Family Ready for the U

A) Guide to the U: All new students are required to review the content of this interactive, online guide, which they can access beginning on April 1 and continue to use until graduation. The guide introduces students to the programs, services, and resources available to them at the university and offers a checklist and personalized list of links to the areas that new students want to know more about. As a family member, you will have guest access so that you can see what information and resources are being shared with students and so you will be better equipped to support their college journey and refer them to appropriate resources should the need arise. NOTE: The primary audience for Guide to the U is our new students, but you’ll find a few slides throughout tailored just for family members.

B) On-Campus Ready for the U: Each student can invite up to two family members to attend our On-Campus Ready for the U session. If invited, you will need to register after your student registers. During on-campus Ready for the U, registered guests have opportunities to interact with university staff and current students and identify strategies and behaviors that support your student’s overall success as they transition to the UMass community. Students and families attend several sessions together. Please note that capacity is limited for our on-campus sessions. Please make sure your student, and then you, register early if you want to attend on-campus. 

Please keep in mind other important commitments and events like travel and work plans. Make sure you talk with your student before selecting a Ready for the U date. Choose a session that does not conflict with any other commitments so that you can attend the full program. All listed times are for the Eastern Time Zone. Families have the options of:

• Two-Day, On-Campus sessions take place from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. the following day
• One-Day, On-Campus sessions take place from 8:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.

A) Guide to the U: All new students are required to review the content of this interactive, online guide, which they can access beginning on April 1 and continue to use until graduation. The guide introduces students to the programs, services, and resources available to them at the university and offers a checklist and personalized list of links to the areas that new students want to know more about. As a family member, you will have guest access so that you can see what information and resources are being shared with students and so you will be better equipped to support their college journey and refer them to appropriate resources should the need arise. NOTE: The primary audience for Guide to the U is our new students, but you’ll find a few slides throughout tailored just for family members.

B) One-day Online Ready for the U: Family members who are unable to participate in our On-campus Ready for the U may be invited to attend our full-day Ready for the U session via Zoom from 9:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. If invited, you will need to register after your student registers. During Online Ready for the U, registered guests have opportunities to interact with university staff and current students and identify personal strategies and behaviors that support your student’s overall success as they transition to the UMass community. Students and families attend several sessions together.

Guide to the U is now updated for the Fall 2024 cohort.

• Click the Create New Guest Account button on the guest login page
• Complete the required fields including setting your own password for that site
• Under Guest Type select Family Member
• Click the Create New Account Button
• Remember your email and the password you choose as you will use this to login again any time you return to the Guide to the U
• Your Guide to the U guest account is not tied to your student's account and you may see content that does not apply to your student (ex. transfer specific pages when your student is a first-year and vice versa)

NOTE: Students do not log in through the Guest page and instead authenticate into Guide to the U on the student log in page using their UMass Amherst IT account credentials.

Ready for the U for parents and family members is an on-campus OR online experience where you will have the opportunity to:

• Learn about a variety of student services, including academics, diversity and inclusion, partnering with campus resources, and more to support your student throughout their college career
• Meet university staff and become acquainted with their roles in the university community and their contributions to student learning and development
• Meet current students and find out their perspectives on life as a student at UMass
• Learn about the many ways parents, family, and supporters can contribute to the adjustment and achievement of a student, as well as the transition you will experience at home
• Experience the award-winning UMass Dining

Ready for the U takes place between June 11 and July 31. You will see the dates you're eligible to register for when you log into the registration site. Available dates vary based on your student's admit type (first-year or transfer), primary school/college, and overall capacity. The complete schedule will be available during Ready for the U.

Your student has the option to invite up to two family members to attend Ready for the U. Be sure to discuss family Ready for the U and session dates with your student if you are interested in attending and need an invitation link. Registration is a 4-step process. 

1. Your student will register for Ready for the U. They are responsible for selecting which guests to invite and adding your name and email address when they register for their Ready for the U.

2. If your student invites you, you will receive a unique link and registration code via email prompting you to complete your own registration. Please note that the email invitation you will receive does not register you for Ready for the U.

3. Each invitation code allows that guest to complete a unique registration. Unfortunately, only one transaction per code can be completed and each guest needs to register separately with their own code. 

4. You must complete the registration separately from your student. You are encouraged to sign up for the same session date as your student. 

On-Campus Ready for the U:

• Two-Day Session: $100 per person
• One-Day Session: $50 per person

Online Ready for the U:

• Free of charge (sessions will be recorded)

NOTE: Registration fees for on-campus Ready for the U sessions are non-refundable.

Financial Assistance: Fee reductions or waivers that reduce the cost of attending Ready for the U are available for families whose students have demonstrated financial need. Please contact us to determine if your student is eligible.

Overnight Accommodations: The registration fee does not include overnight accommodations. Parents, families, and supporters attending the On-Campus Ready for the U and planning to stay overnight need to make their own overnight lodging arrangements. Guests can make a reservation to stay at Hotel UMass or off campus for an additional charge.

Overnight accommodations for On Campus Ready for the U are not included in the cost of registration. Parents, families, and caregivers should arrange for their own overnight accommodations. The following options are available for Fall 2024:

• Hotel UMass: Families staying overnight for Ready for the U sessions can contact the hotel directly at 1-877-822-2110 to make reservations.

• Off Campus: For information on additional area lodging at hotels, bed & breakfasts, and Airbnb visit Places to Stay. (<--UPDATE LINK!!!)

NOTE: Residence hall accommodations for new students attending two-day Ready for the U sessions in the summer are for the new students only.