It's personal choice. Pros and cons at each. Why does one have to be better than the other?

I think "finding one's place" at a big state university, having to navigate one's future both academically and socially in a big arena, is a very valuable skill; and the challenge and the maturity it requires is age appropriate for most young adults.

So, if you had to choose to employ someone and your choice was between a 2.5 GPA at the big urban state school and a 2.5 GPA at the so-so private liberal arts college, which would you choose (no other information available)?

If you are hiring someone with no other information but that--you need to lose your own job.

Often they are too big for some kids. The honors schools try to make the schools feel smaller for those kids. I wish they had a program like that for kids with LDs.

Often their resources for kids are hit or miss or every man for himself, unless you are an athlete, they have mandatory study halls and tutors.

I think kids with LD might do fine, but I think it is more of a transactional experience than a full educational experience that a smaller school can give a smart kid with some disabilities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've taught at a medium tier big urban state school and a small so-so private liberal arts college. My smartest students at the state school were brighter and more interesting than almost all the students at the private college. The kids at the private college had a bit more polish in their written work and they outperformed many of the state university students. But for all the opportunities they had growing up (a lot went to private school K-12), their intellectual work was disappointing.

I loved all my students (private and public) and I worked hard to teach them in a way that would be most helpful to them based on where they were coming from but I was very surprised that the increased advantages the private college kids had growing up didn't result in higher level work.

So, if you had to choose to employ someone and your choice was between a 2.5 GPA at the big urban state school and a 2.5 GPA at the so-so private liberal arts college, which would you choose (no other information available)?

That's easy. Neither!

You know the GPA of your employees? Shortsighted if you do.

If the state university has a medical school, often it is an easier (more likely to happen) transition from undergrad into medical school, or other medical professional programs.

Many of DD friends went into Big State U as biology majors but quickly decided on pre-denistry, pre-med, pre-pharmacy majors - and then making into those programs at the same Big State U.

Contrast LAC students completed their biology UG degrees but didn't have the firm direction, and spent a few more years gaining the pre-reqs to apply.

Anonymous wrote:

I've taught at a medium tier big urban state school and a small so-so private liberal arts college. My smartest students at the state school were brighter and more interesting than almost all the students at the private college. The kids at the private college had a bit more polish in their written work and they outperformed many of the state university students. But for all the opportunities they had growing up (a lot went to private school K-12), their intellectual work was disappointing.

I loved all my students (private and public) and I worked hard to teach them in a way that would be most helpful to them based on where they were coming from but I was very surprised that the increased advantages the private college kids had growing up didn't result in higher level work.

So, if you had to choose to employ someone and your choice was between a 2.5 GPA at the big urban state school and a 2.5 GPA at the so-so private liberal arts college, which would you choose (no other information available)?

That's easy. Neither!

I've taught at a medium tier big urban state school and a small so-so private liberal arts college. My smartest students at the state school were brighter and more interesting than almost all the students at the private college. The kids at the private college had a bit more polish in their written work and they outperformed many of the state university students. But for all the opportunities they had growing up (a lot went to private school K-12), their intellectual work was disappointing.

I loved all my students (private and public) and I worked hard to teach them in a way that would be most helpful to them based on where they were coming from but I was very surprised that the increased advantages the private college kids had growing up didn't result in higher level work.

So, if you had to choose to employ someone and your choice was between a 2.5 GPA at the big urban state school and a 2.5 GPA at the so-so private liberal arts college, which would you choose (no other information available)?

I've taught at a medium tier big urban state school and a small so-so private liberal arts college. My smartest students at the state school were brighter and more interesting than almost all the students at the private college. The kids at the private college had a bit more polish in their written work and they outperformed many of the state university students. But for all the opportunities they had growing up (a lot went to private school K-12), their intellectual work was disappointing.

I loved all my students (private and public) and I worked hard to teach them in a way that would be most helpful to them based on where they were coming from but I was very surprised that the increased advantages the private college kids had growing up didn't result in higher level work.

Anonymous wrote:I am a professor and usually when i get grad students with nonexistent writing skills i look up their files and it turns out they slid through a state school
Getting passed aling with b and c grades and no one ever seriously honed in on their writing issues. Easy to get lost at a big school.

Just wondering what discipline? I was a STEM major and the only C grades I made were English Comp I & II. I've known other people like me who were good in science and technical fields, but just couldn't write to save their life. That's not always the case obviously, but for some students it's true.

Anonymous wrote:I went to Arizona State and lived at home. I sought out the right profs who gave me directed reading, and I wasn't at all "behind" when I went to Chicago for grad school.

YMMV.

Go Devils! : )

I am a professor and usually when i get grad students with nonexistent writing skills i look up their files and it turns out they slid through a state school
Getting passed aling with b and c grades and no one ever seriously honed in on their writing issues. Easy to get lost at a big school.

Anonymous wrote:Our program analyst went to Yale. Our Division Head went to U of Delaware. No one cares.

+1 No one cares.

There is no correlation between the name of the school and the achievements of the student.

Is it possible to get the same level of education with a smaller environment?

Of course it is. Even if you are at a big university, you are usually in one of the colleges and take a subset of courses (based on your major and interests).

You are more likely to get a TA and be in some bigger lectures at a larger school FWIW.

Our program analyst went to Yale. Our Division Head went to U of Delaware. No one cares.