located in the heart of campus the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community includes residence halls, classrooms, study spaces, an events hall, the Bloom Honors Advising Center, and Roots Café.
Residential Academic Programs
Many first-year students participate in Honors Residential Academic Programs (RAPs). In these Honors RAPs, CHC students live on the same floor and take one or two classes together, often with related themes.
Setting a Course for Future Success: Claire Healy
Claire Healy ’21, now an Esserman Fellow at The Miami Herald, was named a 2024 Pulitzer Finalist for her work at The Washington Post.
Video produced by Eva Trainer. Videography by Will Kraft, Nina Prenosil, Sam Safarty-Jackson, and Eva Trainer
Meet Our Student Ambassadors
We are a group of Commonwealth Honors College students with wide-ranging academic interests, hobbies, extracurricular involvements, and long-term postgraduation goals. We can help support prospective students like you, and your families, in learning more about being an Honors student at UMass.
Contact
Ann Marie Russell
Ann Marie Russell is an Associate Dean of Recruitment and Belonging at Commonwealth Honors College.
