Amherst, MA vs Buffalo, NY

[molbiolgrad]

Okay, so I've been accepted for a doctoral program in biology at both UMass, Amherst and SUNY, Buffalo. I'm pretty torn about which place to go to. 

 

Any advice would be much appreciated! What are the two cities like? Which is better? The Universities are pretty similar in standing and they're both offering me generous financial aid. I'm also excited by the research of many faculty members at both the places. So it all really comes down to the city and quality of life around campus. 

 

Also, what's the social scene around the area - gay dating, etc.

[Chai_latte]

Congrats.  I am much less familiar with Amherst.  A number of years ago, I quickly drove through it.  The part I saw was quaint, and I did see one edge of the UMass campus.  It seemed as if everything there was geared towards the students, and it appeared livelier than some of the nearby towns, like Northampton or South Hadley.  

I'm not a fan of Buffalo, NY.  The UB campus is split into two...North and South.  They're about 10-15 min. apart (driving).  I don't know which campus you'll be on, but the area surrounding North is more suburban.  I didn't think there was much to do there.  However, a 15 minute drive from South campus is Elmwood Village.  That's a pretty nice part of town.  It is also quaint.  Honestly, it kind of had a New England vibe.  Looking back, it could remind me of the part of Amherst, MA that I saw (but, maybe larger?).  Anyway, aside from Elmwood, I didn't think Buffalo had much to offer on a daily basis.  And, after a while, Elmwood got old...it's not that expansive.  When I was there, downtown Buffalo was pretty rundown looking.  Maybe things have improved in the last 5 years, but there was a little too much blight for my taste.  

I can't speak for gay dating in either place, but Elmwood seemed welcoming to everyone.  I know that the area around Amherst has very liberal enclaves in which gays are represented/feel comfortable, so maybe Amherst itself is welcoming.  However, I did hear that UMass was no stranger to ethnic/racial tension.

Hopefully, someone who knows more can talk about these two towns, particularly Amherst. 

 

Hey, I just found this vid about Buff.  Of course, it glosses over some of the blight I was referring to, but they do mention it and show a couple of quick pictures.  Just note that in some areas of town, that IS what predominates.  In my experience, the "pretty" pictures/clips were over-emphasized.  So, all images are accurate (I've seen both, in-person), but the ratio of attractive areas to unattractive areas represented in the film is "off".  Anyway, it's great to see the city's revitalization efforts!

Edited March 7, 2015 by Chai_latte

[molbiolgrad]

Well, thanks! That's actually pretty helpful. I did ask a couple of students from UMass about racial tensions, but they said it's not a problem. I was already veering towards Amherst and you've given me a greater nudge in that direction!

 

Thanks again!

[rising_star]

You would probably get better answers by posting your questions in the appropriate city threads.

[Henry Hudson]

Amherst, definitely. A cluster of small college towns with great quality of life and culture, close to metropolitan commercial centers, in a geographically beautiful part of the world - in all seasons. 

 

Buffalo is not without its perks, of course, but not early on the same par. 

[molbiolgrad]

Thank you. 

[fromchaos]

Amherst is a great town little town. Yes it is small and "quaint" but it is certainly not dead. There are lots of culture, art, restaurants etc. Summers in New England are beautiful, there are tons of farmers markets hiking trails etc. Northhampton and to a lesser extent Greenfield are hip little cities. I am a straight male but I would imagine the gay dating scene is amazing, especially for lesbians. Northhampton is a lesbian mecca.There are five colleges all within 20-30 minutes of each other. Amherst College (one of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation) is walking distance from UMass.

 

There is no significant race issue at Umass. It is very white but lots of Massachusetts is similarly segregated, Umass is no different. The small number of minority students are vocal about injustices on campus but most incidents have been relatively minor things you would see on any campus. I think because there are so few, African Americans, especially on campus they may be a bit defensive about any incidents at all and are emboldended by being in a very liberal area in a very liberal state. I am white though so it is possible I am missing some racism that isn't there. Long story short there are no huge race issues at Umass, but if you are a minority (black mostly) you will likely feel underrepresented.

[fromchaos]

Amherst may be pricey compared to Buffalo. It isn't as expensive as say Boston or certainly NYC but it isn't cheap (housing, food, bars). I would keep that in mind when comparing funding.

[molbiolgrad]

Yes, well my stipend is extremely generous, so finances are not really a consideration.