<p>simply which is better?</p>
<p>Almost positive American, unless you’re looking to party, then go for UMass.</p>
<p>The environments are very different. American is IN Washington, DC. Amherst is in a fairly rural environment, but close to a few smaller colleges. If you live in Massachusetts, UMass will probably be cheaper by far. I have heard that it is expensive to find off-campus housing in Amherst for the last two years at UMass. American has great proximity for government internships. I would pick American, if it is affordable.</p>
<p>UMASS is a hugggge party school. Around here we call it Zoo Mass. Cheap if your from MA and it ranges from not driven kids at all who(im not kidding you) are not sober one day during the entire week to fairly driven students and everything in between.</p>
<p>AMHERST.
Don’t go to American U. End of story.</p>
<p>tennismsk-- can you elaborate?</p>