Why do people go to another state’s public university?

[Anonymous]

Some reasons why kids go OOS:

legacy/family tradition
want to see and live in a different part of the country
degree program specific reasons
family in that state
friends in that state

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually because they can’t get into UVA. Then they lie to themselves and others and say they wanted an “out of state experience.”

Not really. UVA is the #42 best undergrad engineering program in the US. So many other OOS flagships are much better. DC attends an OOS university and was accepted to UVA.

That includes most STEM majors at UVA as well. It’s funny how quickly UVA boosters dismiss the relative weakness of the hard science disciplines at their school. Then they try to tell others that want more highly ranked departments at OOS publics that they’re only going there because they couldn’t get into the flagship. If I want a top Engineering program that I can find and I live in Virginia, I am going out of state to the best school I can afford whether it be public or private. This nonsense about being not worth it to go to any OOS public is ridiculous.

Sure. Ok.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, my child really likes ODU. It is probably where she will wind up

[Anonymous]

Maybe this needs a different thread, but I would love for the engineering folks posting here to say where they would send their student OOS, my student is a year away from applying and has an engineering interest.

And for the person who chose UCLA over UMD, I get it but a thread on that would be great or at least a reply of what makes it special/different.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually because they can’t get into UVA. Then they lie to themselves and others and say they wanted an “out of state experience.”

Not really. UVA is the #42 best undergrad engineering program in the US. So many other OOS flagships are much better. DC attends an OOS university and was accepted to UVA.

That includes most STEM majors at UVA as well. It’s funny how quickly UVA boosters dismiss the relative weakness of the hard science disciplines at their school. Then they try to tell others that want more highly ranked departments at OOS publics that they’re only going there because they couldn’t get into the flagship. If I want a top Engineering program that I can find and I live in Virginia, I am going out of state to the best school I can afford whether it be public or private. This nonsense about being not worth it to go to any OOS public is ridiculous.

It really depends. If the difference in ranking between the OOS and in state program is not that different (#15 vs #20), I don't think it makes financial sense to go oos.

If you want to go oos for different reasons, I can understand that. But, if you go purely by ranking and cost, that minimal difference in ranking really doesn't matter.

I don't live in VA, btw.

[Anonymous]

In our case, it was a unique school (SMCM) where DD was offered enough scholarship money to make it comparable to in-state cost (we’re from Virginia).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re in VA and don’t get into UVA, some other state’s public universities seem to be good value. Especially if you know what fields you want to focus on.
That’s how it looks to me.

Or you are slinking away because of embarrassment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually because they can’t get into UVA. Then they lie to themselves and others and say they wanted an “out of state experience.”

Not everyone wants to go to UVA.
We are in Virginia and my senior won't even be applying to UVA. We visited over the summer and our experience was awful. Our visit to Old Dominion University last fall was actually an OUTSTANDING experience. Based on our two experiences I have no idea why UVA has a better reputation.

Look, I’m sorry. Nobody with a chance at UVA admission also visits ODU. THAT’S why you’ve decided UVA is awful and ODU is outstanding. You’re fooling no one but yourself. Let’s not do this again, ok?

Go ahead and believe that if it makes you feel better.

NP here. PP is right and you are being obtuse. Deliberately, most likely. The two schools have nothing in common in terms of prestige, environment, programs of study, or rigor. One is Uber competitive admissions and the other accepts 96% of applicants.

This doesn’t mean they aren’t both fine schools. It just means their target applicant pools are wildly different.

I'm not being obtuse.
Our guide at UVA was overweight and wearing daisy dukes and an extremely low cut shirt. She punctuated every single sentence with "um" and used "uh" as a comma in about half of them. She "upspoke" the entire time.
The ODU students were dressed in appropriate business casual. They were confident and articulate.
The difference was night and day.
If our guide is not representative of the UVA "target applicant pool" I can't imagine why she was chosen as a guide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually because they can’t get into UVA. Then they lie to themselves and others and say they wanted an “out of state experience.”

Not really. UVA is the #42 best undergrad engineering program in the US. So many other OOS flagships are much better. DC attends an OOS university and was accepted to UVA.

That includes most STEM majors at UVA as well. It’s funny how quickly UVA boosters dismiss the relative weakness of the hard science disciplines at their school. Then they try to tell others that want more highly ranked departments at OOS publics that they’re only going there because they couldn’t get into the flagship. If I want a top Engineering program that I can find and I live in Virginia, I am going out of state to the best school I can afford whether it be public or private. This nonsense about being not worth it to go to any OOS public is ridiculous.

It really depends. If the difference in ranking between the OOS and in state program is not that different (#15 vs #20), I don't think it makes financial sense to go oos.

If you want to go oos for different reasons, I can understand that. But, if you go purely by ranking and cost, that minimal difference in ranking really doesn't matter.

I don't live in VA, btw.

“It really depends. If the difference in ranking between the OOS and in state program is not that different (#15 vs #20), I don't think it makes financial sense to go oos.”

That is why I mentioned the word “top.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually because they can’t get into UVA. Then they lie to themselves and others and say they wanted an “out of state experience.”

