Please visit UMass Amherst and the College of Engineering

We encourage visits to the campus and to the College of Engineering as the best way to learn more about what we have to offer.

The University Admissions Office offers student-led walking tours. The student tour guides provide an overview of academic programs and campus life. No reservations are necessary to attend the walking tour, which lasts about one hour. The tour schedule can be found at www.umass.edu/umhome/admissions/

Many students considering engineering find it helpful to tour the labs and classrooms and talk with students and faculty in the College, either before or after the campus walking tour. Tours of the College of Engineering may be arranged by calling the Office of Student Affairs at (413) 545-2035 several days before your visit.

The College also hosts an open house for prospective students every fall and spring. For more information on our open houses, individual visits, high school vacation week information sessions, and the University Friday Open House program, please visit our admissions website at http://www.ecs.umass.edu/admissions.html.

Directions to campus by car

From the South

Take I-91 northbound, use exit 19 at Northampton and follow Route 9 east to Route 116 north. Travel 1 mile to the UMass exit.

From the North

Take I-91 southbound, use exit 24 onto Routes 5 & 10 north. From Routes 5 & 10 take a right onto 116 south. Travel about eight miles to the UMass exit.

From the East

From the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) westbound, use exit 8 at Palmer, following Route 32 south to Palmer, Route 20 west, and Route 181 north to Belchertown. Pick up Route 9 west and continue to Route 116 north. Travel 1 mile to the UMass exit.

From the West

From the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) eastbound, use exit 4 onto I-91 and then follow From the South directions above.

Other directions to campus are available at www.umass.edu/visitors/directions.html

Housing

more than just a place to hang your hat

UMass offers 42 residence halls in five residential areas. Each residence hall, as well as each residential area has its own personality. Students are asked about their preferences for dorm life before assignments are made. You'll live on campus for at least the first two years. Students in engineering are not limited to any one residential hall or area.

In addition, first-year students are not isolated from upperclass students. In general, you'll find a wide range of housing choices.

Some engineering majors choose to participate in one of the innovative residential academic "living and learning" communities - an experience that maximizes active student involvement and facilitates the formation of study groups. Students who are participants of Commonwealth College can choose to live in the Orchard Hill residential area of campus and join the engineering, math, and science learning community called "Options." Three other engineering residential programs (RAP) are offered in Northeast and Orchard Hill through RAP/TAP (Talent Advancement Program). Each program accepts 24 first-year engineering students who live together and attend some of the same classes. Benefits of the RAP/TAP program include the ability to make friends in your major,form study groups quickly, and sometimes - if a RAP/TAP class is taught right in your dormitory - the option of coming to class in your slippers.