Umass Amherst or Umass Lowell for BSN

sbostonRN · Jan 2, 2014

I went to UMass Amherst for my first undergrad degree. It's a great school and provides a lot of opportunities like study abroad. Keep in mind that it is in western MA so a lot of the clinical opportunities will probably be based in that area. And I go to UMass Lowell for my RN to BSN program right now. So far I like it, but my experience is a lot different than what she will experience as a traditional student living on campus. The clinical placements are generally in the Merrimack Valley or Boston area, so when it comes time to settle down after college and get a job, she might have more luck if she wishes to stay in that area.

Looking back on my college years, I wish I had made cost more of a factor. Those student loans add up fast and Amherst is an expensive school when all the fees and extra costs (books, travel back and forth to home). My husband and I both went to UMass Amherst and left with quite a bit of debt. So honestly, if all things are fairly equal (NCLEX pass rate, quality of clinical placements), I would base the final decision on money. It's hard enough as a new grad nurse but when you have a lot of debt it's a lot worse.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2014

My daughter is trying to decide between a lot of nursing school acceptances (lucky her!) front runners are Umass Amherst, Umass Lowell, Worcester State and Saint Anselm. Anyone have first hand knowledge? Lots of benefits to Lowell (small scholarship, location to us, etc) but I feel Amherst is a better school. So hard to pick! It's also hard to find people that attended these programs. Any suggestions on how to compare? Thanks so much!

Is your daughter in high school? What was her GPA? My daughters early action is still pending at Lowell and Amherst. Saint Anselm I have not heard good things and is EXPENSIVE.

Jellois99 · Jan 3, 2014

Thanks for your comments. The 2 schools are actually very close in cost, just under $24,000, including room and board. Lowell did give her a small deans scholarship. She would live on campus so hopefully have a "traditional" experience. We live close by, and she works a part time job at Lahey in Burlington delivering food trays. I just feel,her life won't change very much at lowell, where amherst may give her a more rounded college experience? However, clinicals would be out there. What was your major at Amherst? Did you then go somewhere for RN, and now getting your BSN? Do you know if lowell definately have boston clinicals? (Preferable) thanks! I hear you about loans, my son is at his dream school but will graduate with a boatload of loans. Couldn't talk him into Amherst!

Jellois99 · Jan 3, 2014

Yes my daughter is a senior in high school. Saint anselm is very expensive, even with some merit money. Amherst offered no merit, lowell a little. She did get the Adams scholarship but that is only about $1400. Her GPA was around 3.4 unweighted, around 3.7 weighted. Seems Amherst is very slow in releasing the acceptances. Do you know anything about the two programs that might help us? Thanks so much!

sbostonRN · Jan 3, 2014

Thanks for your comments. The 2 schools are actually very close in cost just under $24,000, including room and board. Lowell did give her a small deans scholarship. She would live on campus so hopefully have a "traditional" experience. We live close by, and she works a part time job at Lahey in Burlington delivering food trays. I just feel,her life won't change very much at lowell, where amherst may give her a more rounded college experience? However, clinicals would be out there. What was your major at Amherst? Did you then go somewhere for RN, and now getting your BSN? Do you know if lowell definately have boston clinicals? (Preferable) thanks! I hear you about loans, my son is at his dream school but will graduate with a boatload of loans. Couldn't talk him into Amherst![/quote']
I majored in Biology while at umass Amherst. It's definitely a great school for the "well rounded" college experience. There's a lot of students and it's a nice community. I've heard their nursing program is extremely competitive. Nursing (RN) was my second degree like you said. I'm not sure where Lowell does their clinical but that information should be easily obtained if you look on their website or call admissions. Clinical placements are typically a big selling point for nursing programs.

sbostonRN · Jan 3, 2014

Have you visited the two campuses? That might give you some insight. Lowell is very urban and industrial and Amherst has a totally different country feel to it. That might be a factor too.

Jellois99 · Jan 3, 2014

Yes we have visited (plus we live close to Lowell) but will revisit both. I think living so close to lowell makes it hard to choose there since it might not feel like she is going away, even though she will live there. I thnk amherst's program may be a bit more competitive academically? Or am I mistaken, I know they are all hard! Do you think it is a disadvantage to be in a "harder" program? You know, for GPA requirements for grad school, etc? Hoping the revisits makes it clearer. And being in the field, have you heard anything about Worcester's BSN? Thanks for your insight!

sbostonRN · Jan 3, 2014

I don't think she'll be at a disadvantage for grad school either way. Personally I think the real "competition" is getting into the program but once you're in, the program is very similar from school to school. NCLEX Pass Rates are similar...Amherst is 93%, Lowell is 90% (pass rate of the NCLEX on first try, 2012 data). Worcester State is actually 100%.

I haven't heard anything about Worcester State at all. Most of the nurses I work with went to Boston colleges or Salem State. But I work in eastern Mass so many of the nurses went to college here and settled here.

I grew up in the area and personally didn't want to go to any Boston colleges because I knew my parents would have me commute rather than live away at school. So I chose UMass Amherst on purpose because it allowed me to have the traditional college experience. I think Worcester would be a nice place to go to school too. UMass Medical Center is a great hospital and possible grad school, so it would be a good place to settle down, or she could move back to eastern MA after graduation. I think it's a little easier to get a nursing job in the central and western parts of the state so she might want to work as a CNA during school to get a foot in the door.

stellakc · Jan 4, 2014

I, too, went to UMass Amherst for undergrad (am also re-applying for the accelerated BSN program!). It is a great school and i've only heard great things about the nursing program. It is sort of in the middle of nowhere, but there's lots to do outside of academics and it's a very down to earth culture/environment. Beautiful campus. I know that Amherst is the better one out of the rest of the campuses in the UMass network.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2014

Lowell most definitely has Boston clinicals. I worked at a Boston hospital and we had nursing students from UMass Lowell all the time. UMass Boston and UMass Dartmouth, too. Never saw any UMass Amherst students around.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2014

Yes we have visited (plus we live close to Lowell) but will revisit both. I think living so close to lowell makes it hard to choose there since it might not feel like she is going away, even though she will live there. I thnk amherst's program may be a bit more competitive academically? Or am I mistaken, I know they are all hard! Do you think it is a disadvantage to be in a "harder" program? You know, for GPA requirements for grad school, etc? Hoping the revisits makes it clearer. And being in the field, have you heard anything about Worcester's BSN? Thanks for your insight!

Amherst is more competitive academically....I like Lowell's sim lab the best. Amherst hasn't reviewed the transcripts yet I called them the other day...they said they are "behind". I know nothing about Worcester's program but I'll ask around. My daughter is still waiting for Amherst and Salem State. We are leaning towards Lowell I like the program we live by there as well. She'd like to stay close to home.