<p>I'm particularly interested in perspectives from Florida schools, but also in the discussion in general.
As states fund less of the state school expenses, (and I am sure there are other factors), It seems I am hearing more stories of how it can be very difficult to actually get the classes you want or need in some of the state schools. I don't know if this is the case in the private schools as well, but I would suspect that their funding is more stable, making this less of an issue.<br>
What do you think? Is this an real problem in the state schools? Is it less so in the private schools? Should it factor heavily into college selection?</p>
<p>The issue is not state schools vs. private, but specific school vs. specific school or even department vs. department. Some smaller departments don’t offer all of the courses every year let alone every semester.</p>
<p>It is as Happymom says. However, my personal experience has been that at my son’s small school if a kid really wants or needs a course, an exception can be made for the head count. Not so with the bigger schools. Einstein couldn’t get into a full physics class the way some of them are run, and they have to be that way because if they start making exceptions, the department could be overrun. </p>
<p>But I know a number of students who transferred from their smaller schools because when they chose a field of study, their school just did not have the resources and classes that a larger one would have. My neighbor loved Loyola College but when you want to go into Graphic Arts, it cannot compete with the offerings of many larger schools.</p>
<p>Also…</p>
<p>It is a myth that private colleges are more financially stable than public colleges. The vast majority of private colleges have little or no endowment. The stay alive and solvent through tuition revenues alone. 30 fewer students in a given year might mean a budget shortfall of $500,000 or more.</p>
<p>[Iowa’s</a> Small Colleges Scrap for Students and Survival - Administration - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“Iowa’s Small Colleges Scrap for Students and Survival”>Iowa’s Small Colleges Scrap for Students and Survival)</p>
<p>Even LAC’s with decent endowments are cutting:
[University</a> Revises Budget: Restructuring Aimes for Sustainability | Megaphone](<a href=“http://southwestern.edu/su_blogs/megaphone/2011/10/15/budget-article/]University”>http://southwestern.edu/su_blogs/megaphone/2011/10/15/budget-article/)</p>
<p>Many states have cut classes to where 5 and 6 years is the norm to graduate. Good private schools still graduate the vast majority in 4 years. Kids with lots of AP credits can typically get out of state schools in 4 years. Check graduation stats for your specific schools.</p>