Reputation (long)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Massachusetts - Amherst
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<p>Hello everyone.</p>

<p>I've decided to write this post in order to address the poor reputation that I have often seen attributed to UMass. In fact, a categorically untrue comment in another thread is what prompted me to make it. I don't visit cc very often, however I was a longtime lurker here last year while I was in the process of making my own college decision. This post is long, so if you don't wish to hear my story you might as well exit this thread now and save yourself the trouble.</p>

<p>Initially, UMass was my safety school and I never even considered attending except as a last resort. I had applied to early action to UMass, BC, and Villanova and got accepted into the honors programs of all three. I was also accepted regular decision into Cornell AEM and waitlisted at Dartmouth, Amherst College, and Wharton (being a white male from the northeast didn't help).</p>

<p>When it came time to decide which school to attend, I started doing extensive research. UMass had been badmouthed pretty badly at my high school so I barely looked into it at first. My fellow students called it "zoomass," likened to a place where only the brain dead attended, and slandered it in almost every imaginable way. I almost immediately pushed it to the back of my list. Out of my other three choices, all of which were decent fits, I ended up settling on Cornell. It was the most prestigious, it was the easiest path into my desired field at the time (investment banking), and it was a "golden" ivy. </p>

<p>When it came time to visiting the schools on admitted students day, my parents had to pretty much drag me to UMass. I went and I ended up chatting with a finance professor who assured me that, education wise, UMass was just as good as Cornell. I didn't believe him...</p>

<p>Three days before the final decision deadline, UMass called me and offered me a generous scholarship that someone else had turned down. Basically I would have a full ride to UMass vs. the 200k I would have to pay at any of the other schools. Even so, many of my friends thought I was crazy for even considering UMass. Long story short, I freaked out for two days and then found a pretty creative solution. I decided to accept the one-time-only UMass offer and convinced Cornell to trade my acceptance for a guaranteed transfer option after one year. That way, if I decided I couldn't stand UMass I'd just leave. In the worst case scenario, I had just made 50k.</p>

<p>Well here I am, a freshman who just completed his first semester and I couldn't be happier. UMass has turned into my dream school. I love the people, I love the campus (except the walking), and I've loved 4 out of my first 5 professors (the fifth was ok). The common characterization of the student body couldn't be further from the truth. Of course there are exceptions, but most are intelligent and thoughtful, particularly in commonwealth. I've also heard that there are also poor professors, but why should I take their classes? Use a little foresight, go to ratemyproffesor.com and simply find the great professors instead. Part of the beauty of UMass is that it's simply big enough that you can avoid anyone who you so choose.</p>

<p>You could hardly ask for a better social scene. All the living areas are slightly different but very fun in their own right (southwest wins the award for party scene). I live in Orchard Hill (commonwealth college) and my floor is absolutely amazing (join a RAP). We have 2 valedictorians and 3 salutatorians, one kid got a 2400 SAT score, and another interned at Raytheon. And yet here's the kicker, they all know how to have fun (believe it or not). There's always something to do on the weekends (including thursday). The hockey games are a blast. Bring a loud fan as background noise or you likely won't be able to sleep.</p>

<p>As far as education goes, I was able to get A's in all of my classes (gen eds) but I did have to put a fair amount of effort in. The grading didn't seem too difficult but I definately learned the material in every course and didn't "coast by" anywhere. To be honest, on a personal note I feel as though one can learn far more outside of the classroom as long they pick a subject that intrigues them. I also feel as though the whole collegial learning system is rather outdated, but hey, I'm not about to go and attempt to search for a white collar job without a degree.</p>

<p>Opportunities wise, I'm in Isenberg and I'm a member of the brand new ExCEL program. It's designed to give freshmen and sophomores the knowledge they need to attain an internship and get practical experience. I've already met with recruiters from several fortune 500 companies. I've had the opportunity to personally meet with Jack Welch (he's a really funny guy), and many other successful alumni regularly come to visit all the time. As for the school in general, our new chancellor, Chancellor Holub, is a brilliant man who was formerly the Dean of Undergraduates at Berkeley. He seems to be remodeling UMass in Berkeley's image.</p>

<p>All in all, I think deciding to attend UMass has definitely been the best decision I've made in my entire life. I'm having an absolute blast and so far the professors have been great. Wall Street is in ruins (and not coming back anytime soon) and I've dodged the 200k bill I would have incurred in my attempt to get there. It's also really underrated to live close enough to home to be able to take a break and travel there any weekend you feel like it. As far as reputation goes, among adults UMass has a much better reputation than it does among prestige-obsessed kids. Every single high school friend of mine who decided to attend UMass loves it. Several friends of mine who decided to go elsewhere are now attempting to transfer in.</p>

