<p>My child is interested in communications and has applied to both SUNY Cortland and UMASS Amherst. UMASS is almost twice the price as Cortland given that we do not get in state tuition for UMASS. Is there anything significant about that school that warrants paying twice the price (ie; alumni networking to help get a job)?</p>
<p>Communication as in Mass Communication or other. Know many with general communication major that are unemployed. Go with Cortland. Encourage internships, resume building including clubs on campus.</p>
<p>UMass is part of a 5-college consortium: UMass, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Smith College, Mt. Holyoke College. If a student takes proper advantage of it, there are events to attend and clubs to join at 4 other private colleges, reachable readily by free bus system. Research with care on the Five College Consortium website.On co-curricular activities, I don’t think there’s any limitation, just whatever a student can schedule in. Most public guest lectures, music/drama performances and conference type events are open to all students. On any night, the cultural offering is very rich.</p>
<p>Altogether, the five colleges comprise a network of a suburb, a small town and a small city (Amherst, South Hadley and Northampton), involving 35,000 students. UMass students make up the largest percentage of that total. Some UMass students never leave their own campus, others are all over the place – depends on the student.</p>
<p>SUNY Cortland is much smaller in size: population of student body as well as the small town of Cortland. I’m sure a look at the catalogues might show a difference also in numbers of courses and faculty in his intended major. When done well, SUNY Cortland could become a more personal experience within the major department IF he “clicks” with a professor or three. </p>
<p>If he gets impatient with a limited menu, then SUNY Cortland might frustrate. If he can’t find his way in a crowd, then UMass can be overwhelming. A lot depends on personality. </p>
<p>Now, whether that’s a reason to pay more for one than the other, I’m not sure.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that these are two different approaches to public education. In Massachusetts, nearly every student goes out to Western Mass to be on the same campus. It’s huge! In New York, many decentralized campuses pepper the entire state. Most (not all) were located in small rural townships. Each small campus has some special emphasis and reputation for programs. For example, SUNY Fredonia is strong in musical theater and education; SUNY Oneonta has special offerings in speech language pathology. If SUNY Cortland is known programmatically for strengths in Communication, then that will be known within NYState in that field. But in UMaSS, everything they have to offer is all on one huge campus. Two very different models, each has its merits.</p>
<p>Unless you can pay the extra cost easily without any student debt, no. The money saved can go a very long way toward making up any perceived relative weaknesses in the program at Cortland. Or just to get the kid a car. Or to cover living expenses for a really cool but horribly underpaid internship. Or for that bathroom remodel you’ve been waiting years for.</p>