<p>Our girls were bright from very early age, and we had friends who thought we were crazy for sending them to public schools, especially for high school. But I thought differently. We basically had a choice between private high school + public college or public high school + private college. We couldn’t afford both. Our savings would be depleted by high school if we went private with that, leaving not enough to pay for a good private college.</p>
<p>We chose public high school + private college. The thinking being that we would be involved and on hand to help with and supplement whatever we thought was lacking from their elementary and high school educations. But for college they would likely be hundreds or even thousands of miles away, and the education would be almost entirely up to whatever the college could provide. </p>
<p>It has worked out fine so far. Our local public schools of mediocre reputation were still good enough to get them into good colleges. And both girls love their college experience and education.</p>
<p>Re post #157: You’ve just proven you don’t even know the high schools in your own system. I was referring to a high school located in downtown Dallas, part of the Dallas ISD – definitely not Plano.</p>
<p>You are correct, of course. (aren’t you always) She moved schools from Shepton in Plano, where she lives, to the Dallas Arts Magnet, Booker T. Washington. Booker T is not exactly representative of the Dallas schools. And good luck getting into it!
(Note- I don’t live in Dallas anymore)</p>
<p>Well, dragonlady- the title of the thread is “What’s wrong with state universities?” I don’t see a whole lot wrong with UVA, UT (assume you mean Texas) or Michigan- especially in you are in-state. Maybe you do. Maybe these schools would feel too big for a particular student. </p>
<p>Seems like you expect those of us who had the resources to make certain choices to apologize for that. I don’t get the defensiveness…</p>
<p>Please lets get back to the original thread. State universities vs others. Flagship UV, UT, etc or not, lets get back to the normal kids. The original thread was “What’s wrong with state schools”. The answer should be that it’s not much, depending on your state.</p>
<p>Frankly I don’t know much about “normal” or “average” kids, I only had to deal with my own, given their own abilities and objectives and our own resources and situations. Whether they were “normal” or not. For different kids, with different parents, in different circumstances, maybe everythig would have been different. I haven’t thought about that life, only the life I’ve had. I was not trying to educate an “average” I was trying to do best I could by my particular kids.</p>
<p>But if my kids are off-topic, and the needs of someone else’s kids are the topic, so be it.</p>
<p>A good thing to remember is that kids are all unique, and colleges are, too. Yes, there are certain general categories of schools, but just like kids who are put into categories: jocks, nerds, etc in high school… if you look at the group from the outside, it may seem that the kids are all same, but if you take the time to look at each kid, you realize no two are alike.</p>
<p>People can lump all institutions into categories (public, private, LAC, first tier, third tier, tech school) and assume every school in a category is the same, but best to see the traits of each school (regardless of label) and find a good match for each individual kid.</p>
<p>I’m confused, dragonlady. Are “normal” kids supposed to go to the State U, or are “normal” kids supposed to go to private schools because they aren’t assertive and resourceful enough to navigate through the State U and find their opportunities? Now I am breaking out in a cold sweat because I don’t know if my kids are “normal” or not. I’m thinking probably not, but…</p>
<p>I have plenty of friends and neighbors who have sons and daughters in ivy or selective privates. Some have lots of money…some don’t and are getting terrific aid. For the most part, there are no tensions, I support their choices…in fact I have known some of these kids since pre-school and I’m very proud of them! </p>
<p>Our state flagship in PA has it’s pluses and minuses. It’s huge. It has a well deserved party reputation. It’s relatively selective…but not even approaching the top privates. Although it’s no UVA, I continue to believe it’s a good and high-value choice for some kids. The honors college is a jewel. There are terrific programs in science, engineering and business. Making it work there requires assertiveness, persistence and an ability to resist distractions…all good traits to carry forward into the world. </p>
<p>The broad-brush criticisms of state school experiences are not true in many cases. A good number of students walk out with strong relationships with their professors, study abroad experiences, and hands-on work in research. At a bargain price. </p>
<p>On the flip side, it’s wrong to think that Ivy kids are spoiled, rich and arrogant. A few of them maybe… but I know plenty who are the opposite…including my dear brother. </p>
<p>There are no “sides” here…we all just want our kids to do well. And it feels great when other parents support our choices…</p>
<p>I think it’s a pretty silly thread. Sure there are lots of people with misplaced perceptions about both public and private schools. There are no perfect colleges out there. There are things I would change about both the (private) schools my sons are/will be attending.</p>
<p>agree mathmom, but what I see is that these broad misplaced perceptions can drive choices. Even with the current economy, I still see some (although not as many) students and parents going into big debt around here to go to a “brand” schools (not usually Ivy because they are now really quite generous with aid). Now pardon me for judging…but I think THAT qualifies as silly. According to our local newspaper today, a LOT more college graduates are working as camp counselors…not a good route to paying off the debts…although I guess they’re lucky to be employed at all.</p>
<p>I’ve been following this thread and thought i would throw my two cents in. My oldest D goes to the State Flagship. Yes, we have suffered the typical thoughtless statements from some. Whatever…she is happy, doing well, has great relationships with many of her professors and just returned from a semester in Europe where she got to study her discipline with other students from her own college and many others. Several of her roommates there were from top tier private LACs. There top tier LAC offered the same study abroad to them that my Ds university offered her. </p>
<p>My second D is going to a out of state flagship university to study biology. This school is nationally ranked and the program is limited enrollment. She has been invited there to participate in a research program for undergrads.</p>
<p>Here is the thing. If my kids could have gotten into Harvard, they would have gone to Harvard. They would not have gotten in. They got into other private colleges but when you compare what those colleges could offer them, it didn’t compare with the opportunities at the public universities because the privates that they could get into were not the TOP ones. Great schools for other kids but not a great fit for MY kids. Both great students with many talents but not Ivy material.
What i wonder about (I don’t judge, just wonder) is the people who feel the need to send there child to an expensive private college, even when it is ranked lower than the publics, simply because it IS private. I see it all the time where I live. I get the size factor and that explains some of the choices. Yes, some kids are truly overwhelmed by the size of the state schools but i also see a lot of people sending their child to small privates with questionable academics when they could be getting a better educational experience at a public.</p>
<p>“Well, I am a state school grad. I was a pretty strong student…but I did have friends in that dreaded “bottom half.” The ones who partied too much dropped out after one or two semesters. It was interesting to see that. A learning experience. The others were a colorful mix of folks…NOT stupid…but certainly not as “book smart” as what you would find in an Ivy. Over the years, I have kept in touch friends who have gone on to be very successful. And that includes friends who chose modest but honorable occupations like pre-school teachers or physical therapists. I would even venture to guess that some of them didn’t know who Michael Milken was when we were roaming the bars. Does that matter? Not to me but I know it does to some.”</p>
<p>^^^
Toneranger, I keep reading this over and over and I hope you are not saying what i think you are saying about preschool teachers and PTs.</p>
<p>Different strokes for different folks. Personally, while I know there are great state u’s out there, the sheer size is something that makes me uncomfortable (for ME and MINE, not for anyone else). The only one I ever seriously considered for myself was UVA, and that’s one of the smaller ones, relatively speaking.</p>
<p>My D goes to a public. Her narrowed down list included 2 privates and 2 publics but the decision was easy in the long run. I went to a public - William & Mary - but find myself having to convince others, on a fairly regular basis, that it is not private.</p>