Hawatem

I'm going to UMass Amherst next year but I have no idea which residential hall to pick... I don't drink, nor do I party, but throughout highschool my closest friends were people that did drink and party, some very intensely. Because of this I don't know which dorm to pick. Orchard Hill sounds appealing but I'm worried I won't meet people I can befriend. And what worries me about Southwest is that it will be too hardcore for my liking and the partying will be all in my face.

Also I'm an international student, never lived or been to the US so again, I want a place with the most diversity.

Is Southwest as hardcore as everyone says it is? More importantly will I not fit in since I won't be partying and stuff?

Rocky5

Live in Orchard Hill if you can. It's great and they do a lot of activities in the freshmen dorms to get people to know each other such as "dorm wars" which is kind of like a fun competition between floors. I lived in o'hill this year but in the upperclassmen dorms. I love it. Because it's a smaller res area it's definitely more of a community. There are people who drink and party yeah but there are people who don't. It's a good mixture of people but for the most part everyone is really nice and friendly and I'm sure you'll find people you fit in with. Good luck!

heartmonster

I'm not a big partier but I lived in Southwest and it was fine. It got a bit noisy at night during the weekends but it was not like a huge deal. Sometimes there were incidences (like throwing up in the bathroom) but that's college in general. It's totally okay if you don't party, but you might be able to find people who are more low-key in the weekends in the other living areas.

If you give us your major it will be a bit more helpful because then I can get a sense of where your classes will be (and that will help a lot since depending where in Southwest you can be a bit aways from everything else on campus). Like for example, if you are a math/science major I wouldn't recommend SW because your classes will be farther. Yes there is a bus, but its always better to be closer to your classes than to rely on the PVTA. From what I have heard, OHill is a good community and has the largest rooms on campus. However, its up a very steep hill which be a pain in the ass (and I'm not kidding about the hill). During summer orientation you'll be toured around all of UMass's dorms and then you'll get to pick your housing.

As for diversity, I don't think you'll be in that much luck (UMass is majority white) but, the Latin American and African American community centers are in SW, the Native American center is in Central, and the Asian center is in NorthEast so if you consider having those centers close important to you, take that into account.

Let me know if you have anymore questions! I'm glad to help.

kbrown8704

Go to southwest but live in the library like me

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Hawatem

I'm going in as a bio major but I'm thinking of changing to an education major, but I'm not hell bent on either.

I'm a really big health nut when it comes to working out, eating right, and stuff so where would I be closest to the fitness center?

Do people from different Residence halls not mingle with one another at all?

alaroc

Does anyone know where most of the psychology classes are healed and what dorms are the closest?

notrichenough

Southwest is probably closest to the new Recreation Center (which is ridiculously nice btw), but not not that much compared to Northeast or Central. Orchard Hill and Sylvan are a bit further.

UMass Amherst Campus Recreation & Sport Clubs

heartmonster

Southwest is the closest to the rec center. Especially if you live in Melville or Thoreau its like a five minute walk. Where ever you are there is the campus shuttle that stops by there so its not too bad.

People from different reshalls in the same area mingle together cuz its close? But you can make friends from other areas easily too, its just a little bit harder to meet with them.

latichever

My son goes to UMASS. Going to be a junior. First year, he was at SW on the 16th floor. Be aware, it can take forever to get in and out on the elevators. Often, he would take the stairs down when he was in a hurry. But it was definitely a pain--particularly if you just wanted to make a quick stop somewhere. Second year, he was in Sylvan--nice an quiet. It may be hard to meet people casually in Sylvan, but if you already have a circle of friends, no problem. This coming year he's returning to SW, but in a low rise on 2nd floor. Easy in and out.