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Add to FavoritesPrivate and public colleges both have many unique advantages, so determining which type of school is best for you can be a difficult decision. But one characteristic regarding private colleges usually rises to the top among all the factors one can consider: quality. Private colleges typically focus on quality before quantity, whereas public colleges are great at producing quantity. This is not to say that one cannot obtain a quality degree from a public college or university, one certainly can. Your college education is typically about what you make of it, but private colleges provide an extra boost that many incoming college freshman need, and continue to provide high quality education throughout the college career. Here are a few ways that private colleges focus on quality in education.
Classroom Size
The typical private school has a smaller classroom size than its public counterpart. This means that the student to professor ratio is smaller, which means that professors can more readily focus on each individual student's needs. A smaller classroom is a more intimate setting, which allows students to feel more comfortable speaking up or asking questions during discussion. And outside of class, professors are readily available to their students, often maintaining an open-door policy at their offices.
Religious Affiliation
Many private colleges and universities have religious affiliations. For students who wish to pursue ministerial or missionary training, the choice of a private college will likely be the better option. Many religious schools offer the broad spectrum of learning that a liberal arts school provides, mingled with the spiritual development of its students.
Character Development
Several private schools offer programs that not only focus on educational development, but character development as well. For example, one private Christian college in Southwest Missouri requires all incoming freshman to complete a two week character development course. During this two week program, new students are paired with two upperclassmen who are referred to as Character Camp Parents. The parents take their "kids" on volunteer assignments, scholarship essay writing competitions, seminars, concerts, and even an etiquette banquet. During the program, fun is every bit as much of the focus as work. And when the new freshmen complete the course, they are much more ready to hit the books, as they are equipped with the confidence of "knowing the ropes" of their particular campus.
These are just a few of the ways in which private colleges offer greater advantages to prospective students. But again, public schools are not without their benefits as well. Public schools often have a wider variety of degrees from which to choose, as well as top-notch athletic programs. Many factors must be weighed before deciding on which school to attend. If you decide that a private college is right for you, you are sure to obtain a quality education that will provide excellent academic and spiritual development that will prepare you for the rest of your life.
Learn more about this author, Sara W..
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No
Despite the oft-repeated adage "you get what you pay for," the priciest option is not always the best. Nowhere is this more true than in the world of American higher education.
While private education is undoubtedly better at the elementary and secondary levels, higher education is a different situation altogether. First, as far as reputation goes, there are plenty of state schools that far outshine their private counterparts. In the state of Illinois, for example, the prestigious University of Illinois elicits far more acclaim than many of the state's private schools. The University of California system is another example of a "public option" with a top-notch reputation. the University of Florida, the University of Michigan, and the University of Iowa, to name just a few, also possess the ability to impress. Indeed, nearly every state is home to at least one public university that is thought to produce better graduates than a private school in the same region.
Prestigious in their own right, the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings of "America's Best Colleges" always include public schools near the top of the list. In fact, throughout any ranking of top colleges and graduate programs, there are almost always a plethora of public universities.
Depending on where a student wishes to work and live after graduation, regional reputation can prove crucial to professional success. Many small, private colleges are well-known only in their immediate surroundings, whereas state schools' influence tends to extend throughout the state.
Of course, reputation isn't everything. There is a host of more tangible benefits that state schools provide. First, of course, is reduced cost. Private educations can sink students into insurmountable debt, often offering the same curriculums and courses as their public competitors. Besides actually costing less - often less than half the price of private schools - public colleges are usually located in low-cost-of-living college towns, or near the student's own home. They also tend to have less rigid requirements for living on-campus, so public students can save even more money by living outside the dorms.
Public schools also often have agreements with the state community colleges regarding transferability of credits. In many instances, if a student takes their general education requirements at a public community college, they are guaranteed to enter a state school with junior standing (saving lots of time and money in the process). If a student attends a community college and then tries to transfer to a private school, they'll often have to repeat some courses - courses that are not only similar to ones just taken in community college, but also much, much more expensive.
Aside from the substantial cost savings, public schools also provide the benefits that accompany their large size. From the vast array of student groups to join to the innumerable internship opportunities, state schools simply offer students more. Public schools also provide countless networking opportunities, which should relieve those students (and parents) who believe it's not what you know, but who you know.
Of course, at big state schools, no one is going to hold a student's hand and direct them to the countless opportunities that exist on public campuses. Students will have to demonstrate a lot of initiative to succeed - not unlike how things work in the "real world."
Speaking of reality, public schools offer students a larger dose of it than private school environments. State schools are incredibly diverse, with students from a wide array of socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and regional backgrounds. Since both the workplace and society require competence in dealing with diversity, what better place to start practicing than college itself?
The glossy brochures and generous alumni endowments found at private colleges are certainly tempting to prospective students and their families. However, both students and parents must realize the importance of practicality. Between tremendous savings and increased opportunities, public colleges are simply the smarter choice.
Learn more about this author, Robyn Keyster.
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