<p>Anecdotally, the strongest students (in terms of class rank) from my S’s school did not choose UMASS. I imagine their grades gave them significant merit options at private schools.</p>
<p>If my S’s grades were stronger, and he was eligible for merit aid at a private school that would have brought it within a reasonable amount of the the cost of UMass, we would have considered those options.</p>
<p>But I don’t see that paying more for a UNH or URI, or even a UMich etc, would have gotten S a better education. </p>
<p>So my S falls into the camp of not being able to afford a private, but is happy with UMass as his choice.</p>