<p>I can't promise you that if you attend UMass you'll love it as much as I do. The old cliche is true: college really is what you make of it. </p>

<p>With that said, sometimes it's best not to believe the hype.</p>

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<p>Dubbs...thanks for the post. Shakespeare said it best in Hamlet "...this above all, to thy own self be true.." As you aptly note, the same can be applied to one's choice of college. I have been out in the "real world" for 25+ years as a CPA/Attorney. Out there, no one really cares whether one went to an Ivy League school,,etc... For the most part, it is all about the individual person... can you connect with people ? integrity ? competent ? innovative ? resilient ? I applaud your honesty and individuality. Best of luck.</p>

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<p>I'm also a freshman at umass and i couldn't agree more with everything you said. i, too, got into "better" schools, and I lurk on CC sometimes just to see what people say about my school, and it honestly upsets me at the horrible things people say about umass. it may not be an ivy, or a top LAC, but it is, to me, the perfect college experience. there are some brilliant kids here, as well as brilliant professors and while the workload is completely bearable, i never felt like i was not being challenged. on top of it all, the social life is amazing. </p>

<p>i live in a tower in southwest, which i have seen bad mouthed on this site as well. yes, we party hard at southwest, but the fact is, everyone still does their work during week, and everyone still genuinely cares about their grades as well as their futures. the weekends are just a great way to let loose after busting your ass all week, and southwest just happens to be the perfect place for a wild weekend. what people don't seem to realize is that kids party at ALL residential areas (i have had awesome times at all areas of campus, sylvan included) </p>

<p>i have worked hard for my good grades this semester, but i've also had a great social life, so therefore i feel as if i'll actually come out of college with an edge over extremely studious kids at prestigious universities, because i will have experienced the best of both worlds. i know how to work, but i also know how to have a good time. college is an experience, NOT just school, and i think umass provides all the tools to graduate as an intelligent, well rounded person. since it's a big school, sometimes you have to search out those tools yourself, but they are certainly there.</p>

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<p>i go to a public school right outside boston, and i definitely do hear a lot of negative things about umass at my school. but, people i know from outside the state of massachusetts have MUCH more positive perceptions of umass. i think it's because people here assume it's a state school and that it must be bad, when in reality it has a lot of strong programs, and i'm sure the education is great.</p>

<p>but kids in other states and all adults think of umass amherst as a really strong public university. it's great to hear someone enjoying college so much!! i hope my experience is as positive as yours!</p>

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<p>ya i understand ya Bubbs and BabyBaby111...I'm a senior in highschool and got into some good colleges but umass is the top of my list cuz #1: its cheap and #2: it actually is a really good public university. One question though. Can u double major in 2 unrelated subjects like a science one and a business one?</p>

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<p>i agree so much with what was said. I love umass. It is such a good well rounded college experience. The classes I have taken I have loved and most of them you just can not coast by in. The people are so friendly and the social scene is top notch. There is always something to do. All of my friends miss it when we are not there. The student body is really smart to. The incoming class had a 3.6 gpa and many of my peers spend a great deal of time on thier education. While the ZOOMASS label can be true there is 20,000 other people you will find everything and while I love to party there are plenty of kids who dont even in my building( and I live in southwest). Bottom line I am having the time of my life in and outside the classroom!</p>

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<p>Unfortunately for me, I visited and I hated the school. It was going to be my safety's safety. Thankfully I didn't apply.</p>

<p>Quite frankly Umass Amherst has become a joke. I'd rather skip a year than resort to going to there.</p>

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<p>A "joke"? In whose eyes? I don't know who you're hanging out with, but UMass is certainly no joke. Go ahead, spend $200k at a private school and see on whom the joke has been played.</p>

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<p>The UMass thing here in MA is unbelievable. We know the parents of B students who are giving in to their kid’s anti-UMass bias and in the process ruining their finances for the future. For example, we know someone who is emptying out their 401Ks and possibly selling their home so that their kid can go to a $50k per year college. This is a B student who didn't even want to apply to UMass because of the image it has at the high school. The criteria the kid used to decide on a school, after driving all over the east coast, were the appearance of the buildings on campus. Academics were not the top criteria. These parents find it very peculiar that we are steering our senior to UMass Amherst at $20k per year. You should see the puzzled look on their faces. They think we are denying our kid a good education. Unbelievable.</p>

<p>It seems to me that there has been an interesting trend in the last 10-20 years. 17 year old kids make the final decision on where they are going to school and parents pay the bill no questions asked. I just can't imagine how parents let their 17 year olds essentially decide their financial future. Most kids have no understanding of this issue, nor do they really care. They want the instant gratification of the $50k per year college and don't really understand or care about what this means to their parent when they are older. We know many older people in their 60' and 70's now who wished they did not follow this pattern years ago. They are broke now and in most cases the expensive colleges their kids went to did not result in stellar careers.</p>

