<p>Hello,
I am new to CC, and hoping to get some answers.</p>
<p>I was accepted into both Rutgers and UMass Amherst for Microbiology (as well as 5 other schools), but I'm hoping to get a clear answer between the differences and which is better.</p>
<p>First, my situation:
I live in Mass. and was accepted into Rutgers, and recieved a scholarship for $10,000 which puts it in a contender range. As long as I keep above a 3.0 average each year, my scholarship remains and I can continue for my 4 years. It is about 5 hours away from where I live, and I admire its proximity to NYC.
I was also accepted into UMass Amherst, and of course it is a lot closer and cheaper, but I do not want to see all of my high school friends (a LOT got in), and UMass has a notorious reputation of being a party school.</p>
<p>The Microbiology department at Rutgers is fairly new, and has about 50 undergrads, compared to the larger one at UMass which has about 175. I think UMass' program is older, but I'm not sure if the age/size difference is a huge deal. With less people comes more attention on you, but the classes are also somewhat different. Rutgers focuses more on the' School of Environmental and Biological Sciences focuses more on the environment, whereas the one at UMass focuses more on medicine.</p>
<p>I'm not sure which program would suit me better. Feel free to ask me questions and give suggestions. It would really help.</p>
<p>Thanks,
~X</p>
<p>It would help if you posted whether you prefer medicine or environmental science. I think the research happening at the departments should be the main thing that guides you. Even though many people from your hometown got in, it is VERY easy to avoid them if you want to. Don’t let that affect your decision. Go based on how good the program is and how well it suits your needs. I would personally go for UMass, but that’s me, not you. A lot of undergrad is whatever is cheaper, but having a merit scholarship looks good. I wish you would’ve posted more about yourself-- what are you interested in doing academically? Job or grad school? Microbio or Eco/Evo Bio?</p>
<p>I personally think UMass Amherst is a much better school than Rutgers, but that’s me. I would take a look through the department and see how many profs are young and how many are old-- is the university making an effort to bring new people into the department (and therefore increase the research activity)? How easily can you find a research position? How do the degree programs line up with your interests?</p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>I can give advice as a hiring micro manager… go to the school that either has a medical school or is the location of the state’s public health lab. Then take as many science courses with lab as you can. Also, work all four years part time in whatever labs…micro, chemistry, etc. even if you have to wash dishes. Then ask if you can do a senior research project in someone’s lab. And if you can do an internship at the state lab, go for it. You need to get in as much “real” experience as you can. Then go to grad school. And regarding the school…do they have advance micro courses? parasitology? analytical chemistry? biochemistry? and molecular biology? Also takes Stats. Good Luck!</p>