For those 2020s considering 2 or more of these schools, what are some of the key criteria influencing your final decision? Also, if you have already made your decision, please post your thoughts! Thanks
Net price at each after financial aid and scholarships?
To clarify, cost is going to be somewhat different for each student. I am more interested in “subjective” issues such as quality of instruction, quality of life, social life, dorms, etc. Thanks!
Burlington has very few peers as a college town.
Each has a strength or asset that differs from the other schools, so it depends on what the applicant’s interest is.
For example, I would choose UNH over the other two for Biology, Zoology and Marine Sciences. I would pick engineering at UMass-Amherst first. Don’t know much about UVM.
Someone picking UNH over Umass for bio? Haven’t heard someone say that before.
Umass is academically the strongest here. I would say UVM is academically better than UNH but it’s a very small margin. The CS program is particularly strong. UVM IMO has the nicest college town- Burlington is beautiful, a nature lovers paradise, and close to the mountains, Canada, etc. Amherst is very small but has the five college consortium, which makes it feel bigger. Still not a city though, and it’s far away from Boston, so that’s something o think about it you wanted an urban experience. UNH is generally where my peers from high school (I went to a public hs in MA) went when they could not get in to Umass or UVM and had parents wealthy enough to pay the OOS rates.
The biggest difference is that UVM is the least state school-like of the three. I think only about half the students are from Vermont.
Besides the natural beauty of Burlington, with the lake on one side and mountains on the other, is the number of places for students to go just walking distance. The town is also very authentic. St. Michael’s College is there too, as are a few other schools.
(My post implies that the CS program is especially strong at UVM but I meant to say that Umass has a very strong CS program).
The Marine Biology and related departments at UMass are not tightly integrated. The undergraduate program is mostly based at UMass-Dartmouth, while the graduate marine and marine zoology programs are divided among the Amherst, Dartmouth and Boston campuses.
Thanks to all. Heading up this weekend to explore the Burlington area.
Burlington was superb. Lots to offer for pre-21 set. UVM was warm and inviting (despite the chilly air). UMass was a surprise. Huge!! Hard to imagine getting comfortable on that sprawling campus.
Yep, totally agree. Did you vist St. Mike’s when you were there?
Burlington is pretty fabulous for any age.
Thanks Dad. We attended an admission sessions and left before tour. Son simply did not like it; another one off the list. we may visit UMass and UVM one more time.
That’s surprising the campus and the facilities are quite nice. What didn’t he like about it?
Nothing specific really. Too new? Too small? Poor job of presenting by staff didn’t help. It pales next to UVM.