Mount Holyoke or Umass Amherst?!

<p>My parents are tight on money, but they believe in the long run a good education will pay off. I'm deciding between the two and have to hurry and send my deposit. I visited and had a good feeling about both. Umass Amherst is a state school and is much cheaper, and I would be majoring in accounting there (Isenberg School of Management). Mount Holyoke is a liberal arts college and a 7 sister school (as you might know :]). I would be majoring in biochem there. (Or course nothing is set in stone, things can change) Both have there pros and cons in my eyes, but I believe I would be happy at either school. The REAL issue is for me deciding if its worth the extra money to go to MH than go to Umass. The cost of Mount Holyoke is 55,000 a year, and I received 20000 in grants per year and 7000 in loans/work study per year. I would have to do loans for Mount Holyoke, whereas at Umass I would not.</p>

<p>I'm really torn and would love any input or advice :) Thank you SO SO SO much!!</p>

<p>Let’s see, accounting vs. biochem…haha quite a choice!</p>

<p>As far a the college choice, you need to ask yourself, do you want first-year(and possibly beyond) classes with 100 or more kids taught by a grad student who may or may not speak English…or do you want classes taught by full professors with maybe 20-30 other young ladies? </p>

<p>In the grand scheme of things yes UMASS is cheaper…but will you be able to graduate in four years? Most kids I know at state schools take 5-6 years due to not being able to get classes they need.</p>

<p>Also, let’s face it, MHC is a much more presitigious school than UMass, which is not even the top-ranked public in New England.</p>

<p>If you and your family can swing it, go to MHC!</p>

<p>I was in the exact same position as you! I was stuck between studying accounting at Umass or economics at MHC, and both had their obvious pros and cons. Umass is really inexpensive, but the classes seem like they would be huge and you wouldn’t get much personal attention. Although MHC is much more expensive, the classes seem small and intimate, the campus is gorgeous, and it has a better reputation.</p>

<p>In the end, I decided that MHC was worth the extra cost and, after another visit, I really fell in love with it. I hope I helped and good luck deciding! :)</p>

<p>I really do not understand the question. Accounting and biochem are completely different. It seems that if you go to UMassA, you were only accepted as an accounting major. Wanna be a CPA? Exciting. Zzzzz. You’ve made that decision at 18? You will never change your mind? My firstie at MHC entered planning to be a bio major. Now, that’s in her rear view mirror. If UMass now REQUIRES you to be an accounting major, seems somewhat limiting, but not so much if that’s your career goal.</p>

<p>My husband graduated from UMass, and I graduated from Mount Holyoke. We’ve both done well in our careers, and I think that a degree from either will serve you well - depending, of course, on how much work you put into it. </p>

<p>As the previous posters have mentioned, the real question is the kind of environment you want. I do think you would probably have more opportunities for things like research, internships, etc. at Mount Holyoke.</p>

<p>Ultimately, only you and your parents can decide if the higher cost and loans would be worth it. For my daughters, it would be, but every family is different.</p>