<p>Hi, MITChris and siegbette. I understand your frustration with the realities of the UMass Commonwealth Honors College. However, I think the new Commonwealth dorms justify this conversation. They’re the main selling point that UMass is trying to capitalize on now that they’re running.</p>
<p>I think there are (at least) three reasons that a prospective ComCol student should consider attending UMass:</p>
<p>1) ComCol just feels different than the rest of campus. The students act and talk differently than the rest, and they dress a bit preppier. The ComCol dorm layout is more pleasing to the eye than the rest of the campus, and it sits at the center. Condensing these better academically prepared students (with respect to HS stats) into one area does create a different culture. You’ll notice when you step into the ComCol neighborhood.</p>
<p>2) The cost.</p>
<p>3) The Five Colleges: If a student is ambitious, then they can take advantage of the surrounding Consortium. Despite these opportunities, different schools are in the end just that: different schools. It’s quite the experience to take two courses per semester at one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country, but, in the end, you’re not sleeping in its dorms most nights.</p>
<p>The ComCol dorms and academic program are worth investigating, but UMass isn’t for everyone. It’s still trying to shake off the ZooMass Slamherst party school reputation, and that task, if possible to complete, won’t happen for a while. It doesn’t take much poking around on campus to understand the school’s limits, especially if you visit one or two of its neighbors on the same day.</p>