UMass - a no-brainer?

[dartmubs]

I was accepted to UMass, and I keep hearing that "it's a no-brainer", I should go there. I guess I was wondering if anyone else was considering UMass, but also liked other schools like Tufts or Dartmouth during interviews. Can you really justify paying private school tuition to go to school in Boston or somewhere else that you prefer to Worchester? Is Worchester a good place for young people to live? I keep hearing mixed reviews. Just wondering if anyone else was in the same boat - interviewed at or accepted at UMass, but still thinking of blowing 100000 more for no reason 🙂 -A

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[jonappleseed]

I'm in the exact same boat, dartmubs. Like yourself, I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth it to drop an extra 100 grand to attend a school that's "ranked" higher (not a huge concern) and in a better location (more of a concern). At this point, I'm definitely leaning towards UMass because of all the wonderful things I hear about the school. The fact that the school is in Worcester doesn't seem to bother the students at all. I think we are fortunate to have a state school with such a great reputation at such a low cost -- that seems too good to pass up.

 

[Orthodoc40]

I was accepted to UMass, and I keep hearing that "it's a no-brainer", I should go there. I guess I was wondering if anyone else was considering UMass, but also liked other schools like Tufts or Dartmouth during interviews. Can you really justify paying private school tuition to go to school in Boston or somewhere else that you prefer to Worchester? Is Worchester a good place for young people to live? I keep hearing mixed reviews. Just wondering if anyone else was in the same boat - interviewed at or accepted at UMass, but still thinking of blowing 100000 more for no reason 🙂 -A

I think most people would say its a no brainer. Including me, mostly. At the same time, you might have found that Tufts felt like a better fit for you for your own reasons. Maybe you like being in Boston a LOT, maybe they have a better "FILL IN THE BLANK" rotation - or whatever. Maybe you just don't like the idea of being in a class full of only MA residents....and maybe Tufts gives you a great financial deal - ("cough" - yah, okay...) but you know. (BTW, I DO know a kid from CA who got into a state school there and claims Harvard's financial deal made the ultimate costs nearly the same.) I would say, first decide where you would be happiest if money WEREN'T an issue, and why, and then decide if that is still enough of a reason to go there.

 

[slb830]

To the OP:

When did you hear from Umass? Just curious.

I would like to say don't go to UMASS so that there are more available spots..but, that would be mean.
For me, I would go to UMASS over any school (except maybe Harvard, but, that would be only becuase of my ego). You'll get a good education at a repuatable school, for less.

Congrats.

 

[AMitchell]

I'm in at UMass and very excited about maybe going there.

One thing that has always puzzled me are the total indebtedness stats published in USNews. In 2004, the average debt incurred at UMass was 85K, a couple thousand less than Dartmouth and Brown's level and more than Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Duke and Stanford.

USNews also reports that only around 30% of UMass's student's receive scholarships/grants. I see the state govt's reasoning in not budgeting for more scholarships, the reduced tuition is already a great gift to all who go there, but doesnt it seem in the end that it might not be the bargain that a straight tuition comparison with private schools make it out to be?

If I'm reading the #s wrong, please let me know. Would love to hear other thoughts of how that total indebtedness works out to be pretty comparable to other schools.

 

[dartmubs]

To the OP:

When did you hear from Umass? Just curious.

I would like to say don't go to UMASS so that there are more available spots..but, that would be mean.
For me, I would go to UMASS over any school (except maybe Harvard, but, that would be only becuase of my ego). You'll get a good education at a repuatable school, for less.

Congrats.

I heard a few days ago via snail mail... I interviewed at the very end of January. I think I'll get a good education no matter where I go... I guess I'm concerned with how comfortable I'll be in Worcester vs. other areas, although at least I know how to spell it now (see original post) 😀

 

[dartmubs]

I'm in at UMass and very excited about maybe going there.

One thing that has always puzzled me are the total indebtedness stats published in USNews. In 2004, the average debt incurred at UMass was 85K, a couple thousand less than Dartmouth and Brown's level and more than Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Duke and Stanford.

USNews also reports that only around 30% of UMass's student's receive scholarships/grants. I see the state govt's reasoning in not budgeting for more scholarships, the reduced tuition is already a great gift to all who go there, but doesnt it seem in the end that it might not be the bargain that a straight tuition comparison with private schools make it out to be?

If I'm reading the #s wrong, please let me know. Would love to hear other thoughts of how that total indebtedness works out to be pretty comparable to other schools.

I asked the financial aid director at Dartmouth why, if the tuition + cost of living is about 50 / year, does the average debt look like 100,000 instead of 200,000. I assumed that meant that many students were coming in with a lot of money, and she basically said "yeah right". I guess Dartmouth has a lot more money available for aid, and they spread it out over the class. At UMass, however, you do have options to practice medicine in Mass in underserved areas after graduation which virtually eliminates your debt, but I think that ties you down in primary care... but maybe not? I have to figure that out...

 

[slb830]

I asked the financial aid director at Dartmouth why, if the tuition + cost of living is about 50 / year, does the average debt look like 100,000 instead of 200,000. I assumed that meant that many students were coming in with a lot of money, and she basically said "yeah right". I guess Dartmouth has a lot more money available for aid, and they spread it out over the class. At UMass, however, you do have options to practice medicine in Mass in underserved areas after graduation which virtually eliminates your debt, but I think that ties you down in primary care... but maybe not? I have to figure that out...

