Are The Top Privates Really That Much Better Than The Top Publics?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I was deferred ED from Columbia.
I've already been accepted to Michigan.</p>

<p>I'm thinking about applying to some of Columbia's peer schools too but is there really any reason for me to do so?
I think I'd be really happy at Michigan. Why waste my time filling out another twelve apps, if Michigan's so awesome?
People are telling me to try for Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Duke, Penn, etc.. because they are so convinced that these schools are better than Michigan.</p>

<p>However, what are the true advantages?
Smarter students?
Sure Duke has a higher SAT average than Michigan BUT Michigan is a much larger school and there are probably more really intelligent people at Michigan than Duke, as a whole anyway.</p>

<p>Would I really get a better undergraduate education from these schools than Michigan?
That is my main question.</p>

2

<p>A good student like you can get a great education at any of these schools. Michigan is a great school and it sounds like you'd be very happy there. IMO, the only reason to apply to other schools is if you're want the 'prestige' of saying that you go to an ivy league school. Or if there is a specific program at one of these schools that you're crazy about.</p>

<p>I've gone to 3 diffferent types of schools for 3 different degrees - small private, large public, and Ivy (wharton MBA). My father paid for my education at the small private. when I went to the large public for graduate school, I felt like he was 'gypped'. the large public had so much to offer.</p>

<p>One difference will be that Michigan will have a mix of economic levels, while the ivies are more likely to have a higher percentage of wealthy students and the accoutrements that go with it.</p>

3

<p>If you're so sure you'll like Michigan, why waste time and money on 5 or 6 more apps?</p>

4

<p>The difference between top privates and top publics isn't going to make or break your future. Ultimately it comes down to your ambitions, drive and capabilities. Whether to apply to those privates you mentioned depends on how well you handle disappointments and whether they will have a serious impact on your believes, since you obviously have a chance at gaining acceptance. Good luck.</p>

5

<p>Michigan is considered a public Ivy. It is a world-reknown institution. Congratulations for getting accepted. If you're looking at big universities, Michigan can't be beat.</p>

6

<p>"People are telling me to try for Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Duke, Penn, etc.. because they are so convinced that these schools are better than Michigan."</p>

<p>If you think you will be happy at Michigan I really suggest that you go there. Don't let the ill-informed opinions of others influence you.</p>

<p>Michigan is going to be a lot larger and less personal undergrad experience. Here in north America people see that as a con (which is kind of ridiculous, because i think it is a better way to become more independent), which is sad, and they tend to "rank" schools with this idea in mind.</p>

<p>When you take a step out of North America though, you find that opinions of schools drastically change. This is because undergraduate education is subjectively valued in the US by a stupid manner. In other countries/continents the only evidence people generally have to support their interpretations of the greatness of US universities is (with the exception of international alumni networks) graduate programs.</p>

<p>In the US most people have no idea what goes on in the graduate realm. But that's the kind of stuff that changes the world, and that's why public schools are often praised in foreign countries. Take the names Berkeley, Michigan, McGill, or UCLA to Europe, Asia, etc, and they will likely praise it over Duke or Brown (not to discredit those schools--just a few publics in the north america contribute so much more to the scientific, medical, and academic world).</p>

<p>It's sad how people in the US don't seem to understand (most of us in the US) what makes schools incredible.</p>

<p>So yeah, basically Michigan might not be the "desireable" elite academic experience in terms of smaller classes, profs that will hold your hand, etc. But the competition is going to be as cutthroat as it gets (which imo is awesome), and Profs. are frequently going to be some of the best known experts of their subjects in the world.</p>

7

<p>The only other college you may want to think about applying to is U of Chicago which, like Columbia , has the core, and is considered by most academics to be Columbia's equal. The advantage of a college like Columbia or Chicago over a large public U is the much smaller average class size, and the far greater attention you will get from professors as an undergraduate.</p>

8

<p>Perfectly stated BIGTWIX.</p>

9

<p>You're lucky that you were deferred and not outright rejected.</p>

<p>You should apply to a small number of peer schools, just to give yourself some room to make a choice.
You don't want to make a commitment too early.</p>

10

<p>Michigan has a stronger international reputation than Duke and many lesser Ivies. If you like Michigan, it will get you where you want to go and for far less $.</p>

11

<p>Best Litmus test for schools you should apply to:
If you got into [insert school here], would you go there instead of Michigan?
If so, apply. If not, don't waste your time, the AO's time, and your money.</p>

