Is honors housing guaranteed? Is the demand for the new housing complex so great that they turn kids away? I’m aware of honors floors in other dorms, but my child isn’t interested in that.
Hi, no the honors programs have their own dorms. The honors campus is right in the center of the campus so everything is at their fingers tips to access. I am going to take my son and visit the honors campus, will take pics.
@wheatonmom: The Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community opened in 2013. The modern LEED-certified facility sits in the heart of the campus and includes residential spaces, classrooms, faculty-in-residence, a café, and a large events hall. Honors housing is available to CHC students in all class years, either in the CHC Residential Community or in designated honors housing elsewhere on campus. Honors students may also choose among other on- and off-campus housing options.
Sorry yes you are correct about the other housing areas, I wonder if we accept the school before the deadline would we have better chance to get the housing in the new dorms?
Housing in the CHC complex is not guaranteed. My understanding is that joining a RAP that is known to be housed in the CHC complex is about the only way to guarantee a spot.
Thank you this is helpful.
Every incoming freshman should be aware that UMass Honors Housing is “oversold” and they accept far more Honors students than can be accommodated in the Honors Dorms in subsequent years. To thin the herd, only students who maintain a 3.4 in the first freshman term are eligible for the sophomore housing lottery and the rest go to the end of the line which often means housing in Southwest. Second semester grades won’t count. UMass doesn’t mention this unfair rule during the application or acceptance process but kids are forced to sign a (sneaky) acknowledgement at orientation.
There’s an end around the problem, though! Make sure you take easy classes in the first semester to boost GPA and ensure a place in the lottery for sophomore year. Dozens and dozens of kids who challenge themselves with tough classes (which are NOT weighted for housing GPA) and miss the 3.4 wind up losing out to kids taking easy classes and get shut out of the preferred housing. It’s no way to treat capable, motivated kids but it’s a good lesson in dealing with a large, unresponsive, state bureaucracy. UMHC is a decent school but is quick to believe its own PR. Its good but not as awesome as they’d like you to believe.
incoming freshmen? Join a RAP!!!
rising sophomores? be ready to click refresh when housing appointments are out for suites
rising juniors/seniors? apartment or nothing