<p>Many of the brightest kids I know went to UMass, often because their parents made them. Again, this is not unusual. I even know a family who bribed their top student son to go to UMass by offering him a new car if he went. He graduated and is doing really well.</p>
<p>The portrayal of UMass as a party school is a bit dated, and, I think, unfair. Our tour guide at neighboring Amherst joked about how much students drink there. I have kids who went to Ivies where drinking and drugs were everywhere, and one who went to a well-known small LAC where weekends were wild. UMass established an honors college, residential communities and has become quite selective: I doubt there are that many more parties than anywhere else.</p>
<p>I don’t know why UMass gets such a bad rap. But the prejudices expressed here don’t help the daughter adjust.</p>
<p>If she is a nursing student UMass is a great school. If she wants an urban nursing training, then UMass Boston would work, BC, Northeastern, Simmons, a few others- but some of these may cost. Salem State is near Salem and Beverly hospitals. I would think the location of practica would be a big determining factor. What kind of nursing does she want to do?</p>
<p>@compmom I think I would be too ambitious to leave. I would just have to pretend I was in a post-apocalyptic movie while on campus. Focus on the good food and move off campus with friends ASAP.</p>
<p>That’s another issue-it’s such a good school for her major, but she also wants clinicals in a Boston hospital, and two of her top choices offer them. </p>
<p>She is being very short sighted. Does she think she can’t do pediatric nursing with a UMass nursing degree? If so…she has faulty thinking.</p>
<p>Set a budget for her. And don’t go a nickel above it. Let her do all of the research about transferring. But make it very clear that you will NOT fund over a certain amount. If she can make that happen, great…support her transfer.</p>
<p>But make it very clear that she will need to walk away from ALL options that are not affordable.</p>
<p>@Ellen94 Enjoy this time with her while she explores. Her major is a lot of work and feeling so stressed will not help. Though it didn’t go off perfectly, there’s no shame sending her to a smart choice and she must be a special girl to get in that program with merit aid.</p>
<p>My duaghter has friends going to schools out there (UMass, Smith and Hampshire). Living off campus is a great option: prices are very affordable. One of her friends lives in a big old house near a lake. Another lives in town in Northhanptom.</p>
<p>UMass Boston also has a nursing program. I am assuming Lowell does too. It’s pretty darned expensive to live in Boston. Housing in Lowell is cheaper of ccourse but the hospitals won’t be prestigious Boston facilities. Is she focused on clinicals at Children’s, MGH and B & W etc?</p>
<p>Salem has North Shore Children’s Hospital…and apartments aren’t too expensive there.</p>
<p>Where do they do clinicals at UMass Amherst? I can understand that she might want to do clinicals in Boston, but hope that some other posters familiar with nursing can come on here and reassure on that point.</p>
<p>To me, the negative feelings about UMass might be part of normal Freshman adjustment, and most likely will change if the daughter gives it a chance. The real problem is not the school, but the process by which she ended up there, without a choice. This may affect her willingness or even ability to settle in.</p>
<p>I still wonder if the same financial or merit aid will be available to her if she leaves.</p>
<p>The best solution might be for her to look at other schools and then decide to stay.</p>
<p>Yeah, tell both kids they get the same X amount of money for education and let them choose.</p>
<p>BTW, kids will know whether you set restrictions because you want what’s best for them or because of your own selfish desires. IMO, you really want them to own their decisions.</p>