Big state schools - lot of fun, great networks, but do you really learn there?

[Anonymous]

Average SAT for University of Georgia Honors is 1503/1600.

Average SAT for University of Georgia Foundation Fellows is 1544/1600.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not all classes at state universities are huge. You get to know the professors in your program, in student organizations, etc. There are many opportunities for connecting with faculty and getting individualized attention. You take smaller seminars. And if you think students at state flagships are producing "high school level work," you are crazy. You have to be more of a self-starter, in some ways; no one is spoon-feeding you this stuff, but the opportunities are there, and plentiful.

Unfortunately, depending on the course/ major, this is often exactly the case.

It has to be. Are you telling me your average in state kid at UGA is cranking out papers that rival kids from the northeast who've been through the ringer at elite privates or publics? No f'ing way.

Someone tell this genius that the word is “wringer.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not all classes at state universities are huge. You get to know the professors in your program, in student organizations, etc. There are many opportunities for connecting with faculty and getting individualized attention. You take smaller seminars. And if you think students at state flagships are producing "high school level work," you are crazy. You have to be more of a self-starter, in some ways; no one is spoon-feeding you this stuff, but the opportunities are there, and plentiful.

Unfortunately, depending on the course/ major, this is often exactly the case.

It has to be. Are you telling me your average in state kid at UGA is cranking out papers that rival kids from the northeast who've been through the ringer at elite privates or publics? No f'ing way.

You picked the wrong school to use as an example.

Look at the average SAT scores for the honors program, now honors college, at the University of Georgia. Even higher for the Foundation Fellows. Many turn down Ivy offers to matriculate at Georgia Honors. Probably more common than not.

Honors programs are not the same thing as regular admits. That's what we're discussing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not all classes at state universities are huge. You get to know the professors in your program, in student organizations, etc. There are many opportunities for connecting with faculty and getting individualized attention. You take smaller seminars. And if you think students at state flagships are producing "high school level work," you are crazy. You have to be more of a self-starter, in some ways; no one is spoon-feeding you this stuff, but the opportunities are there, and plentiful.

Unfortunately, depending on the course/ major, this is often exactly the case.

It has to be. Are you telling me your average in state kid at UGA is cranking out papers that rival kids from the northeast who've been through the ringer at elite privates or publics? No f'ing way.

Someone tell this genius that the word is “wringer.”

I had no idea. Thank you. Now I have to go throw my Ivy League degree in the recycling.

[Anonymous]

Leave it to op to talk about their "elite private"

[Anonymous]

OP. So the consensus is, the education is just as intensive as smaller colleges, except there is more variety, more opportunity and it's more fun?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Leave it to op to talk about their "elite private"

One thing seems clear- state U folks seem to have a chip on their shoulder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Asking genuinely. They just seem so large and impersonal. The credential may be great but is the educational experience comparable to what one might have at a top private school? I attended a midsized elite private and suspect the educational experience I had is more similar to a smaller LAC. But when you go to Michigan or Florida or Wisconsin, is anyone really cultivating your abilities? Evaluating your written work carefully? Small seminars? Or is it more like watching good Ted talks and then handing something in (and then getting an A because most of the kids are in staters producing high school level work). Interested in perspectives on this from state u grads.

You are very uninformed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. So the consensus is, the education is just as intensive as smaller colleges, except there is more variety, more opportunity and it's more fun?

No, the consensus is that LACs are a continuation of high school with lots of hand holding, while big state schools require independence and initiative. Big state publics offer a greater variety of opportunities than do tiny schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. So the consensus is, the education is just as intensive as smaller colleges, except there is more variety, more opportunity and it's more fun?

No, the consensus is that LACs are a continuation of high school with lots of hand holding, while big state schools require independence and initiative. Big state publics offer a greater variety of opportunities than do tiny schools.

Got it. Totally getting a richer educational experience at Indiana versus Williams. Lol, Hoosier daddy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You get out of it what you put into it

Same as any other college.

The more competitive colleges are likely to have a cohort that puts more into it overall, but that’s it

You could be a superstar at one of those larger places, if you work harder than everyone else.

This is the right answer.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

OP: The best professors are at large universities because they are able to generate significant research grants for groundbreaking, cutting edge research.

LAC profs are second tier quality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Asking genuinely. They just seem so large and impersonal. The credential may be great but is the educational experience comparable to what one might have at a top private school? I attended a midsized elite private and suspect the educational experience I had is more similar to a smaller LAC. But when you go to Michigan or Florida or Wisconsin, is anyone really cultivating your abilities? Evaluating your written work carefully? Small seminars? Or is it more like watching good Ted talks and then handing something in (and then getting an A because most of the kids are in staters producing high school level work). Interested in perspectives on this from state u grads.

You are very uninformed.

Which is why I asked. I never really sat down with any state u grads and picked their brains on this matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not all classes at state universities are huge. You get to know the professors in your program, in student organizations, etc. There are many opportunities for connecting with faculty and getting individualized attention. You take smaller seminars. And if you think students at state flagships are producing "high school level work," you are crazy. You have to be more of a self-starter, in some ways; no one is spoon-feeding you this stuff, but the opportunities are there, and plentiful.

Unfortunately, depending on the course/ major, this is often exactly the case.

It has to be. Are you telling me your average in state kid at UGA is cranking out papers that rival kids from the northeast who've been through the ringer at elite privates or publics? No f'ing way.

Someone tell this genius that the word is “wringer.”

I had no idea. Thank you. Now I have to go throw my Ivy League degree in the recycling.

There is a lot you so-called ivy leaguers don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. So the consensus is, the education is just as intensive as smaller colleges, except there is more variety, more opportunity and it's more fun?

No, the consensus is that LACs are a continuation of high school with lots of hand holding, while big state schools require independence and initiative. Big state publics offer a greater variety of opportunities than do tiny schools.

Got it. Totally getting a richer educational experience at Indiana versus Williams. Lol, Hoosier daddy?

No. Williams College is an exceptional school. Indiana University offers a myriad of opportunities and has a very large honors college. Elite private national Universities are superior to both, however.