<p>What is your major and RAP program you are interest in?</p>
<p>And if anyone could help me out--
I'm a microbiology pre-med major (biology premed right now, but chaning to micro) and I'm trying to aviod the SW area. The RAP Health sciences is located there, and I'm not sure if I should try for that RAP, or go for sustainability RAP located in the NE. Thoughts??</p>
<p>I prefer Hip-Hop Programs, to be honest.</p>
<p>If you don’t want to be in SW, then pick the dorm you want and don’t worry about being in a RAP. They are nice but it’s not like a RAP will be some kind of world-changing experience. It’s much better to be happy with the dorm you are in.</p>
<p>A piece of advice - sign up for the earliest orientation you can. If you go to a late one there may not be any space left except at SW. This happened to my S - he didn’t even list it as a choice, but he wound up there.</p>
<p>He was able to switch, but when he did, you could count the number of non-SW rooms that were available on one finger. He was very lucky.</p>
<p>My S is in an Engineering RAP in Northeast, it’s been a very positive experience for him. He collaborates on engineering assignments with others on his floor, studies calculus with the guy across the hall. Plus, they have similar interests and he’s made a ton of friends.</p>
<p>It was especially good for my son, who is smart but was a bit of a slacker in hs. In his RAP he’s surrounded by people who take their studies seriously, and I think that’s helped him stay focused and he’s done very well so far.</p>
<p>I’m just concerned about being in Northeast, though, but I hear SW is a 24 hour party. I’m not quite sure if I want to live there and be around the partying, or what. I’m also pre-med, which is a huge factor in my decision.</p>
<p>They have a health sciences RAP in SW, and it’s in the low-rise dorms, which I hear are better than the towers.</p>
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What is your concern? My S is in Northeast for his second year, he likes it there a lot.</p>
<p>My S and his friends are considering moving from Northeast to SW next year (sign ups are soon as only freshman are guaranteed housing). My S says the low rise dorms are more party intense.</p>
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According to my S, who is also in engineering, most of the engineering buildings are on the northeast side of campus. It’s a pretty long walk from SW, or you have to take the bus. My S wanted to be able to roll out of bed and be in class in 5 minutes.</p>
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<p>This has been his experience this year and I’d think it would be a plus. I have no clue what they are thinking. </p>
<p>It’s his life, as long as he can make it work and keep his grades up. Maybe there are some other things down that way they’d like to be closer to? (other than the parties)</p>
<p>Southwest has much better food. I frequently trudge all the way across campus for it.</p>
<p>Berkshire is pretty amazing. I’ve eaten in Berkshire and Worcester and I’d give the edge to Berkshire.</p>
<p>But I think Worcester is pretty good too.</p>
<p>It’s all such a far cry from the serving line with 2 choices, usually badly-cooked pasta or a puck of mystery meat with fluorescent colored gravy, that I had back in the day…</p>
<p>Grill stations? Sushi? Salad bar? Pizza? Omelet station? Custom stir-fry? Vegetarian?</p>
<p>You kids have no idea how lucky you are. 
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<p>I’ve been hearing great things about SW and Northeast, but I’ve narrowed my choiced to these RAPS:</p>
<p>SW
-Exploring the Sciences (Intro psych, emerson low rise)
-Health sciences (Medical ethics, kennedy tower OR james hall low-rise)</p>
<p>Northeast
-Scientific Connections (Intro to ethics, math 131-calc 1, mary lyon hall)
-Sustainability (hunger in the global economy, mary lyon hall)</p>
<p>Right now it seems to be health sciences OR scientific connections…not sure which one?</p>
<p>I’ve heard the towers are the worst to live in but there’s a ton of partying in the low-rise dorms. Which would be better for a microbio/pred med kid? I’m leaning more towards scientific connections to be honest.</p>
<p>Am I the only one interested in the political RAP? haha</p>
<p>I just enrolled in umass and I’m very excited however I got in as undecided and I thought of going to the school of engineering but I found out that you need a 3.7 gpa on your freshman year to get in. ( Theres no way I can get a 3.7 gpa…)So I decided to be a premed major. In addition, I really want to room with my friend, who I’ve known since 5th grade but he got into the school of engineering and therefore most likely will be dorming in the northeast area. Would this make sense if I also dorm with him in the northeast area even though I probably won’t be majoring in engineering?My second question is if I do major in premed does that also mean I have to walk across the campus to get to the southwest area where all the premeds are when I take my classes?</p>
<p>There are kids in northeast of every major. Also, your classes will be in the academic buildings, not residential areas, so you won’t have to walk to Southwest. If you’re premed, they’ll most likely be around the Northeast area.</p>
<p>My son just signed up for the Honors Health Science RAP. Any feedback on it? </p>
<p>They aren’t just for ‘nerdy, super-smart kids who don’t know how to have fun sometimes’ are they? 
I believe there were only 36 spots so he is hoping there is a good variety of fun people that he will get to know better. He is premed.</p>
<p>I’m in health science RAP in Southwest! I’m so excited! :)</p>
<p>I was in an honors RAP my freshman year. The people on my floor ran the gamut from liking to play Magic (card game) for fun to liking to go to frat houses every night of the week. So yes, there will be a variety of people.</p>
<p>My S signed up for the Health Sciences RAP at James Hall…think he was the next to last one to get in. He’s a Biology major who is on the fence about pre-med.</p>
<p>I’m hoping it will be similar to when I was on an Engineering floor in a dorm at BU. I remember that being around others with similar majors and interests was good because our study times seemed to sync up well.</p>
<p>We did walk around SW during the accepted students day so he did have a chance to see the outside of the buildings, and he’s OK at this point with being at SW.</p>
<p>When he goes to summer orientation, if he has a change of heart about being in the RAP, can he withdraw his application?</p>