<p>Both my nieces have graduated from UMass in the last two years, one from Commonwealth and one from Isenberg. It was neither’s first choice but their Dad who could afford (with loans) to send them elsewhere for probably another $10K/year refused. He is highly educated and knows that the school offers a great undergrad experience. My D has applied EA to UMass as a safety and unfortunately still views it as the last school on her list (well, there’s another one too that is pretty much tied for last but also a good school). I’m pretty happy to know that this safety school is one I would be proud that she might graduate from but more importantly that she’ll have a great basis of undergrad requirements to build on. </p>
<p>S is junior engineering major and a member of the CHC. He loves it at UMass and is having a great experience. Those who still call it “ZooMass” have no idea what the school is like these days. Tons of new construction. The two new science buildings are HUGE and gorgeous,</p>
<p>My son just was denied to Northeastern, so UMASS give him good news. You guys are great. I will be very happy if my S get’s in into UMASS.</p>
<p>MY D has also applied to Isenberg and like NEPatsGirl’s D, it is last on her list. She just got rejected from Cornell yesterday ED, so we need some good news soon. I am fine if she went to UMass and she could get through with no loans so that is something to strongly consider. Isenberg has a great reputation. We shall see!</p>
<p>We are in the same boat like you confusedMom. Our son was denied ED from Northeastern, so I believe today or tomorrow should get an answer from Umass. According all CC people, Umass is a great school and for us instate people is cheap too and our kids will be debt free. Sounds good. </p>
<p>@catspajamas You likely only think that UMass is not well respected because it is your state school. Very, very common for students in NE to feel that way. Your second year you can live off campus in a cool apartment with your friends. That will change your prospective a bit. But really, as an engineering student, at an school you’re going to be so focused on your work that the sky could be falling and you would barely notice.</p>
<p>I would hardly call UMass at $25-30K cheap for instate but it is our barometer for other schools. D has been told that she can choose any school at that price or less but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she has good choices among much less expensive schools and we can reserve the loans for graduate school. But, like I said before, I’d be proud to be the parent of a UMass graduate.</p>
<p>@confusedMominMA ~ sorry to hear about your D’s rejection from Cornell. This is proving to be a difficult weekend for many, in many different circumstances. My D just called from school to tell me her two good friends got ED acceptances, one to Wellesley and one to Brown. Several more are waiting patiently. She, on the other hand, was not allowed to apply ED and feels way out of the loop.</p>
<p>@MHMdad ~ hope your son gets good news!</p>
<p>Wait, UMass is releasing decisions this week? My daughter is also in the EA pool, and it’s last on her list. It shouldn’t be! She has no idea what she’s talking about !!! I would be very happy if she went there and even happier if she had the opportunity for the honors college.</p>
<p>I think maybe they are talking ED. The notification date for UMassAmherst for early applicants is December 30th, or maybe they have changed it?</p>
<p>Last year for EA, decisions were released Dec.13 on friday. So, I think today is the day.</p>
<p>There is a link.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-massachusetts-amherst/1588608-ea-notification-for-the-class-of-2018.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-massachusetts-amherst/1588608-ea-notification-for-the-class-of-2018.html#latest</a></p>
<p>The start of decisions is mid Dec but don’t be surprised or feel your chances are less if you hear much later.</p>
<p>I’m a current student. When I was applying to schools, UMass was last on my list but because of circumstances, I wound up here. I am so glad I decided to go here. The people are amazing and hilarious, the classes are challenging yet engaging and there’s plenty to do for every type of person. If you’re instate and don’t wind up with a better offer anywhere else, come here! </p>
<p>Also, feel free to PM me with any questions!</p>
<p>@Violet1996, thanks for that. Question, do you know much about chemical engineering at Umass, what about labs, proffesors, overall… Thanks.</p>
<p>My DS majored in chemical engineering. I can’t really tell you much about specific classes or professors, but he landed an internship at a major pharmaceutical, which led to a full-time job after he graduated. </p>
<p>And he’s moved out and living on his own. One kid successfully launched, thanks to UMass! 
</p>
<p>He loved it there.</p>
<p>@notrichenough, thank you for this note. So far I am loving what I am hearing about Umass. Hope, soon my S will get in into Umass.</p>
<p>@MHMdad I don’t know too much about chem engineering because I’m a comp sci major. @notrichenough would have more info. I do know that the professors are really knowledgeable, coming from schools like MIT and Columbia to teach here. ChemE is a pretty small department, and I think I’ve met only one other ChemE major so far. </p>
<p>I am also a current first year student at UMass, and I am a member of the honors college. I absolutely did not want to come here at all. This was my absolute last choice. But now that I am here, I love it so much. Everything about it is great and I honestly could not imagine myself anywhere else. If anyone has specific questions, I can try to answer</p>
<p>@paws27 tell me about dining on and off campus such as quality, cost, types of ethnic food and proximity to campus.</p>
<p>@ohrly123
Only being here for a semester so far, I do not know everything there is about on and off campus dining yet, so this is only going to be a limited answer.
There are a bunch of different on-campus meal plans Upperclassmen have a few other options, but as a freshman there are really only 2 options. One is the value meal plan ($2410/semester), where I think you get 224 meal swipes per semester. The other is the unlimited ($2660/semester), where you get “unlimited” swipes, and $250 dining dollars. I wish there was a meal plan that was in between those, and I know other people share this opinion with me.
On campus dining is great quality-wise. UMass is ranked #2 by Princeton Review for best campus dining I believe. There are so many different options on campus. There are 4 dining commons around campus (Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester) that are relatively similar. They use meal swipes (1 swipe to get entry, then buffet style I think it’s called). They have a bunch of different stations such as pizza, sushi, grill, salad bar, latin food, asian food, pasta, dessert, a new main dish every meal, etc. This food is usually pretty good, and I rarely have complaints about it. Still, it is dining hall food so it is also not 5 star restaurant quality either. After a while you might get a little sick of it, but each dining hall has its own personality so you just need to switch it up sometimes.</p>
<p>There are also other on campus eateries. These take dining dollars (or debit, cash etc). These include Blue Wall (sort of like a mall food court with a bunch of different options, like sandwiches, asian food, gelato, etc. I have only gone once so I don’t remember everything, but there is a lot!), Baby Berk 1 & 2 (food trucks), and various cafes around campus that tend to have a different selection of items than the regular dining halls. </p>
<p>I have not been to many off campus places yet. However, there are many different types of food to eat in Amherst. There are pizza places, american, chinese, african, vietnamese, italian, mexican, persian, indian, french, ice cream, and chain restaurants. To be honest, I have only gotten pizza once (really good!), so I could not tell you how good the other food is or the cost or anything. But Amherst downtown is really close. It is in walking distance off campus, or you can ride the bus if you do not want to walk. Also, my friends like to go to nearby Northampton (which happens to be the home of Smith College, another college in the 5 college consortium). This is easy to get to by riding the bus. This is another cute little downtown, and there are a bunch of nice restaurants and shops there as well.
There is also a supermarket (Big Y) on the bus route. I have not gone yet, but I have heard nice things. I think it would be hard to cook for yourself in the freshman dorms (plus I think you are required to be on the meal plan as a freshman), but that is also an option.The bus system is actually really great and a lot easier than I anticipated. It takes longer than a direct car ride (it makes stops and stuff obviously), but it is still really convenient, and I do not feel like I need a car on campus (at least for now).</p>
<p>I hope this helped and let me know if you have any more questions!</p>