@MYOS1634 what about engineering? I’m leaning towards that and applied to both for it
For engineering, check that out program is ABET accredited and you’re good at the cheapest of either.
Do you know how much Michigan costs for out of state students? It’s $60K per academic year. You really need to look at all of those schools and their costs for out of state students. You will find that you are way off base. UMASS, with Adams, is about $27K. If Michigan is better and you can get in, the choice of taking on that debt is up to you. Maryland is closer to $42K and my son is considering it for the business school. My daughter considered Maryland and chose UMASS (also got into Brandeis and Northeastern). She chose UMASS for two reasons. The first was that it was solid for her major and the second was graduating with no debt (I agreed to pay first $30K for any school). I agree with the post above about Michigan. Michigan and Virginia are in another league. UCONN is similar to UMASS, but also $45K per year for out of state. Why pay another $18K a year or $72K over the course of your college years for something that amounts to very little. I don’t think your grades will get you into the honors (Commonwealth College) college at UMASS. I believe your weighted GPA would have to be 4.2 or higher, but you can transfer in during your first year with high first semester freshman grades. What is less than UCONN (at $42K) that has a beautiful campus and excellent engineering program is Maryland. It’s also not in the middle of nowhere like Storrs.
@ljberkow Michigan also gives generous OOS fa packages
State schools only give generous financial aid to top students. Most get very little. You may be in for some reality shocks.
Michigan gives generous OOS FA to lower-income, high-achieving applicants. Some are “flown in” early to convince them to attend because they have a lot of choices, for instance.
DO apply and then compare everything.
I agree that UMD is better for Engineering, but I think the deadline for merit scholarships has passed.
Yes, Maryland’s deadline is November 1 for most aid.
@as1799 , I agree with MYOS’ post above to apply to all and compare as you are going along. My advice would be to take another trip to UMASS on your own and visit the program that interests you. If that’s the school of engineering, then call ahead and set up an appointment. Also, see if you can sit in on a class. I have been through enough info session / student run tours and they are okay, but not enough to go on.
With respect to costs of attendance, you should always keep in mind the marginal costs of out of state schools and private schools. Michigan, Virginia, and UCLA, among others, charge out of state students an extra $30K, making them the rough equivalent to private schools. There are very good state schools which are much closer to $15K more. UMASS charges out of state students that $15K, but does provide aid, making it closer but not below the in state cost. Again, those are for top candidates. My daughter got into Northeastern, Brandeis, University of Maryland, UCONN, Clark, and UMASS and ultimately chose UMASS and chose not to live near Southwest Towers. She’s at Orchard Hill and enjoys it and will graduate with no debt.
@ljberkow I toured the mechanical engineering department and was incredibly underwhelmed. The difference between Michigan, Virginia and UCLA is that UCLA guarantees that OOS students will get NO aid at all, while Virginia claims to meet all need. Michigan is in the middle
Well, good luck in your college search. You started a thread about good things at UMASS and there are plenty of them. I would think that if you are interested in engineering that VA Tech would make more sense than Virginia and Georgia Tech would give you the best of both worlds and you would get Atlanta too.
Can’t speak to engineering in particular, but there are plenty of good things about UMass in general. D is a sophomore and loves it. Did not get into the Honors College when she was first accepted to the university but applied and was accepted after her first semester. She loves her classes (she’s in Isenberg), has met some great people (some more serious about getting top grades than others but all good humans), and enjoys much of what the university has to offer. Is it a traditionally beautiful and bucolic campus? No. But it’s a vibrant and growing place, full of energy, smack in the middle of a beautiful part of New England.
It’s the top destination for graduates of our high school, too, but it’s big enough that you really don’t need to spend time with people you don’t want to see anymore.