Private vs. State universities?

[IconBasser]

what is the difference between private universities (30-55k) and state universities (5-15k in your own state)?

is their anything magnificent about private universities that warrant the incredulous monetary expenditure that they entail?

[Vince S.]

Originally Posted by IconBasser

what is the difference between private universities (30-55k) and state universities (5-15k in your own state)?

is their anything magnificent about private universities that warrant the incredulous monetary expenditure that they entail?

In short: no.

[jonathan_matos5]

they are in many ways inferior.

[IconBasser]

which?

[jonathan_matos5]

Originally Posted by IconBasser

which?

yes.

[IconBasser]

oh.

[Beta]

Originally Posted by IconBasser

which?

In which ways are they inferior?

I work for a Catholic university in the Northeast. Some years ago, after I graduated from said university, changes were made to the core curriculum to force more religion (specifically Catholicism) on students.

Credit requirements in useful things such as modern foreign languages, computer science, communications and other courses were shunted in favor of mandatory joint discipline courses with one portion being religion (specifically Catholicism) and the other some other academic discipline (i.e.: religion/history, religion/literature).

This does a huge disservice to students who attend this university because, unless they become missionaries, take religious vows, or work for some Catholic charity, their extended religious education will not serve them at all in a workplace where it is illegal to hire/fire someone on the basis of their religion.

All this for two to three times what the state universities cost. This, of course, does not compare with other private universities like Yale, Harvard, etc., whose very name opens doors.

I'd wager that proof of graduation from Yale or Harvard is worth the tuition paid in the long run, provided you don't become a criminal or drug abusing derelict.

[TrooperFarva]

Originally Posted by Beta

This, of course, does not compare with other private universities like Yale, Harvard, etc., whose very name opens doors.

+1. This is the main point. When you go to a private university, you're basically paying for a name. The 2 jobs I've had since I graduated 3 years ago, I both got because of the school I went to. It's one of the best engineering schools in the country. Both jobs are very good, and pay very well.

That's not to say that going to a state school will create some insurmountable roadblock, or to say that going to a private school will absolutely pay off in the end. It really depends on the schools, and what you want to do. If you have a choice between an 'unknown' private school and a state school, I say go to state, but if you have a choice between a state school and a 'prestigious' private school, one that's highly regarded in the field you want to study, if you can afford it, go to the private school.

If you can't afford it, I recommend starting off at a state school, working your ass off, and transferring to a good private school after a few years. You'll save a bunch of cash, and get the same degree.

[theshadow2001]

I'm sure that the prestigious private schools have a better grade of student since so many want to attend them. But it's a shame that people pay for the name of their institute to aid in their getting better jobs. Rather than the quality of the person and the standard of their abilities.

Over here college is pretty much free

[IconBasser]

ok, my major will be music technology/production. Aside from Berkeley, would it matter much if I went to a more prestigious private institution?

[Ericman197]

It depends what you want to do. For my plans (medical school) it made no difference, so I went public. If you want to do something in politics, or if college is to be your terminal degree, then it might matter. Remember, you're usually going to be judged by the last step. If you become a lawyer, for example, it matters much more where you went to law school, or what you did after law school.

[TrooperFarva]

Originally Posted by IconBasser

ok, my major will be music technology/production. Aside from Berkeley, would it matter much if I went to a more prestigious private institution?

In a field like that, I think working credits will get you a lot farther than a school name. If I were you, I'd go to a school near a major metropolitan area, NYC, LA, etc. Work with local studios to get some experience and develop a list of contacts.

BTW, to be honest, I'd research that field a bit more before getting into it. A lot of major studios are closing down, because home recording is becoming more and more popular, so there's more supply and less demand for producers.

A good friend of mine studied music technology and production at Five Towns college on Long Island. He went there for 4 years, did well, and has a Bachelors degree. He worked internships in a few major studios, and did some good work. Now, 2 years after graduating, he works in the Pro Audio department of the local Guitar Center. I'm not advising against it, I'm just saying, from what I've seen, it's a very tough game to break into.

