<p>School choices are: UMASS Amherst, Clark, and Brandeis.</p>
<p>Money is not an issue for UMASS or Clark (got a scholarship). Going to Brandeis would require taking out a lot of loans but we aren't ruling it out at this point.</p>
<p>Would like thoughts on each school...the S is going to major in Biology and if he stays in Biology he will be going on to graduate studies.</p>
<p>He's really into strategy gaming but has a tendency to spend too much time with computer games (which will have to change once he takes on a college level workload). He also has an interest in military/war history...but I don't think he would want to pursue a military career. He's an Eagle Scout and being in scouting has given him some valuable leadership experience.</p>
<p>He's a smart kid who does care about his work and will work hard when pushed, but I'm not entirely sure how well he will be able to filter out what's going on around him. I do think that, in the right environment, he will do just fine. My main concern is that he go to the right school for him.</p>
<p>Note that I'm posting this on the boards for each school...so I can get multiple perspectives. Thanks for any input/advice.</p>
I would strongly recommend not taking out a “lot” of loans for undergrad, especially if grad school is in the cards. So IMO Brandeis should be off the table.</p>
<p>UMass and Clark are wildly different schools… they are opposite on almost everything: large vs. small, rural vs urban, public vs. private, research U vs LAC, even M/F vs 60% F, mostly in-state students vs mostly out-of-state. Surprisingly, UMass seems to be more diverse. </p>
<p>I don’t really know too much about Clark, but at UMass, like every large public U, you will not get your hand held or coddled. Unless you make the effort, the professors will not know who you are. You have to be self-disciplined to a degree.</p>
<p>Most kids do ok, there are some of course who fall victim to the distractions and wind up flunking out/dropping out. Retention rates are similar, so I don’t know if one is better than the other in this regard.</p>
<p>I do like the Amherst area a <em>whole</em> lot better than the area of Worcester where Clark is.</p>
<p>UMass does have a higher-ranked biology program if you like rankings. Biology covers a lot of territory though, they may each have their strengths.</p>
<p>Bump for any other opinions…specifically, what (if any) reasons would my S want to go to Clark over UMASS? I’d agree that UMASS is in a better location but are there other aspects to Clark that would be better?</p>
<p>Loans aside, Brandeis would be the compelling choice for your science-oriented son in my opinion.</p>
<p>Take a look at this piece, including the video, if you haven’t seen it: </p>
<p>[Find</a> Out What?s Cooking in the Chemistry Lab | Brandeis University](<a href=“BrandeisNOW”>BrandeisNOW)</p>
<p>This may be helpful to you in understanding the excellent undergraduate science research opportunities that are available at Brandeis. These are the foundation of both an exceptional med school acceptance rate and admission to top doctoral degree programs. </p>
<p>One great example is Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, Rod MacKinnon who began his research career as an undergrad at Brandeis, went on to med school and then returned to Brandeis for post-doc studies. </p>
<p>Another good example of the exceptional science teaching/research environment at Brandeis is Biochem Professor, Greg Petsko who left MIT to come to Brandeis to conduct his ground-breaking research and teach undergrads in a nuturing environment. </p>
<p>All of this is possible because of Brandeis’ unique position as a top tier research university combined with a small liberal arts college. Oh yes, the brand new Science Center is fantastic as well. </p>
<p>Finally BTW, here’s a brief article describing the impressive ranking of Brandeis’ own doctoral programs: </p>
<p>Definitely go with Brandeis! My aunt graduated there, and my father worked there for a number of years, and I can tell you the biology and biochem departments are simply fantastic! The professors are simply outstanding (a few biochem professors are family friends of mine, so I can say this personally) Unpararalled to the other insitutions you have mentioned. I think Brandeis is such a smart option, also for the fact that it is 7 miles from Boston so great access to top labs and internships. Brandeis is such a fantastic school I can’t say enough great things about it!</p>