Residential Academic Programs (RAP) provides UMass Amherst students with the opportunity to participate in a variety of rewarding academic and social experiences.
Students that participate in a RAP program quickly become part of the UMass Amherst community. RAP programming gives students the tools to build a strong foundation for their academic and personal success.
Updates for Fall 2019 program details coming soon!
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Small communities, BIG opportunities -
CONNECT with classmates for study groups and class projects. -
Transition more easily to college life -
More in-depth discussions
Coming to UMass in the Fall? Consider joining a RAP!
Joining a RAP community is easy, and helps students successfully transition to college life.
Who? ANY incoming first-year student (all majors and exploratory tracks) are encouraged to join a RAP program. Nearly half of incoming first-year students participate in a RAP.
What? A RAP includes an exciting course with a small class size and a living-learning community in the residence hall. These courses are taught by engaging instructors and fulfill university requirements. All RAPs help students build a foundation for success in college.
Where? There are RAPs in all first-year residence halls in Central, Northeast, Orchard Hill, Southwest, and the Commonwealth Honors College residential areas. Most RAPs have a one-semester course commitment, but students keep their living arrangement for the year.
Why? Dynamic & supportive instructors, lasting friendships, skills for a successful college experience, the ability to select your residence hall, and much more - all for free.
See what other students have to say about their RAP experience!
RAP has a variety of options. Explore these choices and see which RAP is best for you!
RAP students have so much to say about their experience. Check out all the wonderful comments!
There are various ways to make a decision about which First-Year RAP is best for you. Since each Gen Ed RAP has a designated course, you can review the comprehensive List of courses for Gen Ed RAPs for Fall 2018 to see which courses spark your interest.
Students may have a particular area of campus they prefer to live. Since RAPs are located in all first-year residence halls in five areas of campus, you can review this PDF of RAPs by Location for Fall 2018 to see which RAPs are offered in the various residential areas.
For more than 50 years RAP has been a great way for incoming students to begin their college careers. Many features have changed over the years, but it has always been true that when students join a RAP, they become part of a small community on a large campus.
Check out our About RAP page to learn more!
Visit the first-year programs page to see all available options for first-year students for Fall 2018. If you are a transfer student, visit the Transfer RAP page.
“Joining a RAP was the best decision I have made so far in college. I have now met all of my best friends in this class while engaging in course material that I am very passionate about.” Fall 2017 RAP Student