is meal plan required for freshmen?
^^^^yes. If you’re living on campus, you need a meal plan.
Is meal plan included in the COA?
^ That’s the “board” part of room and board. So yes it is included in the COA.
You can see just the dorm costs here: http://www.housing.umass.edu/assign/rates.html
and the meal plan costs here: http://www.umassdining.com/meal-plans/residential-meal-plan
I believe the R+B cost that is reported is an average, and can vary a bit depending on what dorm/room you get and which exact meal plan you choose.
Also for freshmen there are a bunch of other fees that are not included in the COA, this will add up to several hundred dollars. And depending on whether you are an engineering student, or in the Honors college, or both, this will also add fees that are not in the COA AFAIK.
Do you still get an honors college fee even if you don’t choose to live in the honors college?
^ Yes. Membership in the honors college (and having to pay the $600/year fee) is separate from living in the honors college dorm.
And note that the honors college dorm can be anywhere from a little to a lot more than a regular dorm. So you will pay extra there as well.
I’m not sure if this is still an active thread?? Will my son need a printer in his room or should I return it and get something more useful? Thanks in advance!
S doesn’t print much, but asked for a scanner/printer, as most homework (chem. engineering major) is submitted electronically. Saved a walk to the library to scan on those awful cold days.
It’s not necessary by any means, but it can be helpful. When you pay your fees, printing costs are included onto your UCard, so you can print for ‘free’ in the library. Not sure what the exact limit is, but I think you can print upwards of 100 pages without extra charge. If he’s a STEM major, he’s not going to have much use for it anyways. Even for non-STEM classes many papers are submitted electronically. A scanner might be more useful (I wish I’d had one this past semester), but those usually come attached to printers. Also, there will usually be someone on his floor who would be willing to let him borrow their printer without extra charge. It’s your call at the end of the day.
@MADad, would you please tell me more about your son’s chemical engineering experience? My son got in into chemical engineering, so this fall he’s a freshman. Does he like it? What about classes, professors, piers, dorm? Any suggestions? Anything’s appreciated. Thanks.
MHMdad–see the reply to your PM
@MADad, thanks for reply. I hope my S will be just fine. Chemical engineering is really challenging program and I hope my S will have enough strength to stay ahead. If anything you still remember or forgot to mention, please shoot me an email. Thanks.
Hi!
I’ll being transferring to Umass this fall as a junior (should be a senior, i’m behind a year) majoring in nutrition. I just need some advice on where i should live. Since i’m new to the school and don’t know the area very well or many people that go there, i want to live on campus. Because i’m 21 and not going to be a freshman would it completely suck to live in a dorm… i know theres bad reviews about sylvan but is it reallly THATT bad? lol because i feel like it would be worse to be around a bunch of loud annoying freshmen that party constantly. Please help me! 
DS spent a semester in Sylvan. The dorm was fine, but he didn’t get along with his roommate (which was a random selection).
The suite style there doesn’t seem to be too conducive to socializing, and sometimes most of the suite members are already friends, so it can be isolating if you are not outgoing.
North apartments might be a better choice if you can afford it. There, you get your own bedroom and a full kitchen and living room.
There’s no freshman in the high rises, but they do have a bit of a party reputation.
Are you sure you can even get into a dorm? Last I heard there were not enough rooms for everyone who wanted on-campus housing.
Hey, I am transferring to UMASS in September this year and have a few questions.
Firstly, I’ve chosen Chadbourne hall for accommodation, what is this like?
Second, I really don’t understand SPIRE and the choosing of modules, can I choose them when I get there? I also have a bill that I have to pay by mid-August, is there anyone I can discuss this with?
Finally, what is the Political Science like at UMASS? - that’s what I’ll be majoring in 
As a UMass parent I can address the bill. Yes, the first semester bill is due in mid-August, UNLESS you sign up for a payment plan, whereby you pay for each semester in 5 monthly payments, 10 in total. You have to go to the bursar’s page to sign up for the payment plan. There is a one-time fee of $55 to join the payment plan. Also you can authorize your parents so they can get access to your bills. They take the monthly payment out of a checking account on the 5th of each month, so you get a reminder, to be sure there is enough $ in the account to cover the transfer.
@Charliepeach Chadbourne is in Upper Central, so you’ll have a fair walk to anything on campus (Frank is the closest dining hall about a 5 minute walk). People seem to like it for the most part. There’s a bus stop right in front of the building to use for those lazy/freezing days. And Greenough(which has a sandwich shop) is right next door. For the most part, it seems like people are fine up there.
I have never heard of modules before. Unless you mean classes. Please explain a bit
I know a good number of Poli Sci kids and they all seem to be pretty involved with Student Government and other related organizations (Mock Trial and what nots). I think the program is fine; as with everything at UMass, it is what you make of it.
I’m gonna be a senior in high school this year. I’m applying to the business (marketing) which is apparently super selective. I have a 3.57 GPA and a 1950 SAT… What’s my chance of getting in? I go to one of the top high schools in MA and because a lot of Ivy-Leaguers apply to UMass as their safety, the average accepted GPA is a 3.83. I’m just worried bc my school kinda screws me over and the business school is selective. Thanks so much for your help!
I thought of another question - do the desks have a drawer that locks? I read another thread that mentioned this might be a possibility.If not, do people bring a small lock box for prescription meds, money, passport etc? What about laptops? Many have posted that they don’t bother using a lock? Do you keep it in your backpack and keep it with you?
Thanks in advance!
Don’t believe desk drawers lock. All 3 of our young’ins used small lock boxes to keep SS cards, etc. secure. Used a bicycle lock to loop it around a closet pole or something like that. Most kids keep their laptops close at hand. Safe in your room–one would hope roommate would keep your stuff safe from theft by THEIR guests.
What you don’t want to do is leave your laptop unattended in the library when you leave your table or study carrel to look in the stacks–that’s where they get stolen.