<p>I am the original author of this thread. After months of my senior’s totally irrational fear, hatred, and embarrassment by the prospect of attending UMass, we’ve decided on attending another large state university 500+ miles away. I’m not thrilled. The school is a decent school at a lower price than neighboring out of state universities, but nothing they offer is not available at UMass. Nothing - not the social life, activities, academic offerings, rankings, quality. I view attending this school instead of UMass as a totally irrational decision.</p>
<p>My senior has been inculcated by peer groups and even school faculty at our HS (a top public one in MA) for the past year with negative information about UMass to such as extent that it is viewed it as a fate worse than death. A reason to dread the coming September.</p>
<p>Since we were going to pay the whole $20k tab per year to attend UMass, my senior will now will be taking out Stafford loans to make up most of the difference. And, no ability to come home for weekend visits, no car, and a 10 year loan to look forward to upon graduation with no prospect of parents help with paying it.</p>
<p>I am totally disgusted by what we’ve been through for the past several months. Many of the kids at our HS and their parents have created such a negative image of UMass that is almost impossible to overcome. The irony is that some of these kids who bashed UMass were either waitlisted or not admitted at all. It doesn’t matter. These kids are happy to take out loans to attend a lesser school rather than have to deal with the shame and embarrassment of attending UMass. At least it won’t be costing us more money. My senior will live with the financial consequences for 10 years after graduation.</p>