<p>Which do you prefer and why?</p>
<p>Via [Ask</a> the Dean](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000294.htm]Ask”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000294.htm):</p>
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<p>If dedication to undergraduate teaching is a priority, you should look at USNWR’s recognition of publics within the list of [Best</a> Colleges: Undergraduate Teaching at National Universities](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2009/08/19/methodology-best-undergrad-teaching.html]Best”>http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2009/08/19/methodology-best-undergrad-teaching.html):</p>
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<p>The publics from the [list[/url</a>] are noted below:</p>
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<p>Many of the publics in this list were also recognized as [url=<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Ivy]Public”>Public Ivy - Wikipedia]Public</a> Ivies](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-ut-rank]list[/url”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-ut-rank):</p>
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<p>It all depends on financials and academics. I had this very same dilemma my senior year. </p>
<p>My first choice school was Randolph-Macon College, a private college in Ashland, VA. They awarded me a 15,000 yearly scholarship which covered only part of the total 40,000. Financial aid grants and loans, Perkins and Sub/Unsub, were maxed out leaving a gap of about 5000. I received a 3000 scholarship from SWCS which would have left about 2000 for me to come up with through workstudy and payments. . In all, I would have left college with over $80,000 in loans for the private school. If it was Yale, then I’d consider it. </p>
<p>On the other hand Instate Public, which I favor. My financial aid covers everything including books! I’ll leave with only about $20,000 in loans and the total amount only costing me over 4 years, a little under $80,000. Big difference from RMC. Additionally, the $3000 SWCS scholarship was used to purchase a laptop for school, supplies for the dorm, and a little extra still left for emergencies. </p>
<p><<this all=“” being=“” financial=“” opinions.=“” your=“” choice=“” depends=“” this=“” and=“” visiting=“” the=“” colleges,=“” reputations,=“” support=“” opportunities=“” for=“” students.=“”>>
I’d say InStatePublic is the way to unless you’ve got some money to spare or a GOOD scholarship.</this></p>
<p>The first school I attended was a public. Hated it. Current one is private. Love it, quality is much better. However, I just think the particular public I went to was awful. There are some great public schools in NY.</p>
<p>There are some small, unknown, poorly-funded, miserable little private schools. These are probably worse than a good state university.</p>
<p>And there are some amazing private schools that provide things that can’t be found in state universities.</p>
<p>It boils down to money. If you have the money, you can get something at a good private school that most others can’t. Consider yourself lucky if this is even an option.</p>
<p>But that also comes with issues of its own. Do you really want to go to college surrounded by people who are predominantly extremely affluent? You’d be surprised how many private schools with good reputations are actually filled with mostly very mediocre students who happen to have a lot of money.</p>
<p>So it sometimes can become a choice between mingling with the “pampered privileged” and the “clawing masses”. There is no right answer. A mix of both is probably the ideal.</p>
<p>State schools. I’m a big fan of college athletics and tradition and many state schools offer it such as Purdue, UMichigan, Penn. State, UTexas, etc. etc. and I also prefer schools in the Midwest. The only school I can think of is Notre Dame that would fit my wants…</p>
<p>I would recommmend state schools if you’re short on money and Harvard, etc. won’t offer you admission.</p>
<p>LOL.</p>
<p>What kind of question is this?</p>
<p>There are tons of state schools…and tons of privates…how can lump hundreds of unique schools into two categories like this? You can’t even make general statements such as “one is bigger” (since some publics are much smaller than some privates) or “one is more expensive” (since sometimes privates give better financial aid packages). </p>
<p>Picking a school never comes down to private vs. public, it comes down to academics, fit, and cost. </p>
<p>The answer is: depends on the school and what you’re looking to do there. And your cost comparison. Oftentimes, it ends up that students prefer privates somewhat more in terms of academics and fit (due to the fact that they are more self-selected), but then the cost is so vastly different, that the state uni still trumps.</p>
<p>William & Mary has the student body, campus, size, and overall feel of a prestigious private college, but for a public price tag. In fact was private for 200 years until the aftermath of the Civil War. There is no other school like it.</p>
<p>My son transferred from a private to a state school and I went to two private schools. The one thing that stands out is the type of people that public attracts vs. private. The state school has more of a down to earth and money conscious population. My son got more support from the public school as they helped him tremendously when he had an injury and couldn’t get around campus while the private told him he was pretty much on his own. I have become a fan of public schools in light of our experiences.</p>