Any parents of students interested in ecology, evolutionary / conservation biology? We are trying to decide between UMass Amherst and UMD for Biological sciences (not pre-med track). While UMass is in-state, UMD offers the under-graduation specialization which is available with masters at UMass and he is also interested in some other freshman programs and minors that UMD offers. Can anyone share why their student chose one over the other school for biology or any other natural science major?
The main reason would likely be cost - Biology has low returns unless paired with something like data science or statistics so students are generally encouraged to choose the lowest cost option.
Note that UMass has Ecology under Natural Resource Conservation.
(Scroll down theirbpage ^).
Are both affordable without parental debt?
What are the special programs at UMD?
Did he get into Honors at either one?
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No honors in either but invited to FIRE (First-year Research and Innovation Experience) at UMD. UMD has Data Sciences minor that he wants to pair with Biological Science (ecology and evolutionary), whereas at UMass he will do general biology. UMass does not have a Data Science minor, but a CS minor. UMD being OOS is a lot more expensive, so we are trying to figure out if the cost difference is worth it for under grad.
How would you pay for the cost differential ? Would it decrease your ability to pay for another child or require parental loans, or is it more along the lines of “no big family vacation over the next 4 years?”
He should write to see if he could switch his major to Environmental Conservation (just in case) sibce it matches his interests better.
There are 2 minors that would be of interest 
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Both are very good. I do not think that I would particularly prefer one to the other other than based on cost, and possibly travel convenience or just personal preference.
One daughter started off with a major in environmental sciences, with particular interest in biology. She switched to biology, and then switched to animal sciences. This sort of “adjustment” between somewhat similar majors is quite common (and might be relatively easier for students who switch early enough to graduate on time and on budget).
Data science as I understand it is sort of somewhere between computer science and mathematics (and statistics), which are areas where I spent much of my education and career and for which both U.Mass Amherst and UMD are quite good.
How you would pay for the cost difference is important, although I think that your son could do quite well at U.Mass. To me this also seems like an area where a master’s degree (whether right after a bachelor’s or a bit later after some work experience) is possible, so the cost savings of staying in-state might be helpful if it allows you the option of helping to fund a master’s degree.
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Where grad school is almost certain, we need to have a plan for that cost, so taking that into account in the comparison.
Thank you for the suggestions, will explore these UMass programs.
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Thank you for the insights. Masters is definitely in the picture, so we are taking into consideration that cost as well in the decision process. Does your daughter go to UMass?
Does either program offer a plus one year masters option? Some students with lots of AP credits may be able to start masters senior year.
UMass has a 4+1 program for which eligible students can apply in their senior year. UMD seems to have a combined B.S/M.S program that seems similar.
The average college student changes their major at least once before deciding what to study. You never want to choose a college based on a dream out of high school. As you mature you find where your passions are. My advice…choose an affordable school you’re happy at and go in with an open mind. Your older self will thank you later
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