DC26 is trying to decide between the three. College Park Scholars (and in state) at UMD, honors colleges plus very nice scholarships at UMass and UF.
Thoughts from the brain trust?
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Wait to see if UMD awards a scholarship. They should be out in a few weeks
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Do any of them expense wise - impact grad school?
That’s question #1.
UMD is $31K- ish for tuition room & board
UF is $45K-ish with rumors of substantial increases to come for OOS
UMASS is $60K ish - so I’m assuming you are low 40s but don’t know.
One is substantially cheaper.
If that’s not an issue, then things to think about:
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Travel - gotta get to Amherst (can drive or fly and bus) and the same with Gainesville. You can actually fly into Gainesville - it’s 20 minutes or so from campus
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The environment are very different - Amherst more a college town
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Food and dorms at UMD are known to be no good but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t changed. UMASS has the top rated food in the country.
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Sports / Greek Life? UF is gonna be most prominent.
I’m not sure there is a this is better for pre-health call but rather which is best for her. You might check for LLCs in healthcare or Alabama has the McCullough Pre Medical Scholars Program. Do any of these three have something like that - where there’s education and a co-hort to work through the program in preparation for further schooling? I don’t see any on their websites but I might be missing them.
Really? Dorms — maybe, unless you’re in one of the fancy LLC dorms. But I’ve generally heard very positive things about the food from current students and parents.
In any case, since most students move to off-campus apartments after their first year, housing and dining probably shouldn’t be a major factor in the overall decision.
The OP’s child is choosing among the three schools listed in the title. I don’t see Alabama mentioned, and it doesn’t seem like the OP is looking to add other options.
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Niche rates dorms a C- and food a B+. I’m still haunted by the poor student who died due to the bad dorm - but both dorms and food offerings change.
Kids move off campus - but mine still ate in the dining halls. Some can cook, etc. but others aren’t disciplined enough.
Just to have apples to apples, niche surveys put UMASS dorms at a B and food an A+. My counterpart in Phoenix once told me she’d eat in the dining hall above most any restaurant near home. I’m not sure what Va Tech and they do - but they do something right.
UF dorms a B- and Food a B+. I know many live off campus from the get go.
I’m high on the food thing because both mine suffered low blood sugar and then the entire experience is awful til they get the eating thing figured out.
I’m sure everywhere has good salads and basic staples.
Yahentamitsi dining hall opens with mixed reviews from UMD students
Congrats on 3 nice choices!
I would consider affordability, given grad school is in her future, as well as fit.
She will receive a great education at all 3.
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Does net price differ significantly, and does any difference matter? If the student chooses lower cost, would the difference be available for PA (or other) professional school?
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Appreciate the feedback. UF and UMass came with merit scholarships. UF not much more than UMD. A lot of value there for sure. We will visit and let her make her decision!
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UF has a pre health living learning center with enrichment as well. Check that out on your visit.
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This will help a lot. Can she attend any accepted students days?
yes, we will travel to both!
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Learning public health in Florida may mean missing some content, honestly, going forward. At least the way things are going. I know some healthcare/public health-related conferences that have consciously elected to stop holding events in FL as well. I am not trying to get super political, but being pragmatic, having worked in related fields. On the other hand, MD and MA are two of the leading centers of healthcare, health policy, and research in the US. Given interests, I would lean towards those…
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Much appreciated feedback. We are carefully reviewing curriculum/majors as well as well as research opportunities. Florida has a medical school and children’s hospital on campus and that is a big draw.
I understand the political issues and agree with you about Maryland and Mass. And yet it can be a fantastic learning experience to get outside the bubble for a few years.
It really depends on how your daughter feels about getting “outside the bubble,” what it means for public health, and how she feels about it.
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I am more worried about the governor and state interfering in course content (All that new college takeover stuff and all and what we are seeing in TX sets some precedents.. ) than opposing viewpoints in the classroom and on campus. There is a good argument for the latter.
Anyway, I wouldn’t say OP should NOT go to UF, but this is something I would definitely consider as someone who has an MPH and has worked in related fields.
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Those are the same concerns that I have. I don’t have any issues with different points of view during class discussions.
Yes indeed. We will have some interesting conversations about this during our travels, I’m sure.
You might want to read this.
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When the governor’s wife holds a health conference which focused on conspiracy theories, bogus medical advice, and highlighting sketchy practitioners instead of actual science…. I’d stay away from studying anything health care related in that state. I don’t think there’s anything to be gained by spending the years of one’s education having to sift through “measles vaccines cause autism; pregnant women shouldn’t take Tylenol” messaging in order to get a sound (and portable) education.
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