Objective advice needed. Am I making the right call?

Parents Forum
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<p>I need a bit of advice from people who aren't in the midst of all of this. My peers and parents aren't being very helpful right now. Maybe the answer to this is really obvious, but I think my perspective has been somewhat warped by the people around me.</p>

<p>I'm currently trying to decide between two colleges that I've been accepted to. One is a private Women's LAC (not HYP level or anything, obviously, but it's quite respectable) and the other is a large, but very well ranked (especially for the program I'm interested in) flagship school in my state (University of Washington). </p>

<p>Now, to be honest... I like the UW better. My ideal major is a health sciences field (and not only is the UW notable for its HS program, but this particular program is not only accredited but in the top 5 in the country), it's buckets more affordable than the LAC and I wouldn't be going into too much debt, and I just genuinely love the school. It's always been on my "short list" of colleges. This women's college is absolutely wonderful, to be sure, but I'm just not as excited about the prospect of attending as I am the UW.</p>

<p>The only problem is that I'm surrounded by people who're acting like I'm mentally challenged for even THINKING about picking a state school over a private one. I've been told by many people that I will "be at a severe disadvantage" at a public school, that I "just don't understand how things are at a state school" and have been subject to many very condescending statements and judgments about the general inferiority of public colleges.</p>

<p>Basically, I need some objective advice: would I really be passing up a huge opportunity by going to my state flagship? Will the lack of an, arguably, more prestigous private college degree really hurt me when I'm trying to get into grad school/get a job? I can't figure out if I'm being overly idealistic or emotional about my decision or if I'm just surrounded by elitists who only care about a fancy name.</p>

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<p>Caitie, it sounds like you have good reasons for liking UW...and YOU are the one going to college next year. If the school has programs you are interested in, and you love it, and you can afford it...and you want to go there...than go there.</p>

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<p>Caitie I just want to reinforce thumper. It's your choice choose what you think will make you the happiest!</p>

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<p>Uw, Uw, Uw!!!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Basically, I need some objective advice: would I really be passing up a huge opportunity by going to my state flagship? Will the lack of an, arguably, more prestigous private college degree really hurt me when I'm trying to get into grad school/get a job? I can't figure out if I'm being overly idealistic or emotional about my decision or if I'm just surrounded by elitists who only care about a fancy name.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>As UW has one of the top programs in the field that interests you, I fail to see how attending could possibly be a disadvantage when it comes time to for grad school and/or jobs.</p>

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<p>A big public school often offers a lot more possibilities than a small private school. More options of things to study, activities to be a part of, research, etc. etc. etc. A small school can be very limiting in many ways. </p>

<p>University of Washington is a great school I wouldn't second guess AT ALL a decision to attend there. You may not be pampered and coddled in the same way you might be at a fancy private LAC, but do you really need that hand-holding? Sounds to me like you don't.</p>

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<p>If you look at USNWR or any other rating system, you will see that a number of Public Universities are in the top 50, even the top 25. There are also quite a few private colleges that are considered third and fourth tier. Not that rankings tell the whole story, but clearly private colleges are not automatically better. Go where you want to go and hopefully you will meet some less snobby friends there.</p>

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<p>caitie. There is more than one path up the mountain. (I just said that to someone in a P.M., too. ;)) Go where you want to go.</p>

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<p>It takes some strength of character and a sense of what you really want - both of which you seem to have plenty of - to get past what I call the "cocktail party method" of choosing schools. That is the method which other people are pressuring you with right now - name recognition, eliteness, etc.</p>

<p>Luckily, while this type of reaction and comment will never disappear from your radar screen, it will die down considerably. This month will be the peak of when you hear that kind of thinking. If you can get through it, knowing what YOU want, you will suffer less of this type of second-guessing as time goes on. That has been my observation.</p>

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<p>Try to read over the post you created for this thread and pretend you are reading someone else's post. </p>

<p>You will see that all your answers are right there. You have sensibly thought this out and your answer is right there. </p>

<p>"There is more than one path up the mountain" Priceless!</p>

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<p>Go with your heart (and it sounds like your head is in the same place as your heart). As the graduate of a "respectable" women's LAC, I have been mighty impressed by the big state universities my S has looked at. I've really changed my attitude. And most of all, I see clearly that my son isn't me. He'll thrive in a big place, and it sounds like you will, too.</p>

<p>And I love the responses to your question! The "cocktail party method"--finally I have a way to describe what's been annoying me!</p>

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<p>Caitie, I have to agree with the other posters here - follow your instincts. You obviously prefer UW, and you haven't really stated any benefits to be gained by attending the LAC - so do what's best for you.</p>

