So I’m currently a junior in high school and I have pretty good grades and GPA, they’re by no means the best but I can get into a good amount of schools according to some scattergrams like NU, BU, Brandeis, WPI, borderline Tufts and some others, but I’m thinking about going to college with my friends and one of them just really loves UMass Amherst for its computer science programs (I’m not going to study cs btw) and I’m just really caught up in what to think because I feel like it’s either go to a school with my friends or go to a better school without them. I rank good and bad by a school’s reputation, their education quality, research and job programs, and student representation, specifically intellect and social activities. I personally feel like UMass Amherst has a lot of stupid people and party-goers in it’s population but then again my tour guide there got accepted into like five ivy leagues but still chose UMass Amherst anyway. To sum it up, I tell my parents that I feel like I can do better than UMass Amherst, whatever that means, but going there would be a surefire way of being with my friends
Do not pick your college according to where your high school friends are going. Its time to spread your wings, not do a repeat of hs senior year.
Just to give some perspective. Live in FL. Most kids (overwhelming amount including Vals and Sals) attend state schools UF being the biggest draw. Now UF is much bigger than UMass but both flagships. Both good schools. In our area, a typical HS may send 25 kids to UF each yr. (or more) . We know soooooo many that have gone, roomed with HS friends because they wanted to know someone going in. Some have worked out. Most outgrow the relationship. It really is a time for you to evolve and grow without the constraints of your past.
S was admitted to UF (actually honors with a scholarship). Would have known tons of kids. He decided to go out of state and literally new NO ONE. Just finished his first yr and had an amazing experience. Has made so many new friends, has pushed himself to “explore” and expand his horizons.
He’s still close with many HS kids and hangs with them when he’s home.
I highly recommend making a college choice based on academics and personal preferences (exclusive of where your HS friends go)…
I think you need to go to a school that’s the right fit for you, period. By right fit I mean that the academic and social environment is right for you, they admit you, and you can afford to pay. UMass is a good school that’s not a good fit for everyone. Have you looked into the Honors College? They have a nice dorm that houses HC students together. Have you determined your safety and match schools yet? It’s really important to have at least one safety to which you know you will be admitted, that is a right fit for you. If you get excepted to more than one, choose your best fit.
Commonwealth Honors college at umass is similar to getting into a top 30 school. Unbelievably competitive. And it offers a lot more than good dorms. If you can get in it’s a lottery ticket. With the economic value.
@privatebanker Can you explain what you mean about a lottery ticket? Is admission to the CHC a big risk? A small investment with little chance of a possibly big payout? My daughter is considering the CHC UMass option and I’m honestly not understanding the metaphor.
You have to be very fortunate and hard working for such a great opportunity.
And if the school is very affordable too. It’s like winning the lottery. Meaning really great.
Take a look at the new Isneberg school building that just opened. One of the nicest facilities in the country. And brand new student center being built. It’s a university on the move.
Thanks for the explanation. I don’t generally think of lottery tickets as a good thing!
UMass is a greatly undervalued school, and even more so when comparing tuition. If you were to have a 50% scholarship to one of the private schools (NE, BU etc) then perhaps factoring in city vs town and gown settings becomes a factor. As others have said, picking a college based on friends is generally not advisable. If the friendship is that great, being apart for four years won’t matter. Better yet, have different experiences and share them.
I’d also suggest that what you would get out of those schools is far less dependent on what they have to offer you compared with what you would bring to them - your commitment, engagement and involvement across academic and social factors. There is nothing at BU or NE (or Harvard across the Charles River) that is going to make or break anyone’s life.
And no doubt, UMass has its share of contributors to the Zoo Mass reputation and that’s been hard-earned. UMass is also large enough (as is any college) that you don’t have to partake. BU and NE aren’t too far removed from their own party school days (and I’m sure those types are still at those schools).
The Honors college is a great option that allows students to combine the small seminar experience of small liberal arts colleges within the larger university setting. It is tough to get in first year by invitation but applying after doing well first year makes it accessible. I was told the Honors college aims to have representation across the university so standards for students from Eisenberg, Nursing, Engineering, are higher than those of other colleges.