The University of
Massachusetts
Amherst
College Pride Day
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Mr. Ambrose
www.misterambrose.com
What do the
following people
have in common?
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Your favorite teachers and administrators…
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NBA superstars…
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Famous entertainers…
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Founders and CEOs of famous companies…
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They all went to UMass
Amherst!
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UMass in the Top Ten
 Four UMass programs – food science, kinesiology,
linguistics, and polymer science and engineering – are
ranked among the nation’s best – public or private.
 The UMass hospitality program is ranked sixth in the nation
– public or private.
 The School of Management is ranked tenth in the nation –
public or private.
 UMass ranked third in the nation for students getting
scholarships to study abroad – public or private.
 AND UMASS IS THIRD IN THE NATION IN FOOD!!!!
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Location and Vital Stats
 UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1450 acres in the
scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts,
90 miles from Boston.
 The campus provides a rich cultural environment
in a rural setting close to major urban centers.
 Enrollment: 20,604 undergraduates
•
•
•
•
This
This
This
This
includes
includes
includes
includes
4,592
3,112
4,488
3,752
first-year students
honors students
out-of-state students
students of color
 1,170 full-time faculty, 18:1 student/faculty ratio
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Academic Offerings
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8 schools and colleges
6 associate degree programs
86 bachelor degree programs
2,253 undergraduate course sections
 You can study whatever you want!
• The “big school” advantage
 Average class size: 37 students
 63% of classes offered at UMass have fewer than
30 students
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What kind of grades do I need to go to UMass?
 2012 Freshman Class
• 34,326 applicants for a class of 4,592
• Mean high school rank: top 20%
 Middle SAT
• Critical Reading 520-620
• Math 540-640
 Mean GPA: 3.66 (on a 4.0 scale)
• 3.0 = B, 4.0 = A
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How much does it cost?
 Tuition/Fees: $13,230
 Room/Board: $9,037
 Total: $23,167
 Though this sounds like a lot, it is very
inexpensive compared to the cost of a private
institution!
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Great Opportunities
 Commonwealth College
• A private school experience at a public school price
 The Five-College Interchange
• Study at Smith, Amherst, Mt. Holyoke, and Hampshire
for the price of attending UMass
 Studying Abroad
• Semester-long experience
• Year-long experience
• Shorter experience
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13
In what academic programs was I enrolled?
 Journalism major
 English major
 Music minor
 Honors program
 RAP (Residential Academic Program)
 Study abroad experience in Italy
 Education master’s program
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In what activities was I involved?
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Marching Band
Marching Band Staff
Concert Band
Jazz Band
Pep Band
Trombone Choir
Kappa Kappa Psi Music Service Fraternity
Volunteer, Amherst Survival Center
DJ, WOCH Student Radio Station
Intramural Softball
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What were my favorite classes?
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American Popular Music
Biology of Cancer and AIDS
Hemingway
Major British Writers
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
Diaries, Memoirs, and Journals
Newswriting and Reporting
Photojournalism
Web Design
American Identities
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Where did I live?
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Where did I study?
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Where did I eat?
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Where did I have class?
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At UMass, I did some things I couldn’t do elsewhere
 I studied photojournalism in Sicily, where I went
snow-tubing on an active volcano.
 I played my trombone at the Presidential
inauguration of George W. Bush in January 2001.
 I studied writing with Pulitzer Prize winner Maddy
Blais, who capped her classes at 12 students in
order to give them individual attention.
 I played in a jazz band directed by two-time
Grammy award nominee Adam Kolker.
 I taught at Springfield Central High School (and
chaperoned a prom attended by the rapper
Ludacris).
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Mr. Ambrose’s College Method
 Create a master list of 6-9 schools.
• 2-3 “safety” schools
• 2-3 target schools
• 2-3 reach schools
 Don’t get your heart set on one school.
• Even if you get in everywhere, certain schools might be
too expensive.
 Decide the “type” of school you like.
• Rural vs. Urban, Public vs. Private, etc.
 Decide what you are looking for a school.
• Particular majors, sports, drama, Greek life, etc.
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What, in particular, can I do as a junior?
 Take the PSAT in October.
 Take the SAT in January. Get the detailed score report and
review it with me in class.
 Take the SAT again in March, May, or June. See if your
scores have improved.
 If you are interested in an upper tier private school, take
the SAT Subject Tests in May or June.
 Write drafts of college essays for my assignments in class.
 Create a master list of schools you like.
 Visit a school over April vacation.
 Ask teachers (like me) for a letter of recommendation
before the summer.
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What, in particular, can I do as a sophomore?
 Take the PSAT in October.
 Review the PSAT with me in December.
 Join my PSAT practice group starting in January and
continuing right through the summer. (Work to become a
National Merit Scholar like Roger Zurawicki and Nicole
Avella.)
 Go to college fairs and start to see what kinds of schools
are out there.
 Get an Advanced score on the MCAS in English and Math.
(Earn the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship.)
 Work hard in my class so you can take a more rigorous
courseload (standard => honors, honors => AP).
 Set going to college as your number one goal.
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Some Useful Sites
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www.umass.edu
www.commonapp.org
www.collegeboard.com
www.cappex.com
www.youniversitytv.com
www.princetonreview.com
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Q&A
 What do YOU want to know more about?
 And don’t forget the college fair tonight!
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