Beginning your first week as a student in Amherst MA is exhilarating, overwhelming, and full of promise. Located in the center of Western Massachusetts, Amherst and the Five College area boast some of the most sought-after college campuses in the USA.
The region features breathtaking natural scenery, lots of historical treasures, museums, live music, sports, farm experiences, and more, to create an endless blend of possibilities on and off campus.
If you’re joining Amherst College, UMass Amherst, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke, or Smith as part of the Five College Consortium, there is much to absorb in those initial days.
To acclimate you, seven things to look forward to in your first week as an Amherst student are:
1. Tours of Other Campuses – Parties and Classes
The best part about being an Amherst area student is the Five College Consortium. The unique arrangement allows students from Amherst College, UMass Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith College to attend classes on different campuses, exchange resources, and mingle with one another.
During your first week, you’ll overhear the older students talk of exciting classes that are easier to enroll in at a different college, or parties that happen just a bus ride away. Showings of movies, new clubs to join, lectures, and celebrations of different cultures are all on the schedule.
Exploring a different campus gives you a sense of independence and belonging beyond your own college bubble. It’s also a great chance to meet the people and discover the world beyond your own academic institution.
2. Learning How the PVTA System Works
Your first week is the week to learn about the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) buses. They travel between all five schools (and beyond) and make getting around Amherst and beyond affordable. The buses are FREE!.
At first, the schedules and routes can be hard to get the hang of, but most students soon get the hang of it. Tip: Download the UMass Bus Track app or search for live updates on Google Maps to avoid waiting.
From campus to campus, grocery store to downtown Northampton for a weekend trip, PVTA will be your new BFF. Unless, of course, you have a car.
3. The Great Amherst Escape
As exciting as campus life is, you’ll soon realise that getting off campus can be just as important.
Once you have your bearings and know your way around the Amherst area, it’s a great time to start exploring what lies beyond the gates of academia.
Downtown Amherst has coffee shops, bookstores, restaurants, and live music. But take a little trip and Northampton (20 minutes) boasts an offbeat downtown that is full of art, cuisine, and night life.
Springfield, too, is a larger city within reach by bus or train. Holyoke Mall is a favorite shopping destination for many students.
The region is brimming with options for day trips and weekend getaways, museums, hiking trails, quaint towns, and even local food and music festivals.
4. So Much Nature
It’s not all lecture rooms and textbooks; Amherst is surrounded by lovely natural beauty. Within a week, you can find yourself walking on wooded trails, sitting at the edge of a pond, or climbing the Holyoke Range.
There are numerous outdoor retreats to enjoy:
- Amherst Rail Trail for a bike or jog.
- Puffer’s Pond for a swim or sunbathe.
- Mount Sugarloaf for a brisk hike with excellent valley vistas.
- The Connecticut River for kayaking or serene strolls.
- And many others.
Outdoor time is not only the best way to relax but also an opportunity to get together with friends, make new ones, and discover the charm of Western Massachusetts.
5. College Campus Nooks and Crannies
Every campus has its hidden gems, spots where students gather to study, chat, or recharge. During your first week, you’ll start finding these special places.
Maybe it’s a secluded area in your university library, a bench beneath an old tree, or the student café where the prices are low and the atmosphere is relaxed.
These nooks and crannies will be the backdrop for friendships, late-night discussions, and moments of serenity when the semester becomes crazy.
6. Creating New Friends Around the Globe
During your first weeks of college – and throughout your time here, you will meet people from many different backgrounds.
Amherst and the other consortium schools recruit students from across the U.S. and globe.
Orientation activities, welcome meetings, and first classes are designed to get you to meet one another.
You may get to know someone standing in line at the dining hall who ends up being your best friend, or sit beside a classmate who eventually becomes a project colleague.
The plurality of serendipitous things that happen here is a big reason why studying in the Amherst area is so fulfilling – and why so many people decide to stay and make a life in the Amherst area. Some of these relationships develop into lifelong friendships, or even future professional networks and partnerships.
7. Learning About You
It will be hard being away from family and high school friends, but one of the most interesting parts about your first weeks (and your whole stay) in Amherst is the potential to start discovering who you are outside of your family and hometown.
This independence gives you space to find new passions, join new clubs, and try things you never could before. Be it a student newspaper, an intramural, going to a poetry reading, or volunteering in the community, Amherst offers countless avenues for growth.
College is also about finding out what ignites your passion, what motivates you, and what kind of person you really want to be.
Final Thoughts
The first week in Amherst will probably be a jumble of orientation occasions, a wave of new faces, and walking the campus a heck of a lot. But after you get a bit of disorientation behind you, there is everything to look forward to in touring new campuses, new towns, and natural wonders, and most importantly, bonding with people from all corners of the world.
Enjoy it. Amherst rewards curiosity and exploration. Ask Emily, she’ll tell you.
