Engineering - Rutgers vs UMass Amherst

<p>I have regularly admitted to Engineering at Rutgers(outstate) and UMass Amherst(instate) without any financial support fro both of them. I need to pay full cost. I probably go to Chemical or Electrical Engineering eventually. I am going to try premed program. I heard that Rutger has better reputation than UMass Amherst. Rutgers is ranked 64th US NEWS and UMass Amherst around 100th at school overall. In Engineering overall, Rutgers is very little bit ahead to UMass Amherst. I pay EXTRA 15K for Rutgers. I am not considering money seriously. </p>

<p>Is it worth it or not? Any comments are welcome!</p>

<p>Are you going to do any post-grad or post-post-grad education?</p>

<p>Thanks, Nats2009.</p>

<p>I am not sure if I am qualified for post-grad or higher at that time. If yes, I will go there.
Otherwise, I go to find a job. I am on average or little bit above. I confident to my Math skill and doing engineering could be OK.</p>

<p>If you need more information, let me know. Thanks again for your inputs.</p>

<p>I would not pay the extra money unless you have a great desire to go to Rutgers (or a great dislike of UMass).</p>

<p>Rutgers is quite expensive for OOS, even for instate I believe it’s like 21000, and it isn’t especially a top program, somewhat of a lesser Penn State.</p>

<p>I believe both have a similar reputation and if you are instate at MA, UMass would be a no-brainer (unless you hate it). </p>

<p>Engineering is not especially prestige-dependent (other than MIT/Caltech/Stanford), especially at the undergrad level, and most great engineering programs are state schools. You will find few advantages at Rutgers as opposed to UMass. Personally, I would prefer UMass over even Michigan (where I was also admitted) if in-state because the OOS costs are high and the differences in education are marginal.</p>

<p>Hello, IndianPwnerDude. Thanks for your comments.</p>

<p>What are few advantages at Rutgers as opposed to UMass?
Would you mind pointing them out?</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

<p>The engineering program at both Rotgers and UMass are very competitive and difficult and I am sure that you will be challenged intellectually in both programs.</p>

<p>By saying few, I mean the location (if you like NB) or perhaps a different environment and slightly higher selectivity (which is somewhat negligible).</p>

<p>If you plan to go to graduate school, the school you choose to attend (between these two) would be a non-issue. Meanwhile, if you plan to work in NJ, going to Rutgers may be advantageous. Similarly, if you plan to work in MA, UMass is fine.</p>

<p>Rutgers doesn’t have any advantages over UMass, unless you prefer NJ - as pointed out above - or if you know of a specific sub-program that you want which they specialize in. I’m not aware of any. </p>

<p>I also would pick UMass in-state over Michigan OOS. My entire family went there and I went there for law school. The undergrad education at UMass is equivalent, but UofM has better grad schools. Ann Arbor is a little city and is very nice but it’s not like Amherst / Northampton is a desert. UMass has more opportunity to mix and take classes at other schools - which is real, not fake as in Brown and RISD. UofM has a better central campus but many programs and residences aren’t there; engineering, art and bunch of other stuff is in North Campus, which is a bus ride away from the main campus and the city. The food at UMass is better. UofM has bigtime sports. Even if you say UofM is “better,” the difference is not worth the cost for most people and most programs. (I’ve noted that if you want naval architecture, UofM is one of like 3 programs.)</p>

<p>Hello, IndianPwnerDude. Thanks for your comments.</p>

<p>Only Rutger’s rank at national overall as you said, ‘slightly higher selectivity’ made me feel better. That also lets my parents feel better with the money. I did not do well and felt I am loser at high school. That always reminds me bad time…., so that it is better for me to keep away from MA four years.</p>

<p>I am still struggling for the decision. I need help…</p>

<p>Thanks again</p>

<p>Hello, Lergnom. Thanks for your help.</p>

<p>Please see my previous posting.</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>