<p>^I do not believe that there is any difference in challenge in science classes. it depends much more on strudent than most people realize. I base it not only on my D’s experience (who graduated #1 from private prep. school and was extremely challenge and had to work very hard at her state UG, where she was on full tuition merit scholarship), I based it on opinions of many other very top caliber kids who for various reasons went to state schools. Perception that state is inferior and less challenging is incorrect IMO. However, if name of UG is of utmost importance and you have unlimited resources, why not, go for it.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>your D’s state school is ranked MUCH higher than ETSU. Miami-Ohio is ranked #79, which is very good. Any school that is ranked in the top 120 or so is going to be fine. </p>
<p>*Perception that state is inferior and less challenging is incorrect *</p>
<p>My concern is not that ETSU is a state school. My concern is that it is a lowly ranked state school. My own son is at a state school…that isn’t the issue.</p>
<p>My concern is that a school ranked below 200 isn’t going to offer the level of sciences needed nor will it have the pre-med advising that is needed. </p>
<p>I don’t care if a school is public or private. However, when you start going waaaay down in rank, it’s appropriate to question whether the school’s science programs will be good enough.</p>
<p>^But we did not know any ranks when she decided to go there. She felt comfy, loved pretty campus. Later on we have discovered that it also ranked #2 in UG teaching (for 2 years now) and D’s Zoology department was in top 10 in a country in 2008.<br>
However, as I have mentioned, I have heard from other very top caliber HS kids that their much lower ranked state UG was not walk in a park at all. In fact, they were shocked by challenge of science classes. These are kids who did not blink an eye to get straight A’s at HS. They (and their families) just decided to stay at home and go to local college, but had to work extremely hard there, huge adjustment.</p>
<p>But we did not know any ranks when she decided to go there.</p>
<p>that doesn’t matter…you were attracted to the school because of what it offered.</p>
<p>And, because it offered quality, it is well-ranked. If it were a poorly ranked school, you may not have known the number, but you likely would have noticed that the school was not “up to par” in some respects. :)</p>
<p>You were able to discern quality without knowing the ranking. :)</p>
<p>And, Miami-O offers a full-campus experience of activities, social life, etc. Students like to enjoy their undergrad years as well. </p>
<p>have heard from other very top caliber HS kids that their much lower ranked state UG was not walk in a park at all.</p>
<p>I’m not suggesting that they were a walk in the park. I know that UA-Huntsville (which is ranked about 179) is a school that is known for science and engineering…so it has tough Gen Chem, Bio, OChem and other science courses. But, some don’t want to go there because it’s largely a commuter campus with little campus life. </p>
<p>If unranked ETSU is strong in sciences, then it’s fine for pre-med. That’s something that the OP needs to look into.</p>
<p>And…if the OP cares about a “full college experience,” he may want to look at that, too. </p>
<p>I also know many kids who refuse to go to UAB for undergrad (but WANT to go there for med school) because UAB is largely a medical school/center with a university attached…little campus spirit, etc. It also is largely a commuter campus.</p>