I realize these schools are really different in size but can anyone speak to their experience, and whats special about each in your opinion? Our daughter having a hard time deciding between the two. We arent from Mass and so don’t know the towns they are in well. She’s undecided but leaning towards business. Both have the same net cost for us.
Thank you!
I’m no expert on either. But if I were going for business, I’d go to UMASS.
First off, UMASS has business and I don’t believe Clark does. They have a few things like marketing and analytics - but not the full monty - best I can tell.
Secondly - you’ll see that kids mainly complain about their college’s food - but UMASS is a top 3 and everyone raves about it - not just on the CC but I have a colleague in Phoenix who went there and I asked her and she said it was fantabulous. So you avoid that - the dorms are rated higher too although not as highly as the food.
Finally, at UMASS you can take classes at the other area schools - and the area has a lot going for it. Taking a class at Amherst - is going to give you that small college feel.
Mainly - on an academic end, if you’re thinking business - you just have more options at UMASS.
But I’ve read good things about Clark too…Both are fine institutions. Hopefully others with actual experience can give you more. good luck.
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Not hugely different in reputation.
Small school in 3rd tier city vs very large rural school
You’ll be more anonymous at U Mass. At Clark, you’re going to know more of the student body and your professors, and they will know you. U Mass has a much different vibe to Clark, and it’s really hard to compare those two.
I know kids who have attended both. They are happy at their schools. U Mass is probably better connected simply because it’s really big compared to Clark, but Clark is also known and has a good reputation. U Mass will have a big college feel and Clark will have a more liberal arts college feel. Almost certainly bigger classes vs smaller classes in your first couple of years.
I personally have no problem with Worcester. There are other colleges there and my understanding is that it’s improving. Amherst is a small, cute college town and there is the possibility of taking classes at other colleges in the consortium, though I’m not sure a lot of students do it because you can’t walk to all of them.
It’s pretty easy to get to Boston from Worcester. Not quite as easy as from Amherst, as it’s farther away. Small vs big. What kind of experience do you seek?
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Amherst is a great college town. The Amherst/Northampton area is the 2nd largest booking venue in all of New England. Lots of live music, some theater, great restaurants. Lots to do outdoors for the outdoorsy types. And several area museums for the indoor types.
Clark has only management and marketing majors in the business school for undergrads. Other traditional business degrees like accounting, finance, and business analytics require a 5th year master’s program. Clark is in a sketchy part of the city with the university providing bus service to get to and from some of the area hit spots. That’s the bad news. The good news is that if a student wants to explore Boston on the weekend, there will be commuter rail service between Worcester and Boston for the first time beginning this spring, which will get you downtown with a 1 hour train ride. The university bus service will get you to Union Statiin, just 1.5 miles from campus. So, Boston is within reach.
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Was she admitted to Isenberg at UMass?
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I think the reputation of UMass business is superior to Clark. YMMV. UMass has a lot of outstanding students who don’t want to pay the prices of private schools. And if you add in the honors program, it’s more of a difference. Look at the stats of accepted students for both.
I also think UMass is larger so will have more alumni/opportunities for networking.
That said, you can go anywhere from both schools. Clark has always been solid. I’d look up the ROI on their undergraduate business program. If it was my kid, I’d advise they also look at the curriculum. UMass is going to offer more options. Clark, closer connections, smaller class sizes ( possibly) and maybe support of faculty.
A couple of things to consider:
-Does she want a LAC environment or a large state school? Both have pros and cons so she to go to the school where she feels she will thrive.
-If she wants business has she been accepted to the b-school at UMass? If not she should explore how difficult it is to do an internal transfer if she wants business.
I’d try to attend the accepted students day at the two colleges and then let your D decide.
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That’s why I asked if she has already been accepted to Isenberg. Students beginning in fall 2022 or later will not be eligible to transfer into the BBA degree program.
https://www.isenberg.umass.edu/programs/undergraduate/on-campus/admissions/current-umass-students
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Hi,
Good question I should have mentioned. No she is still undecided and so didnt want to box herself in right now.
Did not know this… I wonder why?
Don’t know for sure but I do know that business programs have become increasingly competitive/popular for undergrad students. A couple of reasons I can guess offhand (which may or may not be the case) might be: 1) the b-school enrollment is filled with freshmen (perhaps leaving room for a limited number of transfer students) and/or 2) the b-school is more competitive in terms of admissions and the college doesn’t want people to apply/get accepted to the liberal arts college and try to use it as a back door to the b-school once they are on campus.
These are closely related reasons. In cases like this, the business major is highly popular relative to department capacity, and it chooses to fill its space by direct admission of frosh and (external) transfers, leaving no space for current students to change major into the business major.
It is less of a matter of “locking the back door” than it is that the room is so full that an unlocked back door cannot be opened.
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Sorry, that is hindsight now, but it is better if undecided to apply into a direct admit business program. Generally, it is much easier to switch from business to liberal arts than the other way around.
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I’d go with Clark for an undecided student. They have a great alumni network, and she might be able to get her Masters for free!
Reputation-wise, Clark and UMASS are similar.
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