Frequently Asked Questions

No, joining a RAP is completely voluntary. All first-year students are encouraged to explore RAPs. Please note that some students are not able to join a RAP if their major requirements or athletics schedule conflicts with RAP courses, or if their athletics teams requires them to live in a specific residence hall.

Joining a RAP includes a room assignment plus enrollment in a RAP course. In the fall semester, you will live in the residence hall where the RAP is located and enroll in the required RAP course with your RAP peers. In the spring semester, you will continue to live in the residence hall where the RAP is located, but for most RAPs, there is no course requirement during the spring semester. BioTAP, Bio-Pioneers, and Emerging Scholars do have spring course requirements.

It doesn't matter when you submit your preferences as long as you submit while the lottery is open  - it will not change the odds of where the lottery places you.

No, RAP is only available in the fall semester.

One of the benefits of RAP includes small class sizes. Most RAP courses have a maximum capacity of 30 students.

All students are welcome to join a RAP. At this time, none of our RAPs are housed within gender-inclusive housing. However, some RAPs are located near gender-inclusive housing options in Webster Hall.

Please note that RAP locations may change to accommodate approved disability needs.

If being placed in gender-inclusive housing is your top priority, you can indicate this on your housing preference application.

Yes. While being in a RAP introduces you to the other members of your RAP, it is only one or two of the several classes you will take during your first semester at UMass. Being in RAP won't prevent you from being able to interact with students outside of your RAP. We encourage you to connect with a variety of other students, including other students in your residence hall, in your other classes, and across campus.

Yes. If you also are in need of break housing, visit Living at UMass for more information about break housing.

Yes. In order to receive accommodations, you must first register with Disability Services. You are only able to receive accommodations that are documented through Disability Services. Once you have received accommodations through Disability Services, the RAP program works closely with Residential Life Assignments to move program and classroom locations and/or create other changes based on students' specific needs.

It depends on the RAP course you select. Some RAP courses fulfill UMass General Education requirements, while others count as your First-Year Seminar or as progress towards your specific degree requirements. Discuss your RAP selection with your advisor, who can help you understand how your RAP will impact your degree progress.

Yes. After you have been accepted, and between June 1 and June 30, you will need to finalize your housing assignment in your RAP for the 2026-27 academic year! Log into the Housing Portal to sign your Occupancy License, complete your Housing Profile and preferences here Residence Hall Occupancy License and Housing Preference Application by June 30.

You must ensure you are enrolled in your RAP course. Please contact your academic advisor or academic advising team if you do not see your RAP course on your schedule.  

Log into the RAP Placement System. If you are already registered for a RAP, text will appear that says “You are already assigned to a RAP” and the subsequent RAP information will be listed below. If you are not already registered for a RAP, a blue button will appear that says "Select an available RAP." Follow the steps on on screen to register for a RAP.

You are able to register, cancel or switch your RAP registration until you have your Advising and Course Registration Appointment over the summer or June 30, whichever comes first. You are not able to switch your RAP after meeting with an advisor as this would impact your fall 2026 course schedule.

• Register for a RAP:
  • Log into the RAP Placement System.
  • From the homepage click “Select an available RAP”.
  • Select your RAP and follow the steps on screen to complete your registration. You will receive a confirmation email after registering for a program.
• Cancel your RAP registration:
  • Log into the RAP Placement System.
  • Select “Please remove me from this RAP”
  • When you are brought back to the main page, it will say “We have successfully cancelled your RAP assignment." You will receive a confirmation email after cancelling your program registration.
• Switch your RAP registration:
  • To switch your RAP, you will need to cancel your current RAP registration and select the new one. Please be advised that you can only select a RAP that you are eligible for with open space.
  • Log into the RAP Placement System.
  • Select “Please remove me from this RAP”
  • When you are brought back to the main page, it will say “We have successfully cancelled your RAP assignment."
  • Select "Next" to view or join another RAP
  • Select “Select an available RAP”
  • Select your RAP and follow the steps on screen to complete your registration. You will receive a confirmation email of both the drop of the old RAP and the registration of the new RAP

Students admitted into a Bachelor of Science (four-year) degree program are eligible to join a RAP. Students interested in joining a RAP should explore the variety of Gen Ed RAPs offered. Be sure to read the course descriptions to find a RAP that is a good match for you and be mindful of the steps required to hold a spot. Unfortunately, students admitted into the Associate of Science (two-year) degree program are not eligible to join a RAP. Students in these programs have such a tight course schedule that they do not have space to add a course that would be required to join a RAP.

Unfortunately, no. RAP is only available to students who will be on campus in Amherst during the fall. Both Career and Global Launch students are off campus during the fall when the RAP program runs.