Residential Academic Programs at UMass Amherst

Residential Academic Programs, or RAPs, are small communities of new first-year and transfer students who live in the same residence hall and enroll in the same small course together. 

Residential Academic Programs

Fall 2025 Programming

Congratulations on your acceptance to UMass Amherst!

Make the transition to college life smoother and consider joining a RAP for your first semester on campus.

Priority Registration begins Monday, May 19 at 9:00am; explore fall 2025 programs and begin identifying your top five RAPs!

Fall 2025 RAPs
Fall 2025 Application RAPs

Learn more about RAPs at UMass
Attend our Navigating Your First Semester with Ease: Join a RAP! webinar on Monday, April 28 at 7pm. The webinar will cover everything you need to decide whether joining Residential Academic Program is right for you, and the steps to do so! Register in your Slate Events Portal today.

Residential Academic Programs

About RAP About RAP RAPs RAPs Application RAPs Application RAPs Living in a RAP Living in a RAP Join a RAP Join a RAP RAP FAQ RAP FAQ

What can RAP offer you?

  • Housing: know where you will live on campus early and live in a residence hall with your classmates. 
  • Community: small class sizes allow you to build lasting connections with your instructor and peers.
  • Support: learn strategies for academic and personal success in your transition to UMass.
  • Variety of topics: choose a RAP based on your field of study, a course you are interested in, or your preferred residence hall/residential area.

Contact Us

successap@umass.edu
413-545-2803