<p>Can someone please help me decide? Honestly, I want to go to BU over UMass. Overall, it's a better school, it's in a better location, plus not everyone from my school goes there like at UMass. However, the cheaper thing to do would be to go to UMass. I have free tuition plus an additional $1,000 scholarship at UMass making the total yearly cost around $10,000. The total cost of me attending BU would be about $33,000 a year.</p>
<p>Now the thing is, my parents can afford it, it's just that I plan to go on to med school/grad school and that's also going to be quite expensive so it's something to think about. Deep down inside, I do really want to go to BU. But, the economical thing would be for me to go to UMass.</p>
<p>We just visited there at UMass. They have a very good science dept. Just think what you could do for your parents. Less stress on you. Get great grades and Mcats and go to the med school you want!!!</p>
<p>NO way! UMASS is fine. BU is nowhere near worth 120K in extra debt over 4 yrs.</p>
<p>"It’s just that EVERYONE goes to UMass around here, and I really don’t want to be just another sock in the drawer. "</p>
<p>So what? Be thankful you have a great public option. It could be North Dakota State. Also UMASS is big enough to not see your HS friends. Also you can be part of the 5 colleges consortium and take classes at Amherst! I would take that opportunity is a heartbeat, especially if you get to pay way less!</p>
<p>Agreed. A girl in my son’s class went UMASS Honors over BC, a much tougher call than this one. Plus the Amherst area is gorgeous and has the other area schools you can attend classes (Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Smith).</p>
<p>The Amherst area is beautiful, I agree, but the actual UMass campus is huge and not-so-pretty.</p>
<p>Another thing I’m not sure about, which school will help me get into a better med school? I know BU has an early acceptance program into their med school…not too sure about UMass though.</p>
<p>Commonwealth is an AMAZING program. Some of my friends are there now and couldn’t love it more. While the campus might not be very appealing, it is certainly a more economical choice, and you’ll probably get a better education at Commonwealth than BU.</p>
<p>I went to UMASS as an undergrad and BU for grad school. Feel free to PM me with any questions about specific programs, etc. What I can briefly say is this…both are fine schools, however (based on their location, etc.) they present different experiences. </p>
<p>A lot of people want what I will call the “classic college experience”. Depending on your definition of this (and everyone’s is different) this may include: large/leafy quads filled with co-eds sunning themselves or playing frisbee, spirit-fueled football games on Saturday, fraternity parties in “animal house” like buildings, etc. Based on your initial post I’m guessing that this doesn’t mean a lot to you. And it better not, because this doesn’t describe life at BU.</p>
<p>BU is faster-paced like the city in which it lives. There’s a vibe and electricity that is much different from being in the Pioneer Valley at UMASS. There isn’t a ton of school spirit away from the beloved hockey team (GO TERRIERS!!) and the kids go in a million different directions with their free time. This is because Boston is a fairly small major city so it feels like the whole place is your campus. Parties take place in cramped apartments, there are NO football and there are no leafy quads. There’s a large international-student population and it can be hard to interact with these folks as they tend to travel in packs so they can speak their native language (but many are also well integrated with the rest of the school). </p>
<p>BU costs a ton and I have a hard time justifying this outrageous expense. It seems that BU is one a handful of schools that race to be among the most expensive in the country because many people equate cost with quality. “Wow, BU costs just as much if not more than Harvard and Princeton…it must be just as good”. Hey, maybe it is, but in these times, cash is king and you’ve got to think about where you’re going to be (in terms of job prospects, etc) when you’re done with school. Do you want to be $120K+ in debt for the preceeding 4 years that will go by in (quite literally) the blink of an eye? Depending on where you’re going after school, will the BU degree be worth THAT MUCH more than a UMASS degree? </p>
<p>Think about the experiences you want to have while in college and seriously think about what your life will be with/without such a high debt load. Yes, BU has a higher national profile, which will probably keep climbing. UMASS is also on the move (even more so now because SO MANY want to attend with the economy in the dumper). UMASS should climb in the national rankings (if this is important to you) as well but I don’t see it moving nearly as far as BU may move.</p>
<p>Lots to think about. Just be honest with who you are as a person and what you want. I’m sure you’ll make the right decision.</p>
<p>This made me curious … why do you sense that BU will actually have a higher curve up the national rankings than UMASS? </p>
<p>Congrats on BU’s national championship. BU was certainly the class of the field even though anything can happen on a certain day. Miami University certainly grasped defeat from the jaws of victory up by 2 with two minutes on the clock. I guess their coach doesn’t understand the benefits of a timeout to regroup.</p>
<p>Thanks for the kudos. I still can’t believe BU won because they played horribly against Miami. The RedHawks “deserved” the game as they played sharper and hit the bejeezers out of the Terriers. BU played 60 seconds of NHL-caliber hockey (the extra man with the goalie pulled certainly helped) and this was enough to win the game. Hats off to Miami for pushing us to the absolute limit. </p>
<p>Anyway, to your main question…the fortunes of UMASS are quite literally tied to state spending fueled by incoming revenues. As you’re no doubt aware, state revenues from individuals and businesses are WAY DOWN and falling further. This will likely continue for the next few years. When state spending fell back in the 80’s and 90’s all hell used to break loose out in Amherst because UMASS was so totally dependent on the state for money. Even though the budget has recently been cut again I don’t hear as much yelling and screaming this time around. UMASS has done a fantastic job of increasing its revenue steams so that it’s not as dependent on the whims of the state. UMASS is moving to become a quasi-private, public university. Sounds weird I know. </p>
