Reply to s/o Sending your child to a small liberal arts college for $50k a year is a rip-off

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Reply to "s/o Sending your child to a small liberal arts college for $50k a year is a rip-off"

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[quote=Anonymous]I have an undergraduate degree from an Ivy, a Master's from a small liberal arts college, and a Ph.D. from a big state school, so I have been on the inside of a pretty wide range of American post-secondary educational options.  In general, I don't disagree with you.  Having attended a prestigious private college and taught at a state school, I think that a person can get a very good education at both and that a person's success in life is largely a product of hard work, the scope of the vision they have for their life, and their ability to take advantage of what is special about whatever environment that they find themselves in.

However, I don't think it is as easy as saying "all students will do fine at a big state school."  My DH, who went to the same Ivy as I did, leveraged the advantages of that environment into a fairly spectacular life.  I, on the other hand, was a little overwhelmed by the environment and now realize that I would have been better off at a smaller school.  I have done fine for myself, but my confidence in my own abilities wasn't as high post-college as I think it would have been if I had gone to a school that was less of a pressure cooker.  (On the other hand, I met my DH at that prestigious school and his steadfast belief in my abilities has made a big difference in my life, so there is that intangible benefit of going to a prestigious university to consider.) My sister went to a big state school and it fit her outgoing, gregarious nature really well. That environment was clearly the best option for her.

I would encourage you to watch how your kids develop and think about them each as individuals when deciding what the best educational option is best for them.  You will probably find that the answer is not one-size-fits-all. [/quote]

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