[IconBasser]

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

In a field like that, I think working credits will get you a lot farther than a school name. If I were you, I'd go to a school near a major metropolitan area, NYC, LA, etc. Work with local studios to get some experience and develop a list of contacts.

BTW, to be honest, I'd research that field a bit more before getting into it. A lot of major studios are closing down, because home recording is becoming more and more popular, so there's more supply and less demand for producers.

A good friend of mine studied music technology and production at Five Towns college on Long Island. He went there for 4 years, did well, and has a Bachelors degree. He worked internships in a few major studios, and did some good work. Now, 2 years after graduating, he works in the Pro Audio department of the local Guitar Center. I'm not advising against it, I'm just saying, from what I've seen, it's a very tough game to break into.

yes, I realize that the window is slowly closing.

I was planning on getting into the video game or movie industries rather than individual music projects. Dunno exactly how hard it is to get into a field like that, but I imagine it'd be more stable than other work.

[fdeck]

My suggestion: If you aren't going into a big money field, then it is important to get through college with minimal debt. That alone might favor a public school.

A drawback of many state universities is that they are located in rural areas, where there is not a lot going on at the cutting edge of culture. But a state university system may operate a satellite campus in an urban area... with the sort of program you are looking for at an affordable cost.

[bradjonesbass]

Private colleges may well challenge you more. You will have smaller classes where your professor will actually be teaching the class instead of his graduate assistant. The drawback of smaller private schools is once you get outside of their specialty areas the Liberal Arts portion of your education may be slightly inferior. For instance, if a private school is well known for Literature and English, their Math and Science departments may be lacking and your classes in those areas might not challenge you as much as they would at a bigger state school. Then again, if you're going there you're probably going because of their specialty and to be honest, the liberal arts portion won't matter a hill of beans to perspective employers.

[Ericman197]

Originally Posted by bradjonesbass

Private colleges may well challenge you more. You will have smaller classes where your professor will actually be teaching the class instead of his graduate assistant. The drawback of smaller private schools is once you get outside of their specialty areas the Liberal Arts portion of your education may be slightly inferior. For instance, if a private school is well known for Literature and English, their Math and Science departments may be lacking and your classes in those areas might not challenge you as much as they would at a bigger state school. Then again, if you're going there you're probably going because of their specialty and to be honest, the liberal arts portion won't matter a hill of beans to perspective employers.

It depends where you go. At my school all of the classes and labs were taught by professors, with an average class size of about 20. At many private schools you have huge lectures, with labs taught by assistants. So your criticism is probably valid towards large public vs. small private, but not to the overall debate of public vs. private.

[Barkless Dog]

Originally Posted by Ericman197

It depends what you want to do. For my plans (medical school) it made no difference, so I went public. If you want to do something in politics, or if college is to be your terminal degree, then it might matter. Remember, you're usually going to be judged by the last step. If you become a lawyer, for example, it matters much more where you went to law school, or what you did after law school.

If your in a portfolio based/project related you are only as good as your presentation/portfolio. Bigger names school can have higher connections though. Also they can give bigger scholarships.

Still great people come from all schools. It depends on what you do with your education. Cream always rises to the top, no matter what school.

[Surly]

I went to private schools, both for my associates and bachelors. The cost for tuition is much more, however the classes were smaller, and I don't think I could have graduated with the GPA that I did if I went to a state school. Seems like a tradeoff to me.

[Vince S.]

Originally Posted by Surly

I went to private schools, both for my associates and bachelors. The cost for tuition is much more, however the classes were smaller, and I don't think I could have graduated with the GPA that I did if I went to a state school. Seems like a tradeoff to me.

Agreed. The school I go to is private, and they deliver what they promise academically. No lecture halls, no classes taught by TAs, and small class sizes (no more than 30 in freshman/100 level courses, and classes as small as 8-10 in my 300 level courses).

[FunkyFlashFive]

also, a lot of the private schools round here have lots of scholarships available ex. $18000/ year on average