VA Tech vs UMass Amherst
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Anonymous
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DC was accepted into the Honors College at VT, and has a $16k merit aid package at UMass. We are instate for VT and from what I can tell we are looking at roughly $36k per year for Tech and $41k per year after merit aid at UMass. It’s not a big enough difference for us to say no to UMass.
They are undeclared or a likely a humanities /psych major at either school. US News rankings are better for Tech but wondering if there is something else to consider post-graduation. DC has visited UMass but is resisting visiting Tech. Thoughts? |
Anonymous
| It’s really a split. No kidding. If DC doesn’t have a passionate choice one way or another, then definitely take the lower cost /closer to home option. |
Anonymous
| Just wanted to say I have a humanities major at VT and they absolutely love the school. Good choices, either way! |
Anonymous
| UMASS can’t offer anything VT can’t offer. |
Anonymous
| VT all day. Going OOS to a mid-tier public when you have VT available makes no sense. If it was UNC, Michigan, or a selective private, then it would make more sense. |
Anonymous
| If the money isn’t an issue, let them go where they want to go. |
Anonymous
Listen, I 100% agree that the OP needs to send her kid to VT, but UMass is just as mid-tier as VT. In-state vs OOS is all relative. Most economic-minded parents in Massachusetts wouldn’t choose VT over UMass for their kids barring some special circumstance. |
Anonymous
| VT has such an amazing alumni support - especially if your kid is considering staying in VA post grad. |
Anonymous
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Does the kid have any strong inclination of where they want to be after college? If Boston area, go to UMass. If DC go to VT.
But also, be sure you are comparing costs apples-to-apples. VT is not really $36k. Tuition, fees, room & board comes out to $30k (and we definitely spend less than that now that our son lives off campus). Their published "cost of attendance" includes books, transportation, personal expenses, loan fees. All more IME than we/DS pays. |
Anonymous
| Does she want to stay in VA? It will be heavily people from her school whereas she will be a novelty at UMASS. |
Anonymous
| I'm from MA. Off it were the other way around - merit at VT or in state at UMass - I would take VT. |
Anonymous
| I guess I don’t understand the Virginia Tech homers here. UMass is a far superior school for humanities. |
Anonymous
Maybe for humanities, but I don't think for psych. |
Anonymous
| Has your DC visited both? We are hoping the in person visits really help move one school to the top (similar price tags once merit factored in). Good luck! |
Anonymous
“Maybe” for humanities? That’s an understatement. Can’t speak to psychology specifically, but social sciences in general is also better at UMass. Not to mention all the social sciences and humanities courses that can be taken at the other 4 colleges... Tech is just not a great fit for this kind of student. OP should be thrilled UMass is a viable alternative financially. |