I have a question, my Daughter was accepted at UMass Amherst in the SBS, she is planning on majoring on Political Science but was listed at Undecided. I assume the Poly Sci was maybe full and she can get in later? not sure. But my Question is about the RAP’s, we did the tour on 4/18 and they talked about the RAP’s. Sound like a good idea to be around all the other students in your major, but my daughter said she thought it would be way to competitive being around everyone else that would ultimately be trying to get the same internships. I guess I see it both ways, it would help for study groups etc. but I can also see her point about the competition. Anyone have any feedback on this?
My son is currently a sophomore. He started freshman year as an engineering major (ECE). In spite of our encouragement to joint the Engineering RAP, he resisted, saying he didn’t want to be stuck with only engineering types in his dorm area.
Guess what happened…he ended up spending most of his time hanging out and studying with the members of the Engineering RAP anyway. He did finally admin that he should have joined the RAP in the first place. Not that it really matters, but he has since switched to computer science. The study groups they formed were key.
Regarding internships, while hanging out with the RAP kids, he noticed that they were starting in December to begin applying for internships. He probably wouldn’t have thought to start that early, but it got him going on that as well. I’m not sure I would say that the kids were competing for the same internships but my son helped refer one kid to a place my son had worked the previous summer. In a lot of ways, they all helped each other.
My son is also resisting the RAPs – with the stress of applying to colleges and making the decision I think he just wants to not have to start a new process of research and decision-making. I don’t there’s any single obvious one to him.
The RAP for my daughter’s major is in Southwest and that is one place she does not want to live, but there are several RAPs that meet the GEN ED requirements for all majors.
Yo yo. So I am finishing up my freshman year here and I was in the Poli Sci RAP located in Orchard Hill. I too was worried about the competitiveness, but quickly learned that it is fine as long as you don’t let the other students intimidate you. Choosing to join a RAP was one of the BEST choices I’ve made thus far about UMass. I highly recommend the Poli Sci RAP and the major, and can talk to your daughter about if she messages me on here. I also will be staffing a Social Justice RAP next year in North East.