Attacks, Rowdiness Rattling Many at UMass-Amherst

<p>GEX - consider yourself very lucky - yes - the program you are IS one of the best in that field. It does sound as tho you have discovered THE way to stay on the sidelines and out of the craziness there - keep it up ;)</p>

<p>UMASS IS considered one of the top 5 expense wise for a state U in the country - along with UVM - UCONN - UNH - UMASS - and I can't reclall the other one - 4 out of 5 in the nor'east - uugghhh - it is really a shame that MA can't come up with a much better management plan for it's own students - and they wonder why MA students leave the state for their education. Much of our young talent leaves - and doesn't return.</p>

<p>My gal went OOS to NC state U - cost just about equal to in-state at UMASS - and without all the hassles - and much happier camper.</p>

<p>Gex, nice to hear from you, and yes UMass's sports management program is quite well-known.</p>

<p>Muffy, UConn's website claims they are the "top-ranked Public University in New England." UVM is very well-regarded (although expensive). My husband has worked with UMaine system and says it is well run, and I think UNH has a pretty good reputation. Don't know much about URI. So to answer your question I don't know if UMass is "way worse" than the other New England flagships, but it's certainly NOT child abuse to send your kid there. It's just a shame it seems to be so short-funded and mismanaged., especially in a state that prides ourselves on being so well-educated!</p>

<p>
[quote]
they wonder why MA students leave the state for their education. Much of our young talent leaves - and doesn't return.

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They think it's offset by the kids who come from out of state to attend Boston's great private schools, and stay. There are a lot of them, too. Until of course they try to buy a house. But that's a different story altogether.</p>

<p>It's really disappointing to read this, as we're scheduling a trip out there (from the west coast) in late March, and UMass/Amherst is on the list (for music). Now I'm re-thinking whether we should visit, argh!</p>

<p>SJTH - visit if you have time; there are four private colleges nearby that UMass students can take classes at. Some people really like the area.</p>

<p>I agree with Muffy. Visit anyway. I think the area is (or was when I was there) great. Students can get a very good education, although it is my opinion that it is more likely to happen if a student is mature and self-motivated, willing to take advantage of all opportunities--and that definitely includes making use of the five-college consortium when it can be done.</p>

<p>URI is underfunded--same thinking as UMass: most people live near Providence, and Kingston is in the boonies. At one point they solicited alumni to pay for periodical subscriptions for the library. If I lived in RI, I would steer my child toward RI College, the public in Providence. Fewer programs than the flagship, but lots of new dorms, nice new performing arts bldg, etc.</p>

<p>D is attending URochester for the same $ UMass would have cost. Colgate would have actually cost us LESS than UMass! The in-cost tuition for some great schools like UNC, UVA and UMich is much lower than UMass.</p>

<p>UMass</a> Amherst: Financial Aid Services - University Costs</p>

<p>by my math, based on this info, UMass tuition, fees, room and board are $28,000 for OOS and $17,500 for in-state. Is that high? I thought the OOS was below average and in-state about average.</p>

<p>NOOOOOO way would I come from the west coast to UMass for music.</p>

<p>We're in state, and my son is an "Abigail Adams Scholar" (which means he can go to any state school for no tuition), and one look at UMass was all it took to say we will gladly pay for him to go elsewhere.</p>

<p>Wish we had a better situation with our state "flagship", but it definitely would not be a school I would cross the country for, since many of us won't even cross the state for it.</p>

<p>My daughter is an OOS applicant to UMASS from the midwest; the OOS tuition is definitely lower than some others she is considering. She has been accepted to College of Business, Commonwealth College, $5k merit. I thought it was an OOS safety for her (as different geographic region is among her screens), but when I bring up maybe eliminating it, she keeps saying she really liked it. Among other things, she likes that it shows up on lists of schools with good study abroad and Colleges with a Conscience and that the students associated with the Admissions office have all been personable and responsive (as have Admissions reps to phone calls.) How concerned should I be about the underfunding, professors, etc.? The news stories aren't that different from the ones coming out of our flagship U.?</p>

