cloud grail
Intended major: Fairly certain I'll do computer engineering (was debating between CPE, CS, and math)
UMass Amherst Pros:
- Cheap (in-state tuition)
- More well-known
- Get to explore Berkshires and Western Mass (grew up in eastern MA)
- Really good food
- Higher rater professors on RateMyProfessor
- Have a good friend going here and closer overall to more of my pre-existing friends
UMass Amherst Cons:
- Even though I can explore Berkshires, the closest city is Springfield (1 hour away)
- Harder to switch out of schools (transfer between CPE and CS)
- Amherst and Northampton are nothing compared to Manhattan
- I've heard housing is really hard to get as an upperclassman (only guaranteed housing for first-year unless I override into honors college)
- CPE building feels outdated
Stevens Pros:
- Amazing campus (views of Manhattan everywhere and I would prefer to be near a city)
- Really good co-op and internship programs
- Hoboken is a really nice community
- Personalize my major with a concentration (they have a concentration in embedded systems which is exactly what I want)
- New campus towers that the university wants to make the heart of the campus
- Easy to get to Manhattan (10 minute walk to train station and then $2.75 per way into the city)
- Easier to transfer between departments
- Generous scholarship
Stevens Cons:
- More expensive (13k more per year)
- Would have to take out a small amount of loans (less than 15k in total)
- More of a hassle to get there
- Lesser-known
- Slightly lower-ranked
- Male-female ratio isn't as balanced
- No friends going here
round basin