Can you get a good education at a non-flagship state school?

MereMom
Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:12:52 +0000

The answer is yes. Remember, many directional/non-flagship state schools were started to fill a need after the Civil War - many were teachers colleges. Several I can name shed the image of the sleepy “normal” school 50 or more years ago and have developed powerhouse programs in specific areas (again, meeting a need). Sometimes these departments are even stronger than the corresponding department at the flagship school.

If you look at the departments you are interested in at any school, you want to see strong faculty who came from top tier schools and who have written text/authoritative publications, and/or who have won awards or who are on boards related to the field. These are all indications of strong faculty in the department. A department that has achieved and maintains the highest accreditation possible in the field is another indicator of quality. It is then up to you to make the most of your opportunities at that school and in that department.

One of the nice things about non-flagship schools with strong departments is that professors teach classes and you have a lot of access to them. Building relationships with professors can really enhance your education exponentially (opportunities for research, more in-depth discussions of issues in the field, contacts for internships, help with grad school applications, references, etc.).

You get out of school what you put into it. A mature student can figure out how to make the most of his opportunities.