I always assumed that the lack of indebtedness at the private schools was due to parental contributions. That is just my uneducated guess though.

I would think if hte difference in tuition is 20 grand a year, you would expect to only save 80 grand over four years, becuase living expenses would be the same regardless.

 

[diosa428]

I asked the financial aid director at Dartmouth why, if the tuition + cost of living is about 50 / year, does the average debt look like 100,000 instead of 200,000. I assumed that meant that many students were coming in with a lot of money, and she basically said "yeah right". I guess Dartmouth has a lot more money available for aid, and they spread it out over the class. At UMass, however, you do have options to practice medicine in Mass in underserved areas after graduation which virtually eliminates your debt, but I think that ties you down in primary care... but maybe not? I have to figure that out...

I think you get 2/3 of your tuition forgiven if you practice in MA in primary care OR in an underserved area, but I'm not positive. Also, that's just tuition, which is not that much. It's the living expenses, books, fees, etc that really add up.

 

[Orthodoc40]

I think you get 2/3 of your tuition forgiven if you practice in MA in primary care OR in an underserved area, but I'm not positive. Also, that's just tuition, which is not that much. It's the living expenses, books, fees, etc that really add up.

I'm not sure it is forgiven, I think you can defer it for a while - but I'm not sure either. When we interviewed they handed out a sheet with the expenses listed, and I was pretty surprised at how much it added up to. Definitely NOT the big bargain I had come to believe it would be.

Like I said earlier, and I don't know how true it is, this girl from California was telling me that she had gotten into one of the CA state schools, and Harvard gave her so much financial aid that it ended up costing her about the same, a little less actually, to go to Harvard. Some schools get lots of money to give out. So I think that's how it must work. Try to find out the real numbers I guess, before assuming its such a great bargain. Maybe it is, but I'm not so sure any more!

 

[SoCuteMD]

I'm not sure it is forgiven, I think you can defer it for a while - but I'm not sure either. When we interviewed they handed out a sheet with the expenses listed, and I was pretty surprised at how much it added up to. Definitely NOT the big bargain I had come to believe it would be.

Like I said earlier, and I don't know how true it is, this girl from California was telling me that she had gotten into one of the CA state schools, and Harvard gave her so much financial aid that it ended up costing her about the same, a little less actually, to go to Harvard. Some schools get lots of money to give out. So I think that's how it must work. Try to find out the real numbers I guess, before assuming its such a great bargain. Maybe it is, but I'm not so sure any more!

Uh...UMass not a bargain? The baseline price is certainly a bargain, but you are right that aid packages can change that easily.

The total for the year (including living) came to, what? 30K? Private schools are hovering around 55k+.

1/2 of the tuition (only tuition, not living expenses while in school!) is forgiven if you sign the "learning contract" (or something like that) and practice for 4 years in MA post-residency. When I interviewed tuition was a whopping 8K. Ugh...I wish I were paying that!!!

 

[Orthodoc40]

Uh...UMass not a bargain? What are you smoking?

The total for the year (including living) came to, what? 30K? Private schools are hovering around 55k+.

1/2 of the tuition is forgiven if you sign the "learning contract" (or something like that) and practice for 4 years in MA post-residency. When I interviewed tuition was a whopping 8K. Ugh...I wish I were paying that!!!

I'm not smoking anything - just making sure I check all of the current facts. All I really said was that it wasn't the bargain I'd come to believe it was. It was a fairly harmless comment. Or trying to be.

The OP is trying to decide between schools & I think a couple of people here are just suggesting that he or she find out what the numbers will really look like before deciding.

 

[SoCuteMD]

Yeah, I edited (before I saw your answer, but after I first posted). I haven't gotten the whole "think before you type" thing down yet. 😳

 

[Orthodoc40]

double

 

[Orthodoc40]

Yeah, I edited (before I saw your answer, but after I first posted). I haven't gotten the whole "think before you type" thing down yet. 😳

Oh, well see - I do that too! No problem. Actually I just wanted to make sure it was clear that I really wasn't trying to be too conclusive on the subject. Guess I've just been a little surprised that there is more involved than my originally naiive view of, "UMass costs $10k/year, everywhere else costs $55k/year" and that's all there is to know!

Thanks for the info on the learning contract - I thought it said deferred, meaning - to be paid back later.

 

[diosa428]

For anyone interested in the learning contract, you can find out about it at www.umassmed.edu/financialaid. Basically, they let you defer 2/3 of your tuition (which is $8,352 for 05-06) every year that you sign the contract. No interest accrues until the end of the first year of residency and then after that it collects interest like a regular loan. Then you must complete 4 years working in either primary care, underserved, public service or community service in MA and the loan is forgiven. If you don't, you pay back the loan like a regular loan with no consequences. Check out the financial aid website if you want more details.

Also, according to a page in my interview packet, the cost of attendance at UMass (tuition, fees, insurance, food, housing, books, etc etc) was estimated as:
First year: $38,829
Second: $36,961
Third: $42,464
Fourth: $40,722
Total: $158,976