Happy October everyone! 

Are we excited about spooky season? I certainly am! 
Although I love New England fall, I know that some periods of the academic year can bring some extra stress. Usually for me, the middle of the semester can feel a little overwhelming and challenging. If you feel that way too, I want you to know that you are not alone!

I also wanted to share some tips of what I find helpful to plan for this time of the year as it starts to get busier:

Take in the sun
As it starts to get colder out and all I want to do is stay cozy inside all day, I challenge myself to go outside for a little bit and take in the sun while I can. It does not have to be a long walk, sometimes all I need is 10 minutes to feel connected with nature and take a break from my computer. Plus, the feeling of coming back into a warm room afterwards feels so rewarding!

Stay connected
On a similar note, I also noticed I tend to cancel social activities more often as the weather changes. There is nothing wrong with staying in, but I recommend trying to fit a social activity into your schedule, if you can. Connecting with others can do wonders for your well-being, and luckily, there are great events planned for this semester!

For more events, you can browse campus groups and find many interesting events.

Find a good study spot
For me, studying in my room feels like a great idea, until I feel like I would rather clean out my entire closet, rearrange furniture, or catch up on my favorite shows. For this reason, I try to go to environments I assimilate with doing homework, and where I see others also being productive studying or working on assignments. Check out different study areas on campus and have the option to book study rooms in advance.

Are you interested in using your experience as a transfer student at UMass Lowell to help new transfer students navigate UMass Lowell? Do you enjoy working in a team and participating in community building events? If so, being a peer ally might be for you!

To apply:

Submit the documents below to TAP@uml.edu by 5 PM on Friday, November 13, 2026.

If you would like to learn more or have any questions, please reach out to us at tap@uml.edu for the full job description.

It is almost time for National Transfer Student Week! From October 19th until the 23rd, we have exciting events and activities planned all over campus.  Here are just a few of the events that are going on:

Tuesday, October 20
Sip n’ Spin with the Centers for Learning on North Campus from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Cumnock Hall Lower Level Advising Center

Tuesday, October 20
Lego Night with the Transfer Alliance Program from 5 to 6:30 p.m.  in the Meehan Student Center (MSC) Lobby

Wednesday, October 21
Acing the Interview (with a spotlight on Transfer) with the Career & Co-op Center from 6 to 7 p.m. in Moloney Hall MSC, 260

Thursday, October 22
Sip n’ Spin with the Centers for Learning on South Campus from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in O’Leary Learning Commons

Thursday, October 22 
Transfer Student Mixer with the Honors College 12 to 2 p.m. In the Allen House Gallery

For college-specific events and more, check out TAP’s website for additional information and details!

If you are planning to take courses during the Winter 2027 session, you can now view the schedule of classes and begin enrollment on October 13th on SIS.

For the Spring 2027 session, enrollment is around the corner! Here are some dates to help you get prepared:

Schedule builder tool
Another interesting resource that can help you prepare for the enrollment period is the schedule builder. It allows you to plan for next semester, include breaks, create different schedule possibilities, and organize according to your preferences!

Here is a step-by-step on how to register for next semester.

UMass Lowell is partnering with Braven, a national nonprofit organization, to offer a 3-credit career accelerator course open to ALL majors this Spring. Braven is especially helpful for transfer students looking to build a community of professionals and peers right here at our school!

FAHS.2800: Career Accelerator: Through the course, you’ll gain essential career skills, networking and interview practice, and real-world professional experience through an employer capstone challenge—a great way to build your resume! FAHSS students can also use the course to fulfill their Career Connected Experience graduation requirement.

And the support doesn’t end with the one-semester course! As a UML Braven Fellow, you’ll have T, including 1:1 career coaching, professional mentorship, networking opportunities, and newsletters featuring internship and job opportunities relevant to your career goals.

Have you ever had a quick question about a campus resource but did not know who to ask?  Would you like to hear recommendations from transfer students like you?  Our Peer Allies can help you with that!

TAP Peer Mentors are available to connect across campus and share their experience, hear from you, and answer any questions you might have about UMass Lowell - even if you do not have a mentor assigned to you.

You can access the drop-in hours on TAP's website or on our Instagram - no need to schedule ahead of time!

Pro tip | Check out our Instagram page to learn in real time where our allies are located for the day and their availability.

I hope you are settling into the university and enjoying your time at UMass Lowell and know that we are here for you! Feel free to reach out for support or if you have any questions.

Cheers!

Laura Dos Passos
Transfer Assistant for TAP, UMass Lowell