<p>If it comes down to choosing between Brandeis University which will cost me 12k per year plus room and board or Umass Boston which will be free aside from room and board, which would be better?</p>
<p>Depends on what you can afford. I wouldn’t take out too many loans for undergrad. If you need to take out student loans to pay the 12k from Brandeis, I would go to UMass Boston. Brandeis isn’t worth the likely 50-80k you’ll end up graduating with once you take into account interest and Room/board/CoL.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>What can you/your family afford?</p></li>
<li><p>What are your educational/career goals?</p></li>
<li><p>Can you take going to what is effectively a “suitcase school” for your 4 years. UMass-Boston is mostly a commuter school from what I’ve seen on campus and heard from its alums. </p></li>
<li><p>Have you taken a tour of both campuses, yet? Can you take attending a school where some infrastructure has been neglected/having some issues(Common complaints I’ve heard from UMass-Boston alums)?</p></li>
<li><p>Dramatic drop in the academic level of the students. Would you be able to cope with the feeling you’re not being challenged enough academically? This was another serious issue several UMass-Boston alums have complained about.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I pass through Brandeis everyday and it’s definitely a nice school. On the other hand, I go to school very close to UMB and it does not have the best reputation…I would go to Brandeis as I would think that it would open more opportunities in the future and have a stronger alumni network than Umass Boston.</p>