<p>OP - There are many many kids who can’t afford <em>any</em> college, not even community college. You should be grateful for the opportunity to attend a school as good as UMass. You need a serious attitude adjustment.</p>
<p>Re the admission rate - all but a handful of the public schools in this country have similar admission rates, and are very large. It’s part of the purpose of public universities. If you take the top 25% of undergrads at UMass, I bet they equal or exceed the stats of the students at your “dream” school.</p>
<p>Since you seem like the type to be swayed by rankings, here’s a couple for you:</p>
<p>[UMass</a> Amherst #19 in world, #4 of US Public Universities by reputation by London Times](<a href=“http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/reputation-rankings.html]UMass”>http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/reputation-rankings.html)</p>
<p>[UMass</a> Amherst ranked #56 in world, #14 of US Public Universities on the London Times Higher Educations list of the worlds top universities for 2010-11](<a href=“http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/top-200.html]UMass”>World University Rankings 2010-11 | Times Higher Education (THE))</p>