Umass Amherst or Drexel University??

Hello, everybody. I am going to be studying biomedical engineering at either Drexel University or Umass Amherst. Both programs are very strong, but Umass Amherst just recently created their Biomedical Engineering department, so it doesn’t have as much credibility as Drexel’s Biomedical Engineering program. However, the college of engineering as a whole is very strong at Umass, so I believe the Biomedical Engineering program will reflect the rankings of the college of engineering. Which program do you believe is stronger? Keep in mind: If I attend Drexel, I will be in the Pennoni Honors College.

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I applied to both colleges but for a different major. But I am still familiar with engineering at Drexel because my cousin who went there majored in engineering (don’t know which one exactly) but he loved it and Drexel is also known for engineering program. Plus you got into the Honors college which is a good thing. But if sports is important to you in your search of the right place, then I don’t think Drexel will be the right place. They don’t have football, so Drexel students support soccer, basketball and other sports. But if its not important, I’d say Drexel might be a bit better, and you will get to learn by working in your field. the city is another advantage. So, you can try working with different companies you want and stuff like that. Hopefully, I will see you at the campus this fall (if I go, most likely!). Good luck!

Cost difference?

Drexel is in the middle of a major city and UMass in a college-centric rural area with a couple of college towns.

That’s cool! Thanks for your response. Has your cousin graduated yet? I think it would be fun to go to a college with a large sports following, but it isn’t my deciding factor, I just think of it as a bonus. Drexel is D1, so I bet there is some good competition. I agree, I think the city offers more opportunity through the co-op, and it is more lively in general! I am definitely leaning towards Drexel at this point. Maybe I’ll see you there!

I think Umass Amherst would be about $25k/year (I am an MA resident). Drexel is around $50k/year because they gave me a $15k/year merit scholarship (starting cost is around $65k).

Well I’m not sure Drexel is worth and extra $25K a year plus it’s a 5 year program at the least. Philadelphia will be more expensive than the Pioneer Valley though you’d make money during your Co-ops to help. The food at Drexel will be so much worse the first year when you have to have the meal plan and if you stay on campus and are forced to continue the meal plan. Once you are off the meal plan the surrounding food options are much better and varied compared to an area like Amherst/Northampton.

If your family is sufficiently wealthy where the money doesn’t matter much (and you don’t think Med School is in your future) than you should choose Drexel to get away for College and experience a new area.

True, the factors that make the extra $25k/year seem worthwhile to me are: the co-op, honors college - which will provide lots of internal opportunities, as well as 5 yrs of attendance. My family can afford the extra $25k/year and I do not plan on attending med school in the future. I am interested in getting a master degree, and at Drexel, I believe that can be achieved in a 5 yr accelerated program which drops one co-op (in this case, I would graduate with 2 co-ops completed and a masters degree). I believe the reputation of the College of Engineering at Drexel and at Umass Amherst are approximately the same (perhaps Drexel is better for Biomedical Engineering), does that sound right?