Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is there now, a rising senior. It has been a great experience overall. DC earned a paid internship abroad, facilitated by the school’s relationship with the country. My kid is in STEM, which is strong at UMass. Kids are nice and you can choose (or not choose) to party — partiers live in south campus and the more studious live in north campus. Food is really good, locally grown and sourced. They have steak and lobster night every Halloween.

If you're willing to share more about your kid's internship and specific program of study I'd really appreciate it. Thank you.

I have a high schooler who wants to study engineering in New England.

On an anonymous board like DCUM?

Nope.

Anonymous wrote:My DC is there now, a rising senior. It has been a great experience overall. DC earned a paid internship abroad, facilitated by the school’s relationship with the country. My kid is in STEM, which is strong at UMass. Kids are nice and you can choose (or not choose) to party — partiers live in south campus and the more studious live in north campus. Food is really good, locally grown and sourced. They have steak and lobster night every Halloween.

If you're willing to share more about your kid's internship and specific program of study I'd really appreciate it. Thank you.

I have a high schooler who wants to study engineering in New England.

Anonymous wrote:I've heard great things about the sciences there. Isn't the med school, in Worcester, well regarded too?

Sure but how relevant is that?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the hidden gem of all hidden gems - better education and experience than UMD - I had one twin attend each and my view is based on almost scientific-level data lol

Every time a non-elite school gets mentioned on DCUM some parent claims that it's a "hidden gem." I guess it's good that people are happy with their school choices, but people also seem desperate to justify them (I guess like with all the other choices we make).

I consider it a hidden gem based on my DC’s experience. I always thought about UMass as just another state school, but my DC has been afforded really incredible research and internship opportunities at UMass that would be challenging to get at other schools (to include Ivies). UMass has built relationships worldwide and uses its network to connects its students. At least until the Trump administration came along, it received tons of research funding and was doing really good work. It keeps its costs down by growing its own or locally sourcing its food. There are just a lot of good things to say about it! My other DC, on the other had, who is at a different (but maybe more well-regarded and expensive) public, has had a $h!t experience. I am completely impressed with UMass!

Anonymous wrote:Decent state school with minimal state legislature support. Massachusetts has an abundance of top privates Harvard, MIT, Amherst, Williams, Holy Cross, Tufts, Wellesley. Also their football and basketball programs have been down and alumni network isn’t that strong.

Massachusetts K-12 education is almost always rated number one or at least in the top five. The higher ed not so much. Except UMass Amherst. The rest are badly underfunded. Not everyone in the state can go to Harvard, MIT, BC etc.so they need to do better.

The Harvard of public schools in Massachusetts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the hidden gem of all hidden gems - better education and experience than UMD - I had one twin attend each and my view is based on almost scientific-level data lol

Every time a non-elite school gets mentioned on DCUM some parent claims that it's a "hidden gem." I guess it's good that people are happy with their school choices, but people also seem desperate to justify them (I guess like with all the other choices we make).

Agreed.

It's not a hidden gem. People in the know recognizes it as a solid state school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the hidden gem of all hidden gems - better education and experience than UMD - I had one twin attend each and my view is based on almost scientific-level data lol

Every time a non-elite school gets mentioned on DCUM some parent claims that it's a "hidden gem." I guess it's good that people are happy with their school choices, but people also seem desperate to justify them (I guess like with all the other choices we make).

Huh? Maybe they just truly feel like it is a gem. It's not about justifying anything. It's simply how somebody feels. Not everyone aspires to be an Ivybot.

Anonymous wrote:the hidden gem of all hidden gems - better education and experience than UMD - I had one twin attend each and my view is based on almost scientific-level data lol

Every time a non-elite school gets mentioned on DCUM some parent claims that it's a "hidden gem." I guess it's good that people are happy with their school choices, but people also seem desperate to justify them (I guess like with all the other choices we make).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the hidden gem of all hidden gems - better education and experience than UMD - I had one twin attend each and my view is based on almost scientific-level data lol

What sort of merit aid is typical there?

My sample size of one says a high-stats OOS kid will get merit aid that will bring sticker price down to about $40k (all-in).

Christ that's still expensive.

I think so also.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was my son's second choice. Loved it. Food was amazing! Ha!

Top-ranked dining hall in the country! DC will be attending Amherst College and is trying to figure out how to eat there.

As part of the five-college consortium if you're on a meal plan at your home campus and are taking a course on another campus at mealtime, you can arrange to eat on that campus as part of your meal plan. Not sure how difficult the process is to manage.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the hidden gem of all hidden gems - better education and experience than UMD - I had one twin attend each and my view is based on almost scientific-level data lol

What sort of merit aid is typical there?

My sample size of one says a high-stats OOS kid will get merit aid that will bring sticker price down to about $40k (all-in).

Same!

DD got merit to match UMD in state...but them UMD offered merit on top of in state so UMD was the choice. UMASS did have great food!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the hidden gem of all hidden gems - better education and experience than UMD - I had one twin attend each and my view is based on almost scientific-level data lol

What sort of merit aid is typical there?

My sample size of one says a high-stats OOS kid will get merit aid that will bring sticker price down to about $40k (all-in).

Christ that's still expensive.

Yes but for comparison UMD’s in state COA is $33k

Anonymous wrote:That was my son's second choice. Loved it. Food was amazing! Ha!

Top-ranked dining hall in the country! DC will be attending Amherst College and is trying to figure out how to eat there.

My DC is there now, a rising senior. It has been a great experience overall. DC earned a paid internship abroad, facilitated by the school’s relationship with the country. My kid is in STEM, which is strong at UMass. Kids are nice and you can choose (or not choose) to party — partiers live in south campus and the more studious live in north campus. Food is really good, locally grown and sourced. They have steak and lobster night every Halloween.