Ya, UMass seems to get a greater number of apps each year and I think last yer they got 38k+ apps. Unfortunately it is tough to process all these in a short time frame. Please be patient, I had to wait a while but I got my status.
To the people complaining that they applied in November and haven’t heard, the schools all very clearly on their web-sites let you know when you will get your admissions decision - regardless of when you apply, the state schools typically let you know mid-March even if you applied in November. All of the state schools that my son applied to are the same, they let you know early to mid-March unless you have done early admission. UConn does not even do early admission any longer so everyone waits. They do let everyone know at the same time though which seems to not be the way UMass is doing it.
I’m only complaining because it’s become a very long dragged out process which was intentionally started early by this family to avoid this very situation. DS applied early to all his schools. Was deferred 2x and waitlisted to 3 schools! It is annoying to see some applicants receiving acceptance notices 1 month later from UMass Amherst, or those who applied mid-January who have already heard back. I understand that this is a product of the state school application system that tends to receive a high volume of applications. I also think UMass gives themselves a very broad and generous window of time to reply back. On the Spire account, they said that they may make their decision in mid-April! The longer the process = the more stress to students and family.
Plus I’m wasn’t complaining. I was venting. :>
@SQBrit I feel for you. That’s a very long time to wait.
Redpoodles - Thank you for your empathy. I love the picture BTW - very expressive. Again, I don’t think I was complaining earlier - just expressing my opinion. That’s what forums are for -right? I do think it is interesting how colleges handle the process differently. For example, Virginia Tech announced they will release decisions on 2 dates only, the second being March 20th. There isn’t a single “complaint” on the message board about that because the applicants know what to expect.
My son was deferred last year late in Jan. (one of the last to receive his letter). Then he wasn’t accepted until April 7th or so. It is a long wait but my son wanted UMass so badly. He is a freshman there now and he loves it. It is worth the wait. I think deferred applicants are the last to hear. They were on the fence about you ED and they are still on the fence about you RD so don’t expect to hear back too quickly. The good news is that deferred doesn’t mean rejected and plenty of kids got in after being deferred (my son initially thought it was a death sentence).
Wow - deferred (late) and then not told until April 7th?! Torture upon torture 
Yep, how much do you bet that will be our fate I feel badly for DS because he is suffering in silence while he hears good news (funny how students don’t share the bad news) from friends. April 7th is an awfully long time… Seriously though I would NOT be surprised.
While we’ve all been somewhat sucked into the process and maybe needed to pay attention to articles like this a year or two ago, it still is soothing to read this from today’s NYTimes: http://preview.■■■■■■■.com/q3uop9y
Does anyone know if a student can NOT be accepted to 1st or 2nd choice but IS accepted undeclared (even thought that was not picked)? I’m kicking myself because DS 1st and 2nd choice are equally competititive, I fear…
@SQBrit - Yes, but this is mostly true for the most selective majors. (Engineering, CS, Business and perhaps a few others especially in STEM) As long as a student has a 3.8+ GPA and a 1250+ SAT, or 28+ ACT, and good EC’s they should stand a good 70-80% chance of being accepted undecided. (So most/all students applying to competitive programs at UMass fit those criteria)
SQBrit - yes, that happened to my son 2 years ago. He got accepted to about 5 other schools for Mech Eng but at UMass Amherst he got accepted undeclared (I think his 1st and 2nd choices were Mech eng and Industrial Engineering) . UCONN was his top choice anyway so that is where he is.
ConfusedmominMa and Greenman57. Thank you SO much for your replies, it is soooo helpful to tap into others experiences which can only happen if they are shared 
I’m feeling better about the chances for my DS acceptance to Umass Amherst. He’s pretty smart (test scores prove that, GPA not so much). We need more acceptances - so far no rejections - just 3 wait lists!
@SQBrit- I think my son didn’t get in because of his GPA. He had 1380/1600 SAT but his GPA was 3.3. When we went to a UMass open house and went to the presentation at the engineering school they said they were looking at a 3.5 cutoff to even be considered. Good luck to your son!!!
ConfusedMominMA - 3.5 for the entire school or just engineering? Weighted or unweighted? Wow, how things have changed. You just have to read message boards going back a few years to see that. Honestly because it is our instate school if they don’t accept DS for 1st or even 2nd choice that’s Ok. It would just be nice to add another acceptance to our meager acceptance list of 0! In my experience my DS’s GPA/test scores results in the schools scratching their heads- hence the 3 waitlists. I call it karma (you have to know my DS and my current prickly relationship to fully appreciate the joke!)
Still waiting for RD here too.
How competitive is the business school? I applied my two choices both from the business school.
@aquan3123123 The Isenberg is one of the most competitive schools.
Does anyone know if it would be difficult to transfer into the Honors College? The scholarship for it is 12K, and I received 10K. I was wondering if I could transfer in as a Freshman.
@stressedsenior15 - Yes, you can tranfer in with a good GPA, I think that you may have to apply your first year and attend you sophomore year though. To be honest I don’t think they increase you scholarship. (Perhaps that’s mostly for standard applicants and not transfer)