12

<p>If you really like Michigan go there. Technically the top privates are better, but it depends on fit. For example if your a chill type of person your not going to like Penn.</p>

13

<p>There are several schools of thought. In academic circles, the top publics are equal to the top privates. Recruiters seem to recruit heavily at a bunch of top universities, including top publics. I would say just about the only place where the top publics are generally not considered as good as the top privates is with high schoolers and not-so-educated adults who know enough to be dangerous. </p>

<p>If I were you, I would apply to a couple of "Big 5" schools (Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford or Yale) just for the hell of it. If Michigan is your cup of tea, check out Stanford.</p>

14

<p>As usual, I agree with Alexandre. Here's something else to consider - Your top students at Michigan will be the caliber of the top students at the Ivies and equivalents. But UMich will also have a large number of in-state students who would not be strong Ivy candidates, because UMich has a responsibility to serve the taxpayers of its own state that private schools do not. Does that mean that your experience there would be watered down? That's a personal call for you to make. But after 30 years in higher education, I've never heard anyone respond unenthusiastically regarding the excellence of UMich, and I've never known anyone who came out of there who wasn't wildly passionate about it.</p>

15

<p>The issue is less one of publics vs. privates, than one of individual schools. Each of the top public and private schools are different from each other, and different students would do better at different ones.</p>

16

<p>If you're asking whether you would get a better undergraduate education at Penn or Duke, then the answer is unequivocally yes. The top private schools have smaller classes, more intelligent students on a whole, more interaction with professors, better advising, etc. As far as international reputation goes, I think Michigan trumps every school besides HYP. As far as domestic reputation goes, Michigan is regarded as a top 25 school at best. Graduate programs will regard Michigan the same as the top private schools. However, the top IB/MC/PE firms will recruit more at the top privates than at a public like Michigan.</p>

<p>So, there's no clear-cut answer.</p>

17

<p>"I would say just about the only place where the top publics are generally not considered as good as the top privates is with high schoolers and not-so-educated adults who know enough to be dangerous." This is a quote from Alexandre. Take that into consideration with some of the posters who claim that certain schools are "unequivocally" better than others.</p>

18

<p>The question of “better” has no all-encompassing answer for all students. The real question is what colleges, private or public, are the best fits for you and your interests, both in and out of the classroom. The answers will vary dramatically from student to student, eg, some will find a large public ideal while others will find it awful. </p>

<p>Rather than ask private vs public or which school is best, think about the following questions and how important these factors are for you as you consider your undergraduate options:</p>

<ol>
<li> How strong are your peers going to be? In larger environments where the quality can be diluted, is there an Honors Program that can enhance the experience via smaller classes with students of similar strength? I would urge you to give this a lot of consideration as your relationships with your collegiate peers are potentially important for the rest of your life.<br></li>
<li> What is the size of the classroom in which you will learn and how does this impact your individual learning experience? How well will you get to know to your professors and how much interaction will you have in the classroom with your peers?</li>
<li> What is the faculty best known for? Is there an obvious and recognized institutional commitment to teaching excellence? Is the school a research institution with a strong reputation for graduate programs, especially in the academic world, but not really noted for its dedication to undergraduates? How do you feel about having classes taught/led by a Teaching Assistant? Is the reputation of the faculty in one specialty area important to you, even if you have no interest in that field of study?<br></li>
<li> What are the institutional resources and commitment to undergraduate student? In this stressed financial environment, this question has greater importance than ever.</li>
</ol>

<p>I can add to this list, but it should be obvious that there is no single answer to these questions as different folks will prefer different things and find them in different environments. This does not mean, however, that all environments are of equal quality. They are not, but understanding the qualitative differences and how they affect the academic experience and whether they are important or relevant to you is what the college search is all about. </p>

<p>IMO, you can satisfy your academic needs at a great, great number of colleges in the USA, but the experience out of the classroom will differ dramatically depending on the schools that you choose. So, don’t forget to compile a list of questions for yourself about how you’ll spend those 150 hours per week when you are not in class….:)</p>

19

<p>The top privates are clearly better than the top publics in terms of the overall quality of the students they enroll. But, the top publics are very large and probably could contain a student body the size and caliber of Harvard's. Nevertheless, I prefer the climate/culture/atmosphere at the elite privates. The top publics are a little too rah-rah, not enough intellectual. I think the elite privates excel in the intangible qualities, qualities you can feel but which are difficult to quantify.</p>

20

<p>Academically -- as undergraduate institutions -- Yes.</p>