<p>I've been on CC for almost a year now (yay!), and I've never understood why everyone treats State Us as the undesirable safeties tht you only apply to out of necessity but would never deign to go to. </p>
<p>Now granted I'm in California, and the CSU system is pretty good..but I just don't understand it. I'm in love with Sonoma State, and I can't wait to start there in August. Why is there so much Ivy-obsession and State U derision here?</p>
<p>Because people are often foolish enough to think that the ivys are so much better and bragging rights.</p>
<p>HisGraceFillsMe, you have discovered the secret. You have found a school that you like, offers a good education, is beautiful, and is reasonably priced. You are happy, too! Sometimes the "Ivy" chasing people forget about the important things in life.</p>
<p>HGFM, you are going to love Sonoma State!!! I've gotten to know some of the professors there, and everyone I have met has been absolutely top-notch. They are outstanding people with first-class educations (public and private) who have chosen not to enter the rat-race at the big research universities. Instead they are very focused on teaching, and they enjoy the good life of Sonoma - beautiful weather, lots of open space and outdoor activities, lovely local produce, artisan cheeses, some of the best wine on the planet (sorry, the last is not for you yet).</p>
<p>We are so lucky in Calif. to have our wonderful system of higher education. Ignore the snobs. You are going to have a great 4 years.</p>
<p>That's very encouraging, MarinMom! Thank you so much. I can't WAIT...I visited over Spring Break and as we were leaving I told my dad, "You can just drop me off in the dorm, okay?" :)</p>
<p>I've seen both the snobbery and the reverse snobbery, but really lots of us are jealous of you guys in California - at least for you higher education system. :)</p>
<p>Going to one! Pft, who said that the entire population is composed of elitists?</p>
<p>Some state flagship schools (UVa, UNC, Michigan, etc.) are great schools. Others, on the other hand, (UMass, URI, for example) are woefully underfunded.</p>
<p>XD mathmom...feel free to come visit me anytime. :)</p>
<p>MADad...a very good point, and well taken. :)</p>
<p>because this is a forum where the majority of the posters are the cream of the crop of their high school and as such, do not want to settle for the middle of the middle of the high education system?</p>
<p>you act like you don't know what CC is...</p>
<p>Some of us rather not be $200,000 in debt, IlikeDice. Just because you're smart doesn't mean you have to go to an expensive school.</p>
<p>Seriously...ESPECIALLY those of us who have to go to grad school due to our chosen field.</p>
<p>that's why there's merit aid (need based aid, too). never let a financial thing prevent you from applying to a top college; who knows, they might give you a lot of money. </p>
<p>plenty of CC gets plenty of merit/need based aid at the top schools; i'm not sure you know CC that well.</p>
<p>first of all im only going to talk about florida schools
i know there are amazing state u out there but...</p>
<p>first of all 40000 to 50000 students vs 4200 at dartmouth
avg class size at dartmouth 18 students
as freshmen they know their teachers...rec by profs are
easier to come by and genuine for later internships and jobs</p>
<p>graduating rate for fla state schools (even the best u of f)
in 4 years is only around 50%...now that is fine if your child
needs a year to figure out what major he wants..