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<p>All the advice given here is, as usual, spot-on.</p>

<p>One practical component I can add is this--my D is a biology major who chose a private university because of the massive scholarship she received.
While she loves her school, one area of disappointment has been the offerings of their health sciences program. In a larger university, her options in terms of classes and specialities would have been vast. She has had to patch together courses, including summer school elsewhere, to meet the requirements of a graduate program she plans to attend.</p>

<p>One VERY REAL downside to a smaller school is fewer options. Unless you know exactly what area of health sciences you plan to study and you know for a fact the smaller women's school has the curriculum you will need, the larger school may in fact be a wiser choice. </p>

<p>One other thing, in a smaller school (and even larger ones), just because a course is listed doesn't mean that it will be offered very often. At D's school, some classes she thought she could take were only offered every couple of years. And ultimately, she would have conflicts with times offered, etc.</p>

<p>A large university will have many, many more classes in health sciences.
That doesn't mean they will necessarily be better, but there will be more to choose from and opportunities to focus on a particular area, ie molecular, neuroscience, etc,.</p>

<p>You sound like you know what you want. It's helpful to listen to other opinions and consider information thoughtfully....we can always learn from others. That said, it's your decision, your career, your life.</p>

<p>Keep us posted on what you decide and best of luck to you!</p>

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<p>Caitie - I completely agree with the other posters. Follow your heart and your instincts. This is your college experience - not your peers or parents. reading your post you sound so excited about UW - that is a wonderful way to feel.</p>

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<p>One more vote for UW.</p>

<p>I want to add something: I have a daughter at a women's college that is affiliated with a larger university. I also have a son who started out at a LAC, but dropped out & later transferred to a state university. The issue of overall resources in terms of course selection and the classes you want is very important. It will not seem particularly important during your first year when you are going through the adjusting-to-college phase and have to take a lot of introductory and general ed courses. But the further along you get, the more you will appreciate the size of the course catalog and the flexibility of scheduling that a larger university offers -- and the bottom line is that if you are not sure whether the small LAC offers the course of study you want now, that deficit will only get worse as time goes on. </p>

<p>Yes, LAC's can be wonderful. But they can also feel very small and constraining if you are not absolutely sure you want to be there.</p>

<p>Oh, I'm a graduated of public universities (one UC campus for undergrad, another for law school) and I never regretted my choice for a minute. And my daughter, who is now at Barnard, applied to UW as her "love-thy-safety" choice, but unfortunately we discovered too late that UW does not give any grant aid whatsoever to out of staters, and we couldn't have afforded the OOS tuition. But its a great school that down the line may have far more name recognition, and thus mean more for your career or graduate work, than your "respectable" LAC.</p>

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<p>Great advice above, so I'll just add that for health sciences, UW is a fantastic choice. You'll have access to a huge array of interesting classes and programs. UW is very big on interdisciplinary work, so there is a constant parade of interesting and innovative collaborations going on among various departments and schools at UW. It's a very exciting place to be right now.</p>

<p>Just look at it this way: if it were not your own state university, you'd probably feel that it is an honor to be admitted, and those who surround you would probably react quite differently. </p>

<p>If you decide to go to UW, try applying to the college or departmental honors programs, which I believe go a long way toward giving you some of the benefits of a LAC. And be sure to live on campus your first year, just as you would if you were going away to college. It sounds like you know your own mind, and would make the most of all the opportunities UW offers.</p>

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<p>I personally kind of enjoy the look on snobby people's faces when I tell them the impressive schools I've applied to, the good ones I've gotten into, and the alright one I'm leaning toward attending.</p>

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<p>My older D is a recent UW grad in neuroscience. She was able to work in a lab her last 2 years doing increasingly independent research. Awesome opportunities for those who are mature enough to seek them out. Less hand-holding than at a small school but many more choices. This is hard for me to say, since I went to the other great Washington State school, but UW has world class health sciences.</p>

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<p>Wow. I really can't express how thankful I am for all of these replies. I see now that I need to get over my insecurities and self-doubt and just go with my gut, as hokey as that sounds. :) I truly appreciate all of your kind words and advice.</p>

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<p>caitie, you've received a lot of good advice above.</p>

<p>Let me also add that the supposed prestige of the women's college is probably offset by the fact that lots of people have never even heard of it. You would be surprised, I think, by how many people don't know the names of smaller colleges. Given that you prefer UW anyway, I don't think you're giving up anything in terms of prestige/name recognition by going there. </p>

<p>But even if that were not true, going with your gut would still be the right decision here, as so many people have told you.</p>