Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I wake up around 6:30 am and start getting ready for the day. I do some last-minute homework, eat some Reese’s Puffs, and leave my dorm room to catch a bus at 8:10 am. A half hour later and I am at Smith College and on my way to my 9 am Hebrew class. Now you might be asking “why would she go all the way to Smith to take Hebrew?” For me, taking Hebrew at Smith had more benefits than taking it at UMass.
So, what is the Five College Consortium?
UMass, Smith, Amherst, Hampshire, and Mount Holyoke have a partnership that allows students from one college to take classes at the other four. This allows students to have a wider selection of courses they can take and to meet other people with similar interests that go to other colleges. Many students from the other colleges choose to come to UMass to take classes. You might have some students from other colleges in the courses that you are currently taking. Not as many students from UMass decide to go to the other colleges. Taking a class at another college has its challenges but you might find a class on a subject you may not have been able to take at UMass. My Hebrew class allows me to take the language to the level that I need in a shorter amount of time than I would if I was taking it at UMass. Plus it is a smaller class size so it is easier to get help when I need it and it is nice to get off campus!
How do I look at courses that I could possibly take?
The first step to taking a class at another college is finding a class that you would be interested in taking. On the Five College Consortium website, there is a course catalog that gives you multiple search options. You can look by subjects you are interested in and you can narrow it down by which college you would like to take classes at. The catalog gets updated around the same time as we can pick classes for UMass so the best time to look is during class registration.
I found a class, now what do I do?
Reach out to the professor of the class. They will be able to guide you in the process of enrolling in the class and they will have to approve of you enrolling in the class. You will have to fill out a paper for the registrar and have the professor sign it. Be sure to plan how you will be getting to the other college and make sure if you have enough time for travel in between your UMass classes and your off-campus class.
What are some of the challenges with taking a class at another campus?
Transportation can be an issue. I don’t have a car on campus so I must take the bus to Smith. If you are going to be in the same situation, make sure to learn the bus schedule. Buses are not always on time so make sure to take that into account when you are deciding which bus to take. Getting to office hours could also be another obstacle. I got lucky and have a professor who holds office hours at UMass but that is not always the case. Navigating another campus can be tricky. Make sure to go to the other campus and see where your class is at. Check the academic calendar for the other college. Do not be like my friend and I who went to class on what would have been the first day at UMass just to find out Smith doesn’t start until the next day. It is also important to check if your breaks are the same.
My experience taking a class at another college has been a positive one. I love being able to explore another campus and being able to take a break from being at UMass. I would recommend taking a class to anyone who can fit it into their schedule. There are many interesting classes at the other colleges and it is an opportunity that not many other students get.