but if its because of excessive partying which is the norm
that is not acceptable...now dont get me wrong ivy and
top 25 party hearty as any school does but when u surround
yourself with your work ethic peers you know when to party
hard and when to stop and then study hard...</p>
<p>internship and job opportunities...This is important ..dont
fool yourself and assume that top banking and consulting
companies are not returning to the well (the ivies) year after
year for top students to fill their job openings...why look elsewhere
when the undergrad school did 4 years of screening for the companies
pointing to the cream of the crop..my s would have never had the
opportunity he received from a top company from a fla state school
the money i lost not using bright futures in fla for state school will be
easily made up with higher starting salary and full payment for mba by
company that hired him</p>
<p>now the end of sticker shock of tuition....for me this years revolution in the
decrease in tuition among ivies and top 25 is too late...but for
the next students research this... harvard and yale under 170,OOo income no tuition,,,stanford under 100,00 no tuition not sure if this is exact numbers
but close...</p>
<p>im always shocked by parents who spent their years getting thier kids
into magnet schools and ib programs for 13 years and then settle for a state school...</p>
<p>again im talking my experience with florida schools...</p>
<p>Oh, I think HisGraceFillsMe has figured out CC really, really well. And after all, you both joined about the same time. </p>
<p>It's great to have a place where parents who want an Ivy-school can go to compare notes (isn't it amazing how many of them disappear when the rejection letters start coming out?). However, this is a parents' forum for College Admissions and Search and College Discussion, so all colleges can be considered. There are many parents who will argue in favor of the public universities (I am one of them - both as a grad who then received a professional degree and as the parent of 2 kids in public universities). Public universities can offer an amazing variety of majors, a depth of resources and huge opportunities for students.</p>
<p>I view this as being the same thing as the difference between people who chose to buy a $60K car to go to the grocery store, and people who buy a $30K car to go to the same store. Why do some people choose a Rolex instead of a Timex to tell time? (I don't actually know the answer to this one, even though I wear a Rolex LOL). I guess if they convince themselves that going to that Ivy is going to unlock social or career opps for their child, then of course they're going to want their kid to have those opps. Maybe it's bragging rights, and maybe it's the hope that having that Ivy on a resume will increase chances for grad school or academic careers. It actually might be an edge, since it lets that student have a label forever that they were once smart enough and talented enough to be admitted. If you look at the schools from whence Yale Law admits its entering class, though, you'll find other LACs and public universities right next to the Ivys.</p>
<p>I attended an elite private university for undergrad and another private for law school. I have a daughter who is currently attending a large state university and I am the first to admit that she is receiving lots of personal attention from her professors as well as a fine education. Although I certainly have nothing against top twenty schools, the idea that only an elite school can provide you with a superb education and opportunities that enhance your chances of being professionally and financially successful later in life is simply wrong.</p>
<p>I think the reason you read alot of posts about private colleges and U's on CC is because those are the places where "hooks", etc. are really needed to get in. Our state system, on the other hand, is pretty stats driven, admissions-wise, so there aren't too many questions about how to get in, what it takes, etc. Its pretty much common knowledge what you need to get in. Just speaking for our state anyway but I assume its similar in other states.</p>
<p>There are a lot of places in the country where the local college or the flagship state university means everything in job networking and an Ivy BA doesn't mean a whole lot.</p>
<p>It depends what state you're from. The UC system is pretty highly regarded here on CC. As are Michigan, UNC, UTexas, and several others. However there are states where the state univ system is chronically underfunded, buildings and other facilities are in disrepair, class sizes are huge...</p>
<p>Also, in my state there are three "tiers" of state schools. The State Univ system is the top tier, and it has a flagship campus. The State College system is the middle tier. The Community Colleges are the bottom tier. And they are all funded accordingly. It is indeed possible to get a good education starting at community college, but it's probably a lot easier in other states than in mine. For example, I used to live in NJ, which had a very good community college system. A third of my high school went to the local community college before moving on to private colleges or Rutgers, and I believe most of them ended up successfully getting a degree in their chosen field. If I still lived in NJ I'd have no problem with my kids taking that route, and it would save me money. But I wouldn't suggest it in the state we live in now.</p>
<p>The reason is, that despite the fact that most of the people on this forum are extremely bright they don't do the simple math to figure out the percent of people who graduate from elite schools. What are all the people doing who did not go to one of those few schools? Oh my goodness, they are lawyers, doctors, professors, bankers, and every other occupation you can think of. Every school in this country has graduates that have gone on to be successful, productive human beings. If someone wins the elite school lottery thats great, but I wish more kids and parents would realize that there are many many great options and not act so devastated if they have to choose a state school for financial or other reasons.</p>