<p>If you want to do health sciences here in WA state, UW will get you MUCH MUCH farther than any other school.</p>
<p>I <em>know</em> this! It's only in Washington that people consider my MIT degree a handicap--they'd much rather I'd gone to UW.</p>
<p>Caitie, to put all the great advice you've received on this thread in a larger context--when making big decisions, it is very hard for young people (and some not-so-young people!) to trust a "gut" reaction. However, as many of us get older, we realize that a "gut" reaction is nothing more than the result of your conscious and unconcious brain processing your interests, proclivities, strengths, weaknesses, preferences and goals and spitting out what is really a considered decision.</p>
<p>Definitely as I have gotten older I obsess much less about decisions and more readily trust my "gut". DH and I have tried to teach this to our kids--they both have good instincts and we encourage them to give a lot of credence to what they sometimes think is an irrational decision but what WE know is coming from the "gut".</p>
<p>This analysis works, not only for choosing a college to attend, but also in assessing the quality of personal relationships, job selections, you name it.</p>
<p>Best of luck at UW!</p>
<p>That is the best definition of a "gut" feeling I have ever read. Thank you for your insight.</p>
<p>
[quote]
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.
[/quote]
And what are the credentials of the people spouting their opinions? Are they experts in your chosen field familiar with the programs at the respective colleges? Are they experts in academia? Or might they be fellow HS students who have never attended college and know nothing about your field?</p>
<p>As the others have said, go where YOU feel you have the best fit environmentally, for you chosen field, and financially. </p>
<p>Also as others have said, large research universities afford certain opportunities in research labs that might not be present at smaller colleges and they also tend to offer many more course and major choices.</p>
<p>Just to present a slightly different issue: I think one of the big advantages of a LAC is the small class size. Yes, the offerings are more limited but classes are not hundreds of people packed into a lecture hall. Which isn't to say that you shouldn't go to the big state school, maybe just to say be sure you have considered all of the pros and cons of each choice.</p>
<p>Katie too.</p>
<p>One more vote for UW. I will admit that I am biased in that I would choose the lowest overall cost alternative for undergraduate school,which in this case would be your state university. I just don't see the benefit of paying an extra $30,000 a year for any LAC.</p>
<p>I am trying to recall the quote from "Self-Reliance" - having the courage to say aloud what you think privately - you are well on your way to being an adult.</p>
<p>You know what you have to do.
Go buy yourself a UW sweatshirt.</p>
<p>Can you tell us what attracted you to these widely different schools? I think UW sounds terrific for you - just not sure what drove your original interest in a smaller LAC.
My daughter recently visited Agnes Scott and Georgia Tech. She is interested in their 3/2 program. She is looking for small classes initially before moving to a larger university.</p>
<p>YOU are the only one who knows what is right for you. Go where you want to go. And enjoy!!</p>
<p>Thank you all again. I am now officially enrolled. :)</p>
<p>Shelley: I just applied to colleges that I loved (for various reasons). I wasn't attracted to either LACs or large state schools specifically, but formed favorites on a case-to-case basis.</p>
<p>DITTO! Thank you!</p>
<p>I've put dg5052's remarks below . . . I don't know how to do the highlighting. This should be in a thread all by itself!</p>
<p>"However, as many of us get older, we realize that a "gut" reaction is nothing more than the result of your conscious and unconcious brain processing your interests, proclivities, strengths, weaknesses, preferences and goals and spitting out what is really a considered decision.</p>
<p>Definitely as I have gotten older I obsess much less about decisions and more readily trust my "gut". DH and I have tried to teach this to our kids--they both have good instincts and we encourage them to give a lot of credence to what they sometimes think is an irrational decision but what WE know is coming from the "gut".</p>
<p>This analysis works, not only for choosing a college to attend, but also in assessing the quality of personal relationships, job selections, you name it."</p>