<p>I get the impression from reading many of these posts that --anyone who goes to colleges like this -will not fare well in the real world when they get out & look for a job. I think the only way my 5 children can go to College period is if they settle on a Commmunity College, or possible a State College. I am absolutely sure us as parents could not pay for all our children's education otherwise. We are low income but considered Middle income because husband makes little over $50,000. So really, what is wrong , in all of your opionions, with Community and State Colleges? Anyone on here go to these types of colleges and are happy with where thier education took them? Thanks so much. My Oldest son wants to be an Accountant.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with attending a community college and then going to a state school. The folks who post on this board are very focused on a few top schools. The whole college industry is sick with ratings and prestige. In the real world the strength and reputation of the program will open doors for you but then you have to perform.</p>
<p>I went to Cal State Hayward and graduated in 1986. My wife and I were young and had no money so we both put ourselves through school...she went to a community college and then finshed at Sonoma State and I went to CSUH for 4 years. </p>
<p>The business school at CSUH was strong (I understand it still is). I was a B+ student and I had job offers from 3 good firms upon graduation. There were small class sizes, all my professors knew me by name, and they were always available during office hours. In addition to reading guides etc I think a good way to judge a professional program is to see which firms recruit on campus.</p>
<p>My wife entered into respiratory therapy and later medical management and had the same positive results from her education.</p>
<p>I don't think anything is wrong with a public education. I have some scholarships and grants from UMD which makes my total college experience cost around 30,000 over 4 years which I will pay-off during and after college as I have 6000 in loans every year. My family doesn't make a lot of money so it makes sense for me. </p>
<p>Now most state schools aren't as good as the public schools, so that is an obvious reason but there are some that are amazing. However, there are some who would rather go to lower ranked private than a higher ranked public because of class size or my favorite, "its high school all over again". Many feel if they go to their state college it is just the same people all over but i don't see that being the case even though my high school is sending about 110 to UMCP. I don't care, its not like I hate my classmates and its not like I am not oing to get to know other classmates at college so what is the problem if I start off knowing 100?</p>
<p>I guess what I missed was the "college experience". CSUH was a commuter school so there wasn't much of a campus scene. I also think the liberal arts part of my college education was sorely lacking. 20 years later and I am a self employed CPA and we have been able to choose where we want to live and raise our family.</p>
<p>My D is going to college soon (she is a junior) and both of us can get caught up in the ratings game. Fit and focus are a lot more important than what a magazine says or the prevailing opinion on a website.</p>
<p>Good luck to you and your son. In my part of the world (northern California) there is a shortage of accounting professionals.</p>
<p>Now most state schools aren't as good as the public schools, so that is an obvious reason but there are some that are amazing. </p>
<p>Ummm...Aren't all state schools public? Isnt that what a state school means?</p>
<p>However, there are some who would rather go to lower ranked private than a higher ranked public because of class size or my favorite, "its high school all over again". Many feel if they go to their state college it is just the same people all over but i don't see that being the case even though my high school is sending about 110 to UMCP. I don't care, its not like I hate my classmates and its not like I am not oing to get to know other classmates at college so what is the problem if I start off knowing 100?</p>
<p>That's exactly how I feel about Penn State. I'd much rather go to Pitt, in a totally different environment with almost all new people, then a school where over 30% of my school will go to.</p>
<p>Nothing is wrong with state schools, it's just that this site is very Ivy-centric.</p>
<p>im with you jpod...the whole 10% of college bound seniors in my school basically migrate to TowsonU...there isnt a chance in hell id go there, just for that reason</p>
<p>I think cheapseats means the big public institutions like MD are wayy better than Frostburg State or Salisbury State</p>
<p>Yeah some kids in my grade are looking at Towson. Kinda crappy from what i've heard. Oh, and it's more like Salisbury Steak :P</p>
<p>ewww...I dont care for salisbury steak.