<p>If UMASS is able to turn this trick of becoming more “private” (not relying as much–if at all some day–on state money) while continuing to upgrade its personnel, physcial plant, etc., and becoming more selective…it will move from a school hovering around #100 to somewhere in the 76-90 range. That’s if everything falls into place, which I don’t think it will. We’re going to see a lot of dislocations in the Massachusetts economy in the next few years and I’ve got to believe this affects UMASS to some degree (perhaps to a large degree). Realistically, I see UMASS staying in the range of 93-105 for the time being. I believe their long-term goal should be to become a top 75 school. On a related note, I’m fascinated to learn how many people applied to UMASS this year; how much of an increase this was over last year; and what the acceptance rate is. </p>
<p>BU is much more nimble and can do a lot more to tweak itself to move higher in the rankings if that’s what it wants to do. The school draws students from across the country and internationally (to a higher degree than UMASS) and doesn’t depend on what’s happening in Massachusetts. It’s already #60 and there are a number of schools it can leap over (Pitt, Miami, Georgia, Ohio State, etc.) to become a Top 50 and then a Top 40 school.</p>
<p>I would argue that Northeastern took a look at what BU was in the process of doing and said “that’s what we’re going to do”. It wasn’t too many years ago that NU was still primarily drawing from metro Boston and Mass. for students. They ramped up their tuition to match BU’s and, lo and behold, they became a school that draws students from across the country. NU zoomed past UMASS over the last 1-2 years and is now in the Top 100. This just shows what a motivated private university can do in relation to a state school that still can’t control its own destiny (but is in the process of getting there).</p>
<p>DaddyWarBucks: Thank you so much for all of that information. Instead of merely saying “go here…” you actually gave me information and things that I should consider.</p>
<p>I’m going up to UMASS for an open house this friday, and then I’m really going to sit down and make a final decision.</p>
<p>sak09…you’re entirely welcome. I was thinking a bit more about all of this. I’m speaking from the benefit of having gone through all of this. You haven’t. I made some mistakes and I made some good decisions. As much as some people want to help others, folks still need to do what they think is best and make those mistakes (and good decisions) in order to learn and grow.</p>
<p>I thought I had a decent idea what I wanted to do when I was going through UMASS. But during my education things changed and I went in a different direction. If you’re not sure what you want to do and want to use college to explore different fields then it may be wise to choose the less expensive option. UMASS is great for this. They offer a ton of courses and if they don’t have what you’re looking for, the other schools in the 5-college consortium will (do you know about this?). </p>
<p>On the other hand, if you think you know what you want to do (e.g. law, medicine) and BU offers a quality area of study for it, then I say damn the expense and go to BU. I got a dual masters degree from BU that concentrated in Communications (one of BU’s strongest programs). When I hit the job market this was a HUGE selling point for me. I remember one time when I was newly hired by a company, my boss sent out an e-mail to everyone making a big deal about my BU degree. </p>
<p>In my case, I had used my experience at UMASS to try different things and find my calling. When I hit my junior/senior years, everything was coming into focus and the road was getting clearer.</p>
<p>Just remember, whichever school you choose you can make it your own. Both are large schools but you can make either of them an intimate experience (with your teachers and friends) to fit your needs. The schools may be large but your circle can be as small or as large as you want. My first semester at UMASS wasn’t the best. I picked a bad dorm and had a roommate that I didn’t relate to. I moved across campus and found my niche. I made great friends and had the time of my life. </p>
<p>Feel free to get in touch after your visit to UMASS.</p>
<p>Umass Honors beats BU any day. It is easier to get into BU than Umass Honors. I got into both of these schools and would choose Umass if I have to- luckily I got into my “dream” school. Even though BU is better ranked, it is harder to get into Umass Honors. Umass Honors allows you to be around the smartest kids at Umass. Plus it will be cheaper to go to Umass, this is a no brainer.</p>
<p>This is the kind of opinionated drivel based on no facts or actual experiences whatsoever that I wouldn’t bother to wipe my behind with. This decision is hardly a “no brainer”. Each person has wants, desires, feelings that are unique to that person. One person may see the UMASS campus and instantly say “this is horrible”. Others may like the history and different architectural styles of the buildings along with the overall flow of the campus. Some people don’t want to be in the city and would prefer the setting of Western Mass. Others may find the Amherst area boring and quaint and need the “action” of the city. </p>
<p>I could go on and on with a million examples. The only thing that is a “no brainer” is that both UMASS and BU are better off not having someone who deals in absolutes like Fig NewtonNutBag on their campuses.</p>
<p>I was only offering an opinion so why don’t you chill out. Also, I have no idea who BrownBear1 is but he is right in that your rants are juvenile. You trash on Brown even though you have no clue that he even goes there. I know Brown students who are very intelligent and down to earth so you are dead wrong on your assessment of Brown. If you went to Umass/BU, then I am so lucky I will not be going to these schools as I hate to be around people who think they know everything- when they know nothing at all.</p>
<p>Even if all the kids in your area go to UMass, you won’t be spending all your time with them. It’s amazing how infrequently you see people you don’t care to see. Everyone scatters and makes their own friends–don’t forget there are five colleges to choose from.</p>
<p>Well I just came back from the UMass open-house and I’m pretty sure I’m not going there. What really upset me is that they said I had free tuition, so I was asuming the whole $10,000 would be covered and I’d only have to pay for room and board. However, today I go there and find out that tuition is covered, but the actual tuition is only $1700. The rest are fees which I still have to pay making my entire cost at UMass about $18,000a year. As we went around campus, found out about the commonwealth college thing, my parents and I both realized that UMass isn’t worth that much. I really didn’t like it at all.</p>