Look beyond the campus . . .

You can ALWAYS find a huge array of options available to you at UMass Amherst - classes, extra-curricular activities, etc.  Have you considered some of the options available to you BEYOND the UMass Amherst campus?

You might want to consider any of the following choices, available through UMass Amherst:

• Five-College Interchange - take a course at one of the other colleges in 'the valley': Amherst, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, or Hampshire Colleges offer a different perspective and some courses you can't find at UMass.  PVTA buses are made available to students free of charge and travel frequently between campuses.
• Domestic Exchange - Consider spending a semester or a year on an exchange through the National Student Exchange program (sending students to over 180 universities and colleges in 48 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), the New England Land Grant Exchange (University of Vermont), or the University of Massachusetts Student Exchange (an exchange between the Universities of Massachusetts Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell.).
• Want to go farther afield?   Check out the International Programs Office, and consider participating in over 300 UMass Amherst-sponsored programs in more than 70 countries around the world.  Become one of over 1000 UMass undergraduates going abroad each year.
• Consider an internship or a co-op!  Check out the possibilities at the Career Services website, and watch the video clip from a recent TV news story on how internships can augment your learning and your chances of landing a job out of college.
• Want to dip your toes into the off-campus waters, but keep up with all of your courses here on campus?  Consider community service learning options available for all UMass students, and those available through Commonwealth Honors College's Community Engagement program.  
• Also, consider student research and scholarship opportunities, available through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS).

 Plan ahead, and expand your academic horizons!

NSO Peer Advisors

If you've come to NSO and have been advised by Undergraduate Advising (undeclared) or Humanities and Fine Arts advisors, chances are good that you've met at least one of the fabulous peer advisors shown above.

Thanks, Peers - we couldn't do it without you!

Just because you're on summer vacation . . .

. . . don't miss any opportunity you get to NETWORK !

Over the summer, you'll likely be meeting new people and perhaps seeing others you've always known (relatives, parents of friends, etc) from a different perspective.  Look at every conversation as a possible contact or lead for a summer job, internship, or even a permanent job after graduation . . . you never know when you meet someone who could help you out.

Find out what kind of work people do, and tell them about what you're interested in doing - academically, and in terms of possible work.  Ask questions, and explore any opportunities to learn more about a job, a company, or a field.  If you're interested, try to set up an Informational Interview; check out this page for help on how to go about it and how to prepare, as well as ideas for questions and do's and don'ts.

All of these strategies fall under the heading of NETWORKING.  Why is networking important?  "Approximately 70-75% of jobs are found through networking."   Follow this link for some tips on career networking for college students.  

Have Questions About Your Schedule?

Welcome again to the Class of 2014! We look forward to meeting you all during New Student Orientation if we haven't met and we will help you put your Fall 2010 schedule together then. If you've already finished NSO and have questions or concerns about your schedule, you can email the advisor you met with during NSO. You can find us here or call 413-545-2191 to set up an appointment. Please note that while New Student Orientation is running, we are extremely busy on Mondays/Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays--so as a tip, plan on setting up a appointment for Wednesdays.



By the way, this goes for ALL undeclared students, new or returning! Stop by, we'd be happy to help!

Welcoming the Class of 2014

Starting Monday, June 6, and running through the week of July 21, the UMass campus is welcoming the Fall 2010 new students!  Advisors across campus will be working with students as they build their schedules for fall, and the students will also be participating in many activities to acclimate them to UMass.

If you're on campus, say hello to students wearing nametags on a lanyard around their neck, and if you're trying to get in touch with an advisor, know that we're focused on new students much of the coming weeks.  Feel free to email us or call for an appointment - just know that you may not connect with your advisor immediately.

Welcome, new students!  Let us know how we can assist you . . .