Towson, to me, is a cesspool. Concrete jungle. It may be b/c i live near there and they actually accept kids from my school, but I would only go there to play lacrosse.</p>
<p>Yeah, they have a good Lax team. I'm not a fan of the schools in MD. All the people i've met from UMD are weirdos. Atl is supposed to be sick for college. My couz is going to Savannah for college next year, so ill be there :)</p>
<p>People usually associate Comm. Colleges and State Colleges with an inability to be accepted anywhere else, but there are many state/comm. colleges where a person can recieve a great education, and there are many reasons that certain people may choose to attend these universities.</p>
<p>There isn't anything wrong with a single valid category of colleges/universities, it's usually the schools themselves, IMO.</p>
<p>UMD is meh...they raped me in admissions though. haha
im not a fan of them either.......I hope Atl is as good as many say it is. The Georgia state dorms are gonna be right across the street from mine, so im guessing thatll have some goodtimes</p>
<p>"Anyone on here go to these types of colleges and are happy with where thier education took them? Thanks so much. My Oldest son wants to be an Accountant."</p>
<p>I am in the honors program at a state university now, and will be transferring. (Somewhere. I just have to figure out where.) My reasons for transferring were not so much the strength of my curriculum--it was reasonably strong, courses were sufficiently challenging, professors were accessible and accomplished, etc--but because it is a poor fit, with a limited curriculum and very few resources for an individual with my interests. </p>
<p>I am interested in pursuing a doctorate upon graduation, and am particularly interested in the relationship between medicine and development economics. However, if I wanted to go on to professional school (as I had originally intended) and/or do something like accounting (like your son), I would see no reason to continue at my current university.</p>
<p>I assume by the so-called "bad" state colleges you mean 4th and 5th tier public schools - not the elites like Berkeley, UVA, Mich, Wisconsin, UNC, UCLA, and a bunch of other very good publics. Because, in many cases, an education from one of those schools carries MUCH more weight than that of a lesser known private school, due to its name recognition throughout the United States and the world. Just look at rankings from universities around the world (not to mention US News), all of them rank public ivies like Berkeley, UCLA, Mich, UVA in the top 20-25 most of the time.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with community college or state schools at all. However, this site is used by students who want to discuss in depth AP tests AFTER they've already taken the test. In other words, it is mainly very smart kids. That is why you have to take everything from CC with a grain of salt. Most of these kids have no business going to Community College as they are focused and have much academic success. Community college is fine if you are not ready to go away to college, did not work up to your potential in high school, want to save money, etc. Over a third of my grade goes to community college, both my parents went and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. The bottom line with community college is that if you have a strong academic record and are very focused, it will not be for you. </p>
<p>Now, public schools are different. However I disagree that there is a negative connotation associated with them. Most people hold UCB, UNC, William and Mary, Georgia Tech, UVA, Michigan, and all other public schools in the highest regard. </p>
<p>You mention that your son wants to be an accountant. University of Texas (a state school) has the best accounting program in the nation. </p>
<p>However, do not limit yourself to publics just because of the price tag of private schools. A friend of mine who is in a similar financial situation as you got into his top two schools: Stevens I. T. and Virginia Tech. The private school (S.I.T.) wound up costing less than VT, because many privates are much more generous with aid than publics. But simply school is what you make of it. Ted Kozinski got an Ivy League education and look how he turned out.... GL!</p>
<p>OverRunWithSons - If there is such a thing as giving you some comfort that lower tiered public colleges/universities produce fine educations and opportunities for the inquisitive, motivated student, read the posts from - paraphrased - "Can a top student be happy at a third tier school?" in the parents forum. Also, use the CC search function and read the threads on "honors colleges" and the various comments on these opportunities available at public universities at a relatively affordable price.</p>
<p>Of course, if your sons are doing well in high school but not quite "A" students, there are lots of excellent public universities of all sizes that may fit the bill (depending in what state you live in).</p>
<p>"What is so bad about 'Community Colleges' or 'State Colleges'...?"
-nothing</p>
<p>This is all new to me, most of the abbreviations on here, I have no idea what you are talking about. I do not know what a 1st tier- 2nd teir etc school even means. The schools I am thinking about for my son are Beaver County Community college in PA , or Butler Community College or Slippery Rock Univeristy-all in PA, all in driving Distance. How do I find out what teir these are?? My son is an A -B student, he could try harder and do better but chooses not too, he also does not care to be Rich or move away to get a good job, all he wants is to be able to afford a house in a decent school district, get married , raise a family, not be in massive debt from College, and be Independant at that. He is a Cross country runner and insists that the school he goes to has to have a Cross Country program, which I imagine Community Colleges do not ?? So from the replys I get on here, it sounds like the State Colleges would be just fine for someone like him. What is the difference between Public and state schools --confused by that one???</p>
<p>OverRunWithSons -</p>
<p>Community colleges and state schools are fine options. Nothing wrong with them at all. But I wouldn't count out some of the Ivies or other private schools that offer generous need-based financial aid. For example Harvard offers a full-ride that covers tuition, room, board, everything, for families earning less than $60K/year. It sounds as if you might well qualify for that. </p>
<p>Now getting into Harvard will still require top grades, test scores, and other achievements, but that option shouldn't be rejected out of hand for financial reasons. Many other private schools offer generous aid too. So check out those possibilities before you automatically head down the community college path.</p>
<p>If you have 5 kids and you make $50k believe me most top private schools will take your kids nearly for free. Trust me on this. At least apply to top schools and wait to see what aid package they give you. I'm not kidding. I can't emphasize enough how big of a mistake it would be to not at the least apply to these schools and wait for the fin aid package. And as all the kids get into college your aid should get bigger.</p>