Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see any appeal or advantage to attending a large public university as an undergrad. The competition is fierce in the intro courses, you don't get direct interaction with professors, you could easily disappear for a few days or a week and nobody would notice, you could flunk out and nobody would care, etc....

Other than fun football games in the fall semester, what's the appeal?

I could say this about when I went to Cornell. It’s not only big state schools. I could have spontaneously combusted during one of my huge freshman classes and no one working at the school would have ever cared.

+ 1 for Vanderbilt

Don’t be dim, OP!!! JFC. People advocate state flagships because they are lower priced than private while also offering excellent educations that are broadly recognized & respected by employers.

I also transferred from a smaller school to a large one and I loved my time at a large university. Lots of classes. Lots of majors. Lots of activities. They knew me in my major but otherwise, the sky was the limit as far as courses. The one detriment would probably be that I really didn’t keep in touch with grads, even in my major.

Thousands of options for classes to take, and a larger variety of majors.

More clubs/intramurals/etc...

Often better facilities, especially in STEM majors.

Lower cost.

Larger variety of students, and thus viewpoints.

More, and sometimes better, food options.

Most have loads of school spirit.

Some people like the anonymity.

There are definitely drawbacks, but many positives.

This from someone who started off at a school with 1600 students and was much happier after transferring to a school with over 20,000.

Anonymous wrote:I don't see any appeal or advantage to attending a large public university as an undergrad. The competition is fierce in the intro courses, you don't get direct interaction with professors, you could easily disappear for a few days or a week and nobody would notice, you could flunk out and nobody would care, etc....

Other than fun football games in the fall semester, what's the appeal?

It's about freedom and choices and growing up! A curriculum and social life so broad no small college could ever match. The freedom to get lost and find yourself. The opportunity to make choices and also be responsible for them. No chaperoning and coddling to death like at some overpriced SLAC.

And most importantly, no crushing debt for life!

Usually cost, acceptance and distance drives these decisions.

Anonymous wrote:I don't see any appeal or advantage to attending a large public university as an undergrad. The competition is fierce in the intro courses, you don't get direct interaction with professors, you could easily disappear for a few days or a week and nobody would notice, you could flunk out and nobody would care, etc....

Other than fun football games in the fall semester, what's the appeal?

I could say this about when I went to Cornell. It’s not only big state schools. I could have spontaneously combusted during one of my huge freshman classes and no one working at the school would have ever cared.

Anonymous wrote:I don't see any appeal or advantage to attending a large public university as an undergrad. The competition is fierce in the intro courses, you don't get direct interaction with professors, you could easily disappear for a few days or a week and nobody would notice, you could flunk out and nobody would care, etc....

Other than fun football games in the fall semester, what's the appeal?

I never understood the charm, if there is any other than staying in state or participating in sports or Greek life.

I didn't want to attend a large state school but both of my kids are at UVA. They both agree that if they didn't go to UVA, they'd be at smaller school like Davidson or something. Why UVA, well because of the athletics, school pride, 800+ clubs, history, active social life and name brand recognition for grad school and jobs.

They are both very different people with different needs and personalities and absolutely have found their homes there. Its large enough to find your "people" but small enough that my DD can walk around grounds and wave to people that she knows all day long.


Now they would not have been happy at a 30K plus undergrad school.

Anonymous wrote:I don't see any appeal or advantage to attending a large public university as an undergrad. The competition is fierce in the intro courses, you don't get direct interaction with professors, you could easily disappear for a few days or a week and nobody would notice, you could flunk out and nobody would care, etc....

Other than fun football games in the fall semester, what's the appeal?

Not all large public universities are equal.

Also OP I think the experience is humbling which is good for an 18 year old who thinks they know everything.

OP My oldest is at our flagship U and majoring in sciences. It’s brutal yes but if you can survive and graduate you will have lots of good opportunities. My DD loves the social atmosphere and it’s a lot less expensive.

20 years from now a 3.2 GPA from UMD undergrad is going to mean more than one from Podunk U- except maybe for law or medical school. Wish they’d take that more into account but it is what it is.

I am with you OP!

Anonymous wrote:I don't see any appeal or advantage to attending a large public university as an undergrad. The competition is fierce in the intro courses, you don't get direct interaction with professors, you could easily disappear for a few days or a week and nobody would notice, you could flunk out and nobody would care, etc....

Other than fun football games in the fall semester, what's the appeal?

My son loves his choice - great academic options, lots of school-sponsored support programs, lots of activities, year-round competitive teams, lots of student pride, lots of choices. Great alumni network. Went to FCPS, chose out of state, and received substantial merit aid (similar to instate tuition). Great business school, and lots of internship ops. He finds that he sticks out a bit more with professors because of his academic success (bigger fish in a bigger pond), in which FCPS prepared him well. On his way to a great MBA program because of his success there.

I don't see any appeal or advantage to attending a large public university as an undergrad. The competition is fierce in the intro courses, you don't get direct interaction with professors, you could easily disappear for a few days or a week and nobody would notice, you could flunk out and nobody would care, etc....

Other than fun football games in the fall semester, what's the appeal?