I may be going to grad school at U-Mass-Amherst, and am wondering about the quality of life. I love the outdoors/hiking/snowshoeing/biking and a great cultural life (arts, events, dining, coffee shops, comfy non-dive bars). Do U-Mass students ever adapt to the (blech) huge concrete towers on campus? Are there also many young professionals in the area? Easy to meet people?
2007-02-01 08:48:00 · 5 answers · asked by joie_du_cor 3 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Boston
I went to UMass-Amherst for undergrad. Considering it's a college town and there are so many students there, in both Amherst and Northampton, there's plenty of cultural stuff to do there. There's a lot of hiking and outdoor stuff to do. (I live in Boston now and still go out to that area to go snowshoeing or hiking). There's skiing within an hours drive as well, and a great bike trail between Amherst and Northampton built on an old railroad bed.
Boston's only 2 hours away by car and there are buses that go as well. So it's also easy to get into Boston which has of course lots of big city stuff to offer.
It's too bad about the concrete towers on campus because otherwise it's a gorgeous area.
Overall I think the Amherst/Northampton area is excellent - certainly an excellent place to go to school. I'm not sure I could live there forever but I'm glad I can still go visit for a weekend.
2007-02-02 02:29:22 · answer #1 · answered by Mike R 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Amherst/Northampton is a very pretty area, but I can't say there is a lot of life outside of the UMASS campus. However, if you like the coffee shop, cute rest, artsy type living area - then this would be perfect for you!! Amherst and Northampton are both very gay friendly communities and there are lots of folk concerts (Smith/Mt. Holyoke campuses), outside lunches, and cute shops!
2007-02-02 10:16:46 · answer #2 · answered by Taken by a Texan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well you'll have fun on the Campus, and there are some things in the area because it's a college town. There's lots of outdoor activities, and you're close drive away from some great places as well!
2007-02-02 08:26:01 · answer #3 · answered by ShouldBeWorking 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My sister went to UMASS Amherest. Went to visit her once.
I went to BU in the city so it's quite different. Amherest is truly a college town. If you like all those things you mention, I'm sure you will like Amherest. College students from Amherest are very different from college students from Boston.
Note: there's nothing much but schools so most of the fun are on-campus/college stuff. Umass Amherest is a fun school.
But honestly, you will find yourself and friends hitch-hiking to Boston once a while.
2007-02-01 20:19:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes, it's nice place to live, people are very polite and actully you see car wait for people cross the road which people in NYC will just beep at people who try to cross the road. There is lot of activities, I use to go to UMass Amherst for undergraduate and currently visit there once a while. You can meet lot of people there. Feel free to chat/message me if you like to know more :)
2007-02-01 16:58:04 · answer #5 · answered by magictiger_007 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