<p>Apparently, one disadvantage to having followed the advice to only apply to schools that you can see yourself attending is choosing among them if you get accepted at more than one. . .</p>

<p>Allmusic, why are you so opposed to UMass for music? My S is very interested, having auditioned and met some of the professors in the music department. As a parent I am very concerned about everything I have read about the campus in the last few weeks. (We are also OOS and had no idea what the school's reputation was like.) But we left the music building that day with a very positive impression, especially after all of the parent meetings</p>

<p>Readers Digest, March 2008 - has UMass listed under "higher" crime rates (they had 3 categories - lower, moderate and higher). See rd.com for details. They got the data from crime data that the colleges file with the federal Office of Postsecondary Education. (ope.ed.gov/security). RD says 80% of campus crime is student against student, which explains why a rural campus could have a higher crime rate than an urban one.</p>

<p>I have a friend who graduated as a music major from UMass. She is the head of the music dept for our public school district, and was the state Teacher of the Year a few years ago - very successful, and she says she got a great education at UMass. But she graduated in the 1970's.</p>

<p>About 2 years ago there was a big article in the Boston Globe about financial shortfalls and cutbacks at UMass. They interviewed a freshman who had 4 classes, all were huge lecture-style classes. The kid couldn't get a 5th class because everything was filled. The state legislature hasn't provided any capital funding for the state colleges/universities in years - UMass Amherst finally gave up and has been funding its new buildings from its operating budget (again, this is based on my memory from reading recent Globe articles).</p>

<p>But over 10% of last year's graduating class from our suburban public hs is now enrolled at UMass Amherst, and a lot of kids coming out of private/parochial high schools in Eastern Mass go there as well. So there must be something good happening there.</p>

<p>The music department at UMass was top notch in the 70's. Unfortunately, lack of funding has really impacted the department negatively.</p>

<p>We know a lot of music ed grads, who seem, in general, happier than the performance majors. Some instruments may be better than others. I know there are also some happy marching band folks, and I have no doubt there is great earnestness on the part of many of the instructors (my son met with a department chair, who was terrific, but it wouldn't make up for a lacking program). </p>

<p>My son's private teacher has taught at UMass, and basically advised him not to consider the school, despite the fact that he could probably have qualified for additional scholarships, on top of free tuition. This teacher felt that the level of play would not provide enough musical peers for my son to grow as a musician. Current strong music students we know there right now, are trying to transfer out. It might be a great department for less strong musicians. </p>

<p>It's too bad, as I said. You have no idea how much we would have loved for UMass to have been a better choice.</p>

<p>
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You have no idea how much we would have loved for UMass to have been a better choice.

[/quote]

As a MA resident, who is shelling out big bucks to a private school OOS, all I can say is "Amen!"</p>

<p>^^^So, all you Massachusetts residents, your assignment for this weekend is to send some e-mails to the heads of both major parties, to office holders from your districts and to current and potential occupants of statewide offices.</p>

<p>In all the years I lived in MA and our livelihoods depended on UMass, I don't remember public higher education ever being a top priority campaign issue.</p>

<p>Midmo, if you lived here you must know - we only have ONE major party ;-)</p>

<p>Now, I know for a fact that you recently had a Republican governor!</p>

<p>...for which we are still suffering.....;)</p>

<p>"Now, I know for a fact that you recently had a Republican governor!"</p>

<p>Ahem! Just for the record, the so-called "People's Republic of Massachusetts" has had, until now, FOUR Republican governors, all in a row -- Weld, Cellucci, Swift, Romney. Swift (the one who got pushed out to make way for presidential aspirant Mitt) is the only one who cared about what happened beyond Route 495, and she didn't last long enough to do anything about UMass.</p>

<p>^^^^ True, true! </p>

<p>Didn't Duval Patrick make increasing aid to the State College & Univ system one of his campaign promises?</p>