<p>@catspajamas You likely only think that UMass is not well respected because it is your state school. Very, very common for students in NE to feel that way. Your second year you can live off campus in a cool apartment with your friends. That will change your prospective a bit. But really, as an engineering student, at an school you’re going to be so focused on your work that the sky could be falling and you would barely notice.</p>