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<p>"I'd rather skip a year than resort to going to there."</p>

<p>Your an idiot!
if your going to say something like that, at the very least support it!</p>

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<p>Wanted to revive this thread to add the following:</p>

<p>One of my kids is thinking of UMass and we went out to see the campus. We also met up with a few current students we've known for many years. The campus and its buildings and facilities are much better than we expected, essentially the same in look and feel to the Big 10 schools I grew up with. The kids we had lunch with - the food, btw, was very good and even made to order - were very happy. The town of Amherst is upscale New England picture postcard. Two of the kids we sat with are taking classes at other schools - one at Amherst, the other at Hampshire - and you can in fact take the free bus to any of the 5 schools and go to performances, take classes, etc. anywhere. </p>

<p>UMass suffers in reputation because it's in the East, in Massachusetts, where there are dozens of prestigious private schools. One of my kids goes to one of those other schools. Some of the "disdain" is pure economic snobbery; the idea being you can't afford to go to BC or BU or Tufts. </p>

<p>As to cost, UMass for state residents is under $20k and for out-state is about $30k, which is cheap for quality education. If a kid goes to Tufts, BC or BU and pays $50k a year, that's $200k versus $80k or $120k. If the kid's family can pay $80k outright to go to UMass, that means borrowing $120k. At 8%, that's about $10k a year without any principal payback. To stay even, you'd have to earn $10k more a year because of your degree from this other school. To pay off the debt, you'd have to earn over $15k a year more - just because of your degree from that other school - and that would mean ages and ages of payments. You'd really need to earn over $20k more a year from that other degree to make the financial choice sensible.</p>

<p>My belief is that people have bought into a college payment system based on upside. That is, you go to the more expensive, more prestige school because life is going to be better and better and you'll be able to make a ton of money - or get financing at lower rates, etc. In the cold light of day, that doesn't make a lot of sense. Many people can't pay off $120k of debt - and imagine how that cripples your life decisions and ability to buy a car or a house. This approach is part of the bubble economics we've seen take hold over the last decade and a half where everything is always just another bet on the future.</p>

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<p>My over-the-top negative attitude about UMass was crystallized by the Science Library. Please tell me it has changed; please tell me I’m wrong.</p>

<p>All the science materials were transferred from the main library, DeBois, to the Graduate Science library - WHICH IS ONLY OPEN FROM 9 TO 5, 5 days a week. What kind of university limits access to 40 hours a week. Even UT has 24/7! </p>

<p>But UMASS staffs two dozen PC-socio manipulation offices: Coordinator of gay women over 40; minority yah dah yah da. This office of, That office of</p>

<p>OPEN THE LIBRARY and skip the society liberal issue drain.</p>

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<p>Most science materials are now in Lederle but the hours are generally to 11PM.</p>

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<p>Thanks dude for that comment/thread.</p>

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<p>I’m a recent UMass grad and was checking out opinions of grad schools and thought I’d post a little bit about UMass.</p>

<p>Like the first poster said, UMass is like many schools where its what you make of it, and there are incredible opportunities available both socially and academically. There are kids of all academic caliber including many smart kids who either couldn’t afford the more prestigious schools they got into, or wanted to save their money for grad school. There are kids who hate it, but there are also kids who transfer in and absolutely love it, like 4 of my friends. </p>

<p>Some introductory classes are huge but then again I also took some incredibly challenging classes that certainly compared with any at an ivy league with incredible professors and small class size. If you don’t think UMass’ reputation is that great, I just got into 3 of the top 5 grad schools in my field so take that for whatever its worth… and I’m not a genius by any stretch of the imagination. Also, I don’t have a pile debt, so I can face grad school without that to worry about. </p>

<p>Like many UMassers I hated the (admittedly) ugly campus when I first saw it in high school and vowed to never apply, and did so as a financial option. It grew on me and and turned out to be a unbelievable decision. Honestly, UMass like many schools may or not may be for you but I hope you take a look. Good luck and GO UMass!</p>

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<p>Have to say I don’t understand the huge class thing. Much college material is better imparted through lecture and a good lecturer is like going to a good show. I went to one of the H-Y-P schools and had a bunch of huge classes. I think intro econ, which sucked, was 200 but then I had a great lecture about China with at least that many. All big classes have discussion sections and those will vary in quality at any school. Even smaller classes are generally in lecture format because that’s the way information is imparted. You aren’t on the same journey toward self-discovery in college classes as in high school. You are much more on your own.</p>