<p>Here's my dilemma: Once I graduate from high school, I'd like to attend a public state university without having to stress out my parents by going to an expensive private school that they probably can't afford. However, my parents want me to pursue the highest colleges, regardless of the tuition. They also want me to apply to a private school because they have high expectations of me, and they see going to a state school as settling for an average school. I see where they're coming from, but I believe a public state school, especially the one I'm interested in (UT Austin) would offer me a good education as well. So who do you think is "right"?</p>
<p>you should go for ut austin and any college just as good or better you should also pursue</p>
<p>Do not rule out colleges based on finances at the application level. After you get your acceptances and financial aid packages/scholarship offers in the spring, then make your decision. Based on income and/or talents some schools offer very generous $$$, and you cannot know that before you apply.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter what you’re parents think to be honest. It’s your life, and you’re the one who will have to live with the decisions you make. While you’ll likely have wonderful opportunities in life wherever you go, it’s best to go with what YOU want, not anybody else.</p>
<p>Just my two cents.</p>
<p>^ Although true, it is your parents who are paying for the schooling.</p>
<p>I wish my parents felt that way. Its the exact opposite for me. I want to go to out-of-state state schools and private schools, but my parents want me to go in-state or any place that accepts the HOPE (I live in Georgia). I want UT Austin or FSU and my parents will only pay for UGA, GSU, MTSU, and places like that.</p>
<p>I’m going to apply to where ever I want and see what kind of aid I get, but I doubt it will do much. Good luck.</p>
<p>I’m sorry but since when is UT just an average school? It sounds like your parents have a certain elitist, anti-public school sentiment that is just plain ignorant. I’m sure if you posed this question on the UT boards, they’d be able to provide ample evidence as to how UT is one of the most prestigious colleges in the nation and how one could easily obtain a comparable education there as they would at a higher ranked private school.</p>
<p>Apply only to schools you like. If you truly like UT (and get in) more than any of the other schools you get into, even if those include HYPS, you should go to UT, because you’ll flourish where you feel you belong.</p>
<p>Do you know me? I have almost exactly the same situation.</p>
<p>I would be happy with UT-Austin. Its a party school AND has excellent engineering program AND its cheap. What more do you want? :p</p>
<p>But also apply for OOS colleges. You can fight this battle once you have your choices.
Good luck.</p>
<p>I honestly would think you are right. If you’re trying to help your parents financially, then I would elect to choose public state universities. With that being said, you can still apply to private colleges to see if they will give you more aid and at that point rule out whether or not it’s financially feasible.</p>
<p>Just so that you’re aware, if you have any direct questions about UT, come visit us at - [The</a> University of Texas at Austin - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-texas-austin/]The”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-texas-austin/)</p>
<p>UT-Austin is average?!!??!?!?!?! Tell your parents that they’re crazy and UT-Austin is a very high ranked school and you will still be getting a fantastic education for a fraction of the cost.</p>
<p>Ooovoo, your parents mean well and they are willing to sacrifice a more comfortable life for the next 4 years to give you what they think is a better education.</p>
<p>Why not apply to UT, a couple of other state schools and some “reach” private universities that you might consider attending.</p>
<p>see what happens.</p>
<p>attempt to visit the colleges - you would be surprised how one visit might change your mind about things and how a private school might be cheaper for your parents because of scholarships.</p>
<p>either way, in UT, your parents will eventually realize that you would attend one of the best schools in the country if you decide not to go to a private school.</p>
<p>remember - they mean well.</p>
<p>[for the record, some of the brightest and most successful businessmen that I know are Longhorns - don’t let anyone know, however, it might “tarnish” what CC’ers think of my HYPSM beliefs]</p>
<p>Sounds like compromise time. Negotiate some schools for you and some for them. When the acceptances and rejections, if any, are all over, you will have a financial offer from each school and that is a biggie. Just defer the argument for now, by offering to apply to some they like. You have till next spring to evaluate acceptances.</p>
<p>It does not sound like you are in this postition, but realize that my daughter actually got a better offer from private schools than our own state flagship, UC Berkeley. While it killed me a little for her not to attend UCB, the offer from Brown was with no loans, so her away desire was backed up by the package.</p>
<p>The other thing by going to a private college is that it is smaller. So you don’t have to have massive large classes usually and get lost in the herd. By upper division, I suppose it evens out in your department. But it is a luxury to go private and not everyone can or should do it.</p>
<p>I know now that my daughter’s college list had several that were my picks, not hers, but at least they would have been there if hers hadn’t worked out.</p>
<p>Edit to add: I think UT Austin is terrific</p>
<p>I agree that UT Austin is an excellent university and I wouldn’t be down on it due to any perceived lack of quality. As a parent however, I would be down on it due to its size - 38,000 undergraduates and over 50,000 students in all. Their concern can be viewed as one of personal attention vs. anonymity just as much as academic rigor.</p>
<p>Probably some of the best universities are private (MIT, Harvard, U penn, Princeton to name some). But public universities are as good as most private ones. </p>
<p>UT Austin for instance is a very good choice. Explore some more options among public universities. Plus, in undergraduate level, don’t get to hung up on the rankings. So go ahead with you choice</p>
<p>btw,</p>
<p>you can also try private universities and apply for financial aid. If you are lucky you might get a generous amount of aid. So it would solve your finance issues and your parents would be satisfied. </p>
<p>Though i would suggest public colleges, there is no harm in applying to private ones. Just apply and see if you get enough financial aid or not.</p>
<p>What’s the *real *reason you are interested in UT? I guess it’s possible that you’re really concerned about your parents’ finances, but as others have pointed out, that may not really be an issue. Be honest with yourself.</p>
<p>Not entirely the same, but many parents in my region are concerned by a 17 year old wanting to attend Penn State. Penn State is a great academic institution, however it is also well known for partying. I know more than 1 set of parents who did not want their kid at Penn State’s main campus for freshman year because of worry the freedom and party atmosphere would overshadow the academics.</p>
<p>As a parent, at this stage I’d be all for compromise of applying to UT and applying to a school of parents choosing. Many perceptions can change between now and May – save the arguing for final decisions. Meanwhile, agree to apply to schools of their choosing if they visit UT.</p>
<p>Do your homework on UT – come up with reasons beyond price. Cite certain courses/profs, research opportunities, etc. for wanting to attend.</p>
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<p>The thing is, we don’t know the OPs grades, but if they do have the kind of grades to be competitive for admissions to Top 20 schools, they should be able to get into one of the honors programs i.e. BHP, Plan II, Engineering and so on, in which they’d receive more personal attention and could take more rigorous honors courses.</p>
<p>When it comes to size, you can make an argument as to how it’s good and how it’s also bad.</p>