Not everyone wants to go to UVA.
We are in Virginia and my senior won't even be applying to UVA. We visited over the summer and our experience was awful. Our visit to Old Dominion University last fall was actually an OUTSTANDING experience. Based on our two experiences I have no idea why UVA has a better reputation.

Look, I’m sorry. Nobody with a chance at UVA admission also visits ODU. THAT’S why you’ve decided UVA is awful and ODU is outstanding. You’re fooling no one but yourself. Let’s not do this again, ok?

Go ahead and believe that if it makes you feel better.

At last she didn’t say, “you know.” That drives me crazy.

NP here. PP is right and you are being obtuse. Deliberately, most likely. The two schools have nothing in common in terms of prestige, environment, programs of study, or rigor. One is Uber competitive admissions and the other accepts 96% of applicants.

This doesn’t mean they aren’t both fine schools. It just means their target applicant pools are wildly different.

I'm not being obtuse.
Our guide at UVA was overweight and wearing daisy dukes and an extremely low cut shirt. She punctuated every single sentence with "um" and used "uh" as a comma in about half of them. She "upspoke" the entire time.
The ODU students were dressed in appropriate business casual. They were confident and articulate.
The difference was night and day.
If our guide is not representative of the UVA "target applicant pool" I can't imagine why she was chosen as a guide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually because they can’t get into UVA. Then they lie to themselves and others and say they wanted an “out of state experience.”

Not everyone wants to go to UVA.
We are in Virginia and my senior won't even be applying to UVA. We visited over the summer and our experience was awful. Our visit to Old Dominion University last fall was actually an OUTSTANDING experience. Based on our two experiences I have no idea why UVA has a better reputation.

Look, I’m sorry. Nobody with a chance at UVA admission also visits ODU. THAT’S why you’ve decided UVA is awful and ODU is outstanding. You’re fooling no one but yourself. Let’s not do this again, ok?

Go ahead and believe that if it makes you feel better.

NP here. PP is right and you are being obtuse. Deliberately, most likely. The two schools have nothing in common in terms of prestige, environment, programs of study, or rigor. One is Uber competitive admissions and the other accepts 96% of applicants.

This doesn’t mean they aren’t both fine schools. It just means their target applicant pools are wildly different.

I'm not being obtuse.
Our guide at UVA was overweight and wearing daisy dukes and an extremely low cut shirt. She punctuated every single sentence with "um" and used "uh" as a comma in about half of them. She "upspoke" the entire time.
The ODU students were dressed in appropriate business casual. They were confident and articulate.
The difference was night and day.
If our guide is not representative of the UVA "target applicant pool" I can't imagine why she was chosen as a guide.

At last she didn’t say, “you know.” That drives me crazy.

[Anonymous]

[youtube]

Anonymous wrote:We live in DC. No choice.

UDC

🏫

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually because they can’t get into UVA. Then they lie to themselves and others and say they wanted an “out of state experience.”

Not everyone wants to go to UVA.
We are in Virginia and my senior won't even be applying to UVA. We visited over the summer and our experience was awful. Our visit to Old Dominion University last fall was actually an OUTSTANDING experience. Based on our two experiences I have no idea why UVA has a better reputation.

Look, I’m sorry. Nobody with a chance at UVA admission also visits ODU. THAT’S why you’ve decided UVA is awful and ODU is outstanding. You’re fooling no one but yourself. Let’s not do this again, ok?

Go ahead and believe that if it makes you feel better.

NP here. PP is right and you are being obtuse. Deliberately, most likely. The two schools have nothing in common in terms of prestige, environment, programs of study, or rigor. One is Uber competitive admissions and the other accepts 96% of applicants.

This doesn’t mean they aren’t both fine schools. It just means their target applicant pools are wildly different.

I'm not being obtuse.
Our guide at UVA was overweight and wearing daisy dukes and an extremely low cut shirt. She punctuated every single sentence with "um" and used "uh" as a comma in about half of them. She "upspoke" the entire time.
The ODU students were dressed in appropriate business casual. They were confident and articulate.
The difference was night and day.
If our guide is not representative of the UVA "target applicant pool" I can't imagine why she was chosen as a guide.

Great way to choose a college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Usually it’s because a particular major or program of study is offered or is more highly regarded than public or private options.

Or legacy.

UC Davis is the best vet school in the country and one of the best in the world. For just one example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually because they can’t get into UVA. Then they lie to themselves and others and say they wanted an “out of state experience.”

Not everyone wants to go to UVA.
We are in Virginia and my senior won't even be applying to UVA. We visited over the summer and our experience was awful. Our visit to Old Dominion University last fall was actually an OUTSTANDING experience. Based on our two experiences I have no idea why UVA has a better reputation.

Look, I’m sorry. Nobody with a chance at UVA admission also visits ODU. THAT’S why you’ve decided UVA is awful and ODU is outstanding. You’re fooling no one but yourself. Let’s not do this again, ok?

You are the reason I stay on DCUM. It baffles me that people like you exist. Did someone tell you you know everything, or did you decide that yourself? Do you take pride in speaking as if you have all the facts, and know why every single college applicant applied the way they did? Do you contemplate suicide if there’s even a slim chance that you’re wrong? Is your heart beating faster reading this post, and your fingers are just itching to type a smart a$$ reply?

Please, enlighten us plebes.