<p>Right now, I am trying to choose between UMass Amherst and Grinnell College. I live in Massachusetts, and would prefer to live close to home, however, would also prefer to be in a smaller school. I was accepted to a couple other of schools, however, I have narrowed it down to these two. I will be majoring in Biochemistry, and was accepted to UMass Honors College. I would like to do research while in college. My eventual goal after college is to go onto graduate school and hopefully get a PhD. I need help deciding between these two schools.</p>
<p>UMass Amherst
-Around 18,000 a year with financial aid and federal loans
-Is close to three hour drive from home
-Am closer to boston biotech industries (internships)
-Is a much larger school
-Programs like ICONS
-In a smallish city in Western Massachusetts</p>
<p>Grinnell College
-Around 34,000 a year with financial aid
-Is a much smaller school
-Is much farther away from home
-Has an open curriculum
-Only holds undergraduates
-In rural Iowa</p>
<p>These schools are so different I am amazed that you can’t decide between them. UMass is a huge state school with huge sports teams and frats and the rest of the collegiate 9 yards. Grinnell is a small, funky, liberal, somewhat alternative LAC. Where do you fit it better? Surely you must have a gut reaction. Can you afford Grinnell?</p>
<p>Umass honors college is like being in a private small school. You will have more opportunities at Umass. Go and spend a day at both schools and then decide. Visit when Students are on campus. Cost wise U Mass is cheaper if you will be in school for about 10+ years.</p>
<p>Given the low paid job prospects in biochemistry (at the bachelor’s and doctoral level), it would not be wise to take on a lot of debt for school to study biochemistry.</p>
<p>UMass has the brand new honors residential complex opening in the fall. Plus I think you will have many more opportunities with them, at a much more reasonable cost.</p>
<p>If costs were the same, I’d take Grinnell in a heartbeat, particularly if you want to go on to graduate work. Grinnell is excellent in the sciences, has great science facilities and research opportunities, small classes, and percentage-wise is one of the highest producers of phds. Grinnell has one of the highest per-student endowments in the country, which translates to great facilities and funded internships and research. The cost difference is significant, though!</p>
<p>Wanting to be closer to home is a personal consideration that only you can decide. Good luck!</p>
<p>For you, UMass. Remember that you can take classes at the other colleges in the Five College Consortium (Amherst, Hampshire, Smith, Mt. Holyoke), which are LACs like Grinnell–so you get the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>UMass most definitely. The difference in price will allow you to accrue less debt if you plan on eventually getting a PHD. Umass can sometimes get a bad rep for being too big and a little intimidating but that is what college is all about. You are moving away from home for the first time in your life and any college you go to it’s only natural to feel a bit intimidated. YOU WILL NOT REGRET saving $64,000. Worst case scenario is you hate UMass (for reasons I will not understand) and transfer to Grinnell after freshman year. </p>
<p>Grinnell is a very good school and if money were no factor, and if you could get past your desire to be close to home, it would be Grinnell in a landslide. There are problems at UMass. But Grinnell is not worth 65K more to most parents than UMass for a biochem degree. Very nice people in IA, but not a lot going on compared to Boston. Since you got into Grinnell, you ought to be able to do very well at UMass.</p>