The party scene at UMass-Amherst was always overrated. It’s not better or worse than any other university with 25,000 students. Southwest residential area happens to be overly populated, but there are several other residential areas that are very quiet. The great thing about UMass is there is so much else to do but party, mainly through UMass but also at the other campuses of the 5 college consortium. Many of my friends who went to small, liberal arts colleges found themselves revolving around frat and sorority parties with little else to do, which is definitely not the case at UMass. Most of the problem in the past at UMass were caused by friends of students who came to abuse in anonymity. Most of the over-partiers don’t last long and are gone after freshman year.