The University of Massachusetts - Amherst

If your going into engineering this place isn't bad, but there are some things you should know. You must be good at math because most of the math department speaks english (my teacher was from Greece, my room mates was from Russia, and my neighbors was from Japan). In intro to engineering the teacher is very intimidating and expects you to know everything and win the nobel prize. I am given homework with questions about things I have never seen in my entire life, not even in class. A big turn-off in intro to engineering is the fact that 50% of your grade is your final project. I have english twice a week and have to have a new essay written almost every time I show up. Some teachers are nice friendly people that you can go to for help while others are just there as T.A.'s (teachers assistants) and could care less if you understand it. I've been to study sessions and they are horrible the teacher was a T.A. and didn't really know his stuff. I have yet to try the tutoring but it wont be long because the stuff you learn in class isn't the stuff on the tests. Theres not much in town, a mall, a bunch of strip malls, a few bars, restraunts, and chain stores. On the weekends the major activity is, no surprise, drinking. You can stay in your dorm or pay 5 dollars and get into to a frat (probably the funnest thing I've ever done! theres a little bit of sarcasm there). I'm in the ski and board club and thats the only thing I look forward to other than the weekend. LAGNAF! The people are nice, but as usual you have some who walk around campus with a cold look on their face. If you want an internship you have to be persistant and go every day.If your looking for a job when you graduate, a speaker told me he had an internship freshman, sophomore and senior year both summer and winter breaks and was certified for everything prior to graduation, he was also in almost all of the engineering clubs. The campus has a newspaper which often advertises studies you can participate in and get paid, they also advertise jobs. I really wish I went to a small engineering school in a city (but I dont think one exists which I could get into) or one with better help resources because from what i've seen so far, this school isn't really worth it. It is probably only going to drag down my GPA and kill my chances of transfering. Good luck with your choices and what you see on the outside isn't always whats on this inside. Spend a night here or anywhere before making that school your choice, I kick myself all the time for not doing it.

1st Year Male -- Class 2011

Campus Maintenance: B+, Collaboration/Competitive: F