I was accepted into Univ. of Rochester, but I know UMass Amherst has some really really good machine learning faculty. If I’m very interested in machine learning research, should I consider going to UMass?
I live in New York, so I won’t get in-state tuition if I go to UMass. Ignoring tuition however, should I consider it?
YES!!! Apply now. What is the price difference?
https://www.cics.umass.edu/ugrad-education/artificial-intelligence
You’d probably get merit aid.
I have not gotten word from UR on how much they will offer me in merit aid (I probably won’t qualify for any need-based). Just based on collegecalc.org, it looks like the difference could be ~$20k.
@underscoreone The application for UMass easy to send. It is nicer to have options. Amherst is a top college town. You’d also have the five college consortium with Amherst and Smith. If you got into the honors college you might get special housing. If I were you I would apply and sit down with your parents. UMass is well known for AI though. Better you have options. If your parents have money saved that is one thing. I would not be comfortable with my parents taking out unnecessary Parent Plus loans or gutting their retirement. You are entering a difficult field and you seem like a conscientious kid. YOU don’t need the extra pressure of knowing your parents put it all on the line if you have difficulties. And make sure that if you get merit scholarships that you understand the required GPA. I would not be comfortable with a 3.3 requirement for STEM. Make sure your parents can afford the college if you lose the scholarship or for whatever reason have to do a fifth year.
@gearmom I have applied and gotten accepted to UMass already (I’m a senior). Thanks for the advice. I think I’d be comfortable keeping a 3.3 GPA, I’m a reliably high scorer at my current high school which is one of the more elite ones in my city.
@underscoreone What did you get for merit from UMass?
@gearmom They didn’t mention anything about merit-based aid in their acceptance letter, just the FAFSA, which confused me. I think they’re going to send it in the coming weeks. However much it is, I expect that it’ll still be a lot cheaper than RPI/UR.
How much can your parents pay per year without borrowing? In another thread you said their income is > than $100k. If their income hovers around $100k, the cost might matter. If it’s under $125k, you may be eligible for free tuition at a SUNY school.
@austinmshauri It’s >$125k.
Then you won’t get the Excelsior grant. Are your parents comfortable with the $80k price difference?