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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Not OP but curious - for folks sending their DCs to private schools in part because of the small class sizes, close relationships with classmates/teachers, tight knit community, focus on academics etc, what is the thought process behind sending that same DC to a massive instate university? leaving the anecdotal evidence to the side for a second, as I'm sure we all know someone who went to U- wherever and is now setting the world on fire, how do you reconcile the criteria you had for a certain hs experience with the complete opposite end of the spectrum that you're seeking for undergrad? Before any one comes at me, I'm not saying that large state Unis don't have solid academics - but why are you spending $$$ to send little Johnny to Sidwell for a "certain experience" if you're turning around and sending him to a school like UMD? [/quote]

There have already been some good answers to this query, but your last sentence is really off-putting.  You seem to assume that you would be wasting the small school experience in HS if you went to a big, public undergrad.  Totally disagree with that presumption.

I went to a Sidwell-type school for HS and then went to Michigan.  I was so prepared for college with excellent writing skills, high executive functioning, ability to advocate for myself, yada yada.  Michigan was not for shrinking violets, but I can't imagine a better learning environment.  The world is your oyster in terms of academics.  I was able to take at least one seminar per semester, sometimes more, with no more than 15-20 students.  I had fantastic advisors, who I still keep in touch with, and defended my undergraduate thesis before a panel of academics.  I took an amazing class from the President of University (and former Dean of the law school), and he ended up writing my recommendation for law school.  I also had a ton of fun -- there is absolutely nothing better than Ann Arbor on a fall football Saturday.  I've received at least two jobs offers in my career where the person hiring me was a Michigan grad.

Point being, there are wonderful, personalized experiences available for undergrads at both big and small schools.  I do think the big schools require more self-advocacy (as does the real world) and better prepare kids for the working world.  I have my kids at a Sidwell-type school for MS/HS and would push them to go to a bigger university for undergrad.  [/quote]

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