Which uni is better for me? UMass Amherst vs BU

Hey everyone!

I’ve narrowed down my choices to BU and UMass Amherst for Computer Science. Before I begin, cost is not an issue, since both end up at the same net price! (~30k)

Academics: I focus a lot on academics, and I’m a science guy. I’m really interested in astrophysics and engineering as well, so insights on these programs along with CS would be great too!
I really want to research with professors
I prefer small class sizes
I’d want great professors who actually teach, and will be free for questions and discussions
I want to get into a top uni for grad school
Prestige does slightly matter to me

Life:
I have always wanted a traditional and large campus; a place where students have their own space to hang out and have a community feel. I know about BUs lack of a campus, but I also understand the advantages of a small campus (convenience mostly). Visiting is not possible for me (don’t live in the US), but I’ve thoroughly studied google maps and street view haha. I want to know what others think about it though
I like how BU doesn’t have a majority of students from within the state
I like the advantages of being in the city, and close to other top unis
I’m fairly outgoing, but I don’t party too much
Though I’d prefer a smaller student population, both these have basically the same.

Extracurriculars:
I’m really into sports (primarily basketball)
I want to participate in things like debates, competitions, etc
Be a part of student organizations/clubs

Based off of these descriptions, where do you think I should go, and why? Any insight you have on these schools would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Also, sorry if you see this in multiple places; I wanted opinions from all sides.

Definitely UMass Amherst. From everything you’ve said you would enjoy the traditional campus environment of UMass. Additionally, BU doesn’t have much prestige when it comes to Computer Science compared to UMass Amherst. Personally, I got into BU comp sci but I’m going to test my luck with UMass simply because their program has much greater strengths. Their faculty is definitely larger and stronger, also they have a whole college dedicated to computer science while BU is just in CAS. In the end it is up to you but from what you have said I would say UMass.

If you are not from the US, you probably should be aware that the crime rate will be higher in Boston (BU), and much lower well outside of the city (Amherst).

I went to university right across the river from BU. In 4 years I was pickpocketed once and had a coat stolen. One student had their wallet and pants stolen in my dorm, (someone somehow snuck in) and another person I knew was jumped on the street by two large men who were apparently trying to steal his wallet. This last person was a very nice, soft spoken and smart guy who had black belts in two different marshal arts and therefore did not actually lose his wallet (or anything else). The crime rate is lower now compared to when I was in university. However, one of my daughters decided not to attend university in Boston after seeing the amount of security that was needed to visit a friend in a dorm not all that far from BU.

I don’t want to claim that Boston is full of criminals. It is not. It is full of students and regular people. However, the crime rate is higher than it is in most other economically well off countries.

I visited both BU and UMass Amherst with daughters. Both are good universities. I might lean towards UMass for computer science but I don’t think that there is a bad choice.

I assume that you are aware that BU is somewhat stretched out, so it won’t have the convenience of a small campus. It is pretty much in the city, with other “normal city stuff” intermixed with the school. BU is near multiple other universities (big ones and little ones).

UMass Amherst is a relatively large university with a well contained campus, but it is not a small campus. It will have a bit of a community feel, but a large community. UMass is likely to have most of its students from Massachusetts because residents get a significant break on tuition. There are a few other colleges nearby, but nothing like at BU.

I am pretty sure that there will be lots of clubs and lots of sports at both universities.

By the way, where are you from? Good luck with your decision.

@HoustonPFD Thanks!
“Their faculty is definitely larger and stronger, also they have a whole college dedicated to computer science while BU is just in CAS.”
Yeah that does make sense. I was trying to find reasons why one CS department would be better than the other without focussing too much on rankings, so your assessment helps!

@DadTwoGirls Thanks!
I currently live in India, but I’m a US Citizen and have lived in California for 9-10 years.
That’s a surprisingly large amount of crimes!

Yeah my brother goes to UMass Amherst so I also know about the disadvantages of such a huge campus. I’m stuck in the middle of two extremes haha

One more voice–I’ve lived in MASS my whole life and graduated UMASS Dartmouth. BU is definitely a more prestigious degree than UMASS Amherst–even for CS. You’ll be recruited more with probably slightly higher starting offers. Just because BU is so well regarded and tougher to get into (and so much more expensive for most).

The other main criteria is the choice between living in the heart of a world-class city, with all the opportunities and connections that exist in Boston. Culture, food, entertainment, transportation and pro sports are all there. UMASS has all of these things but on a smaller scale, because it is essentially a small city in central MA far removed from “the Hub”.

Nothing against UMASS–my S starts there in the fall. But I made him aware of what he was giving up at BU and he was OK with it.

@MentalGiant Thanks!

I like BU being in the city and near other top universities, so the only things holding me to UMass are

  1. The actual strength of the department
  2. The larger campus

Not so sure BU is more prestigious at this point. My son was accepted at BU and waitlisted at UMASS Amherst.

@nickthetroll Admissions are generally a crapshoot haha
I don’t think that judges how prestigious a university is IMO

Coming from my cousin who now works at Apple: prestige in the CS field is kinda irrelevant unless you went to schools like Berkeley/Stanford/MIT/Cal Tech and they dont even really care much if you went to an ivy since their CS programs are comparable to many state schools. From an outside standpoint, someone coming from a school with a dedicated Comp Sci school rather than just a department will seem more qualified. He also knows 3 people from UMass that he works with or interned with and he’s a Cal Poly grad but doesnt know anyone from BU. In the end at least for jobs, it wont matter because they end up quizzing you in interviews and if you even went to MIT and couldnt answer a problem that an english major could (who have gotten jobs at apple) then youre screwed for the job app.

@nickthetroll we were the opposite. Waitlisted BU and accepted honors college at UMASS. Crapshoot indeed.

@HoustonPFD Thanks! That’s quite surprising, but what you said about the separate department does make some sense to me.
I’ll have to further look into it.
Does anyone here know if there are more advantages to having a separate department for CS specifically?

BU kids tend to be smarter tbh but Umass I feel you will do better in, also their is more social life… If you are looking for good GRAD school you will need a high GPA so go to a school you feel you will shine in…