by Sara W.

Created on: August 16, 2009

Private 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.

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