The Five College Consortium (Massachusetts)
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Anonymous
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Do you or your kid have experience with admissions and student experience at any of colleges in the Five College Consortium (often referred to as simply the Five Colleges)?
The Five College Consortium comprises four liberal arts colleges and one university in the Connecticut River Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. Amherst College Hampshire College Mount Holyoke College Smith College University of Massachusetts Amherst They are geographically close to one another and are linked by frequent bus service that operates between the campuses during the school year. |
Anonymous
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Omg there was a huge thread on this like a month ago. There are some posters that absolutely hate Amherst for whatever weird reason and you are gojng to pull them all out of the woodwork again. Just find the recent thread.
The TLDR is that most kids don’t use it but that for some kids it provides a nice extra to be able to take classes (especially at umass) not offered elsewhere. And that the community of colleges creates a nice little extended community within the valley, allowing for more restaurants and stores than you would ordinarily find in a remote rural area. |
Anonymous
| My kids is at UMass and loves it. He does not partake in the consortium. I suppose if he had more time, he could do it; however, he is double-majoring and has had a full course load every year at UMass, and has a part-time job, so he doesn’t have time to participate. UMass is a great school! |
Anonymous
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This was one of the recent posts.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1250476.page#29191416 |
Anonymous
Ah, yes. That thread. Thx |
Anonymous
| My kid is at Smith and very happy. Has taken one class at UMass and it was fine. A bit of a hassle with the bus process because it takes a lot of time considering the class length. |
Anonymous
| I could see how it would be nice to take a literature class or history class at Amherst or Mt Holyoke or a science/lab class at UMass. It’s a great idea but can see how logistics might be hard. |
Anonymous
| I don’t have a kid there but my DS loved loved loved Umass when we visited. The campus seemed really vibrant, busy and just about everybody I know who has gone there has loved it. Ultimately my kid chose another school he also loved that wasn’t quite as big but will always wonder “what if” on UMass. |
Anonymous
| My kid is at Smith (very happy there). Probably will never take a class at another school, but socializes frequently at other colleges. Dated a boy at another college. Really likes the area and is glad to be near Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, movie theater, etc. |
Anonymous
| My DD is very happy at Mt Holyoke. Has a research mentor at UMass and taking a class there next semester. Has friends at Amherst and Smith. |
Anonymous
| My oldest is a senior math major at Amherst and takes at least one math class per semester at UMass. This is not unusual for stem majors at her school but I think pretty unheard of for other students. She also has a car and has said she wouldn’t have the patience to do it if she had to take the bus. Most kids at Amherst also go to parties at UMass occasionally. |
Anonymous
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One thing I can say about UMass:
IT’S EDUCATIONAL! |
Anonymous
| this is like a captain planet of shit colleges |
Anonymous
That does not sound educational to me. |
Anonymous
| I have family members who went to UMass and another at another school in the area now. I think UMass is a gem! I'm not sure why more DMV kids don't go there. They should take a hard look at it. Great food too! |