public vs private college

[Anonymous]

Besides the price tag, what are some of the differences?

[Anonymous]

OP, if you really want valuable answers, you will need to be more specific about the schools you have in mind.

[Anonymous]

People tend to value their own experience, and desire the same for their children. Public or private.

[Anonymous]

Well you could say generally that publics tend to be larger (up to 30,000 students) and there are some very small privates (as few as 1,500 students).

Depending on location and rank - you'll get different types of students. In small NE high ranking privates you'll get kids from elite boarding schools and rich Californians. In large midwestern publics you'll get a whole mishmash but largely average income kids from the public schools in the suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People tend to value their own experience, and desire the same for their children. Public or private.

True for 90% of the DCUM arguments.

[Anonymous]

We visited 20+ schools, though mostly small LAC's. I think the privates offer more hand holding/individual attention-in a good way (unless you have a very mature, independent child). They also have little niceties. From lemons in the water to fireplaces in the lounge. More importantly, a few offered a set aside amount to pay for your transportation and rent if you wanted to work at and unpaid internship or study abroad. Another assigned two advisors per kid. Another will work with you to tailor the program around your needs (waive prerequisites that are not relevant to your career goals, for example). The numbers allow them to personalize the service and attention. Large , public schools---while they have tons of resources--are more of a sink or swim environment. Again, many kids are strengthened by that...but some get lost. I have heard that at the U of MD, for example, you have to go home to study because there is not a single seat open in the library during finals week. There is hot competition for research positions with faculty. etc

[Anonymous]

If your child seems unmotivated or immature, think twice before sending them to a state school. It’s easy to disappear into the cracks, slack off, get into trouble, etc. And bigger schools are usually disinclined to bend rules or give much personal attention because there are so many students to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child seems unmotivated or immature, think twice before sending them to a state school. It’s easy to disappear into the cracks, slack off, get into trouble, etc. And bigger schools are usually disinclined to bend rules or give much personal attention because there are so many students to deal with.

Not true at all. Many have a lot more support than the private schools since they have a wide range of students. My ADHD/executive function child is thriving after failing at a small private we thought would provide the supports. He is STILL unmotivated and immature but between the tutoring, study halls and special support (for any student who asks) he is doing really well in a school for 30k.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes the price is not a differentiator. My DC went to an OOS flagship that cost as much as a private college. And plenty of private colleges give financial and merit aid that bring the price down to in state options.

[Anonymous]

Publics are huge diploma mills with the vast majority of students from the same insular state. They are hardly the bastion of free thinking that we want for our children. But they're cheap......so there's that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: They are hardly the bastion of free thinking that we want for our children.

You can say that about many elite private colleges too.

-- Ivy alum

[Anonymous]

Small privates, even the more average ones, tend to graduate almost all of their students in 4 years. In some cases you might pay more money upfront but you are also likely to be out earning money at age 21 or 22. Towson, for instance, only graduates 43% of their kids in 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Small privates, even the more average ones, tend to graduate almost all of their students in 4 years. In some cases you might pay more money upfront but you are also likely to be out earning money at age 21 or 22. Towson, for instance, only graduates 43% of their kids in 4 years.

Anyone who is able to graduate from a respectable private college can graduate from a public college in four years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child seems unmotivated or immature, think twice before sending them to a state school. It’s easy to disappear into the cracks, slack off, get into trouble, etc. And bigger schools are usually disinclined to bend rules or give much personal attention because there are so many students to deal with.

Agreed. Mine had a prof reach out after a couple of missed classes and it delivered a meaningful message: I’m watching, I care and class matters. Pretty sure I said that to him first but whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child seems unmotivated or immature, think twice before sending them to a state school. It’s easy to disappear into the cracks, slack off, get into trouble, etc. And bigger schools are usually disinclined to bend rules or give much personal attention because there are so many students to deal with.

Agreed. Mine had a prof reach out after a couple of missed classes and it delivered a meaningful message: I’m watching, I care and class matters. Pretty sure I said that to him first but whatever.

That’s a nice thought, but their boss at their first job isn’t going to reach out and show them how much he cares when they start skipping work.