UMass Lowell can be compared to our current parking situation. Some days you get that perfect spot right in front of the door to your first class... and some days you're driving in circles for forty-five minutes; punching your steering wheel and grinding your teeth down to painful pearly nubs. Let's start with the bad. With so many students needing four language classes to graduate, it's a common problem of the classes filling up almost immediately, and stranding students here for an extra semester because they were left in the cold. We need more teachers for foreign languages, and we need a stronger tutoring center for said program. Oddly enough, I had more trouble with my Spanish class than my senior thesis. To tie in my little parking analogy with UMass, you only need to ask a North campus student about their parking ordeals. Many students are forced to miss some of their first class because there are simply not enough spots. This frustration is compounded because we have to pay for the parking privilege too. Luckily, the school is building a new parking garage, so that problem has been noticed, and dealt with by the school. Those are the most frequent complaints I've heard, but parking is parking in any college.
Now that the glass is half empty, I want to show you that not all is bad with UMass Lowell. Far from it, actually. When I tell curious folk about where I go to school I am always met with a nod, and an approved sound from them. UMass Lowell is such an iconic school for anyone who grew up North of Boston, and almost everyone I have talked college with in my past three years have all had some tie in with the university, be it family, friend, or their own life there.
The school is located near a bustling downtown area, full of bars, beautiful water front walking tracks, and A GREAT MUSIC SCENE. "See, I told you the music scene was a big deal in Lowell." The school recently bought the Tsongas arena, which hosts world famous musical acts and sporting events. These aren't small fish shows either. We just had Judas Priest play their farewell concert right here on Campus. Tell some student living out in the woods that and watch the jealousy spread over them. Students are constantly emailed about upcoming shows and events in and around Lowell, many times given discounted prices and VIP opportunities to boot. Being a student in Lowell definitely isn't boring. If you are new to the area, or are just a bit unsure of where to go, just ask anyone around campus. Everyone is quick with a suggestion here, as we all know the best spots for a strong, "cheap" beer, or where to get the best Mexican food in Lowell.