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State School or Ivy League?
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pvreditor Original Post: Nov 10 '06,  8:55 am           Reply
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State School or Ivy League?

Which gives you the best education for the money: a state college or an Ivy League/other prestigious university? There are great arguments both ways. What do you think and why?

If it was me or my kids (of which I have none), I would do the state college route. I firmly believe that the quality of the education depends mostly on the student. The more dedicated the student is to learning, the better education the student gets. Dedicated students can be found at all kinds of colleges, all of them getting good educations.

Anyway, just my thoughts. What are yours?

--Bob

   
chelledun Posted: Nov 10 '06,  9:05 am           Reply
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RE: State School or Ivy League?

I went to a state college for undergrad (Purdue) and I go to a private school for law school. Without question, I received a better education at the state school, and enjoyed the atmosphere much more.

That's just anecdotal, but my experience has definitely shown me that a more expensive school doesn't necessarily offer a better education.

Michelle

   
pvreditor Posted: Nov 10 '06,  2:48 pm (Updated: Nov 10 '06,  2:49 pm)           Reply
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RE: State School or Ivy League?

Quote: chelledun
I went to a state college for undergrad (Purdue) and I go to a private school for law school. Without question, I received a better education at the state school, and enjoyed the atmosphere much more.

Interesting. What about your education at your present school does not compare favorably with Purdue? Are the class schedules less convenient? Faculty less available? Administration more beaurocratic? Can you comment on this or will that put you in an uncomfortable position? (I don't mean to denigrate Purdue, as I consider it a fine school.)

Incidentally, the best college teachers I had were at community colleges. (And I took classes at three different community colleges.) The community college professors were simply better teachers than the professors at the four-year school I attended. All were state schools, by the way.

--Bob
   
three_ster Posted: Nov 11 '06,  6:16 pm           Reply
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Post: 86903
RE: State School or Ivy League?

I think it would be hard for someone who didn't attend both to be able to give an honest answer.... but I did attend a state school, and felt that I came away with a very good education. I think a lot of the time it comes from how much effort you want to put into your learning, mixed with a little bit of luck. No matter what school you end up going to, a lot of importance comes down to how well you learn under a particular system/set of professors.

--Ryan (three_ster)

   
chelledun Posted: Nov 14 '06,  7:17 pm (Updated: Nov 14 '06,  7:18 pm)           Reply
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RE: State School or Ivy League?

Quote: pvreditor
Interesting. What about your education at your present school does not compare favorably with Purdue? Are the class schedules less convenient? Faculty less available? Administration more beaurocratic? Can you comment on this or will that put you in an uncomfortable position? (I don't mean to denigrate Purdue, as I consider it a fine school.)

--Bob


Just a few things...

In my experience, there is typically a greater diversity of students at a state school, as well as greater willingness to change things. I heard much less of, "if you don't like X, you should have gone somewhere else!" in undergrad. Personally, I view willingness to change as a positive, although some might value tradition more. I also found the important people (deans, etc.) were surprisingly easier to approach and speak with at my state school.

My preference for my state school over my private school also simply has to do with the atmosphere. I like big campuses, college towns, and the type of shops and restaurants that have built up around the campuses of most state schools. I also like having lots of options. I lived in a sorority at Purdue, but I could easily have lived in a dorm or apartment within easy walking distance to class. My current school does not have apartments for married students within walking distance, so I have to drive and feel more disconnected. This means I am very unlikely to return to school at night to study or meet wtih other students. These comments are, of course, just personal preferences having to do with my two specific schools and my personality.

Michelle
   
meagandowney Posted: Jul 13 '08,  6:47 pm           Reply
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Post: 193696
RE: State School or Ivy League?

Quote: chelledun
Just a few things...

In my experience, there is typically a greater diversity of students at a state school, as well as greater willingness to change things. I heard much less of, "if you don't like X, you should have gone somewhere else!" in undergrad. Personally, I view willingness to change as a positive, although some might value tradition more. I also found the important people (deans, etc.) were surprisingly easier to approach and speak with at my state school.

My preference for my state school over my private school also simply has to do with the atmosphere. I like big campuses, college towns, and the type of shops and restaurants that have built up around the campuses of most state schools. I also like having lots of options. I lived in a sorority at Purdue, but I could easily have lived in a dorm or apartment within easy walking distance to class. My current school does not have apartments for married students within walking distance, so I have to drive and feel more disconnected. This means I am very unlikely to return to school at night to study or meet wtih other students. These comments are, of course, just personal preferences having to do with my two specific schools and my personality.

Michelle
Bumping back on topic.
   
jsgoddess Posted: Jul 20 '08,  1:03 pm           Reply
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Post: 195815
RE: State School or Ivy League?

Quote: pvreditor
Which gives you the best education for the money: a state college or an Ivy League/other prestigious university? There are great arguments both ways. What do you think and why?

If it was me or my kids (of which I have none), I would do the state college route. I firmly believe that the quality of the education depends mostly on the student. The more dedicated the student is to learning, the better education the student gets. Dedicated students can be found at all kinds of colleges, all of them getting good educations.

Anyway, just my thoughts. What are yours?

--Bob

   
pvreditor Posted: Jul 23 '08,  10:37 am           Reply
Reviews written: 393
Member since: May 31 '02
moderator in Cars, Home & Garden, Musical Equipment
Post: 196232
RE: State School or Ivy League?

Quote: chelledun
Just a few things...

In my experience, there is typically a greater diversity of students at a state school, as well as greater willingness to change things. I heard much less of, "if you don't like X, you should have gone somewhere else!" in undergrad. Personally, I view willingness to change as a positive, although some might value tradition more. I also found the important people (deans, etc.) were surprisingly easier to approach and speak with at my state school.

My preference for my state school over my private school also simply has to do with the atmosphere. I like big campuses, college towns, and the type of shops and restaurants that have built up around the campuses of most state schools. I also like having lots of options. I lived in a sorority at Purdue, but I could easily have lived in a dorm or apartment within easy walking distance to class. My current school does not have apartments for married students within walking distance, so I have to drive and feel more disconnected. This means I am very unlikely to return to school at night to study or meet wtih other students. These comments are, of course, just personal preferences having to do with my two specific schools and my personality.

Thanks for the thoughtful answer, Michelle.

--Bob
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