Brillant High School Student- should he go to small private college or State University? (degree, reputation)

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by AnonChick

Why does he only get to pick from one or the other extreme? Why not add a third, somewhere in the middle?

A large private university (one of the Ivy Leagues perhaps) or smaller state college, where he gets diversity in smaller doses, in a big-school campus atmosphere, high academic focus, and plenty of academic scholarships, grants, and student loans to go around?

Exactly!

What I've found is that students can change a lot from when they apply in the fall to when they need to decide in May. It only makes sense to apply to a few different schools.

[f_m]

Whichever has the better program of study. Also would have to check the school fit. Even if you go to a larger school, they eventually divide themselves among majors as far as who you see regularly.

[beachmouse]

Originally Posted by golfgal

I think you are making some very big generalizations between state and private schools. There are plenty of state schools that are VERY difficult to get into (and your son will need a better ACT score to even be considered).

But per the original post, we aren't talking a Cal/Michigan/Virginia level of public flagship school. He's definitely be a big fish in a little pond academically at the state school in question.

What does he want to do when he grows up? Does the public schools offer an honors program and thesis option and/or good internship opportunities that would offset the lower 'academic brand' compared to the private? You can get a good education and into good grad schools coming out of a public directional school, but you're going to need to do more to sell yourself to prospective grad schools and/or employers coming out of one of those schools and there's much less room for error in terms of grades. You pretty much have to come out of one of those schools with a 3.8 or greater unweighted gpa plus 'extras' if you're going to have a chance against students from schools with more positive brand recognition.

I'd probably lean toward the high end private school if he gets a good financial aid offer. For the right kind of student, getting to go to school with a bunch of other really smart people ends up being a lot of fun and a chance to really stretch the brain.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

But per the original post, we aren't talking a Cal/Michigan/Virginia level of public flagship school. He's definitely be a big fish in a little pond academically at the state school in question.

What does he want to do when he grows up? Does the public schools offer an honors program and thesis option and/or good internship opportunities that would offset the lower 'academic brand' compared to the private? You can get a good education and into good grad schools coming out of a public directional school, but you're going to need to do more to sell yourself to prospective grad schools and/or employers coming out of one of those schools and there's much less room for error in terms of grades. You pretty much have to come out of one of those schools with a 3.8 or greater unweighted gpa plus 'extras' if you're going to have a chance against students from schools with more positive brand recognition.

I'd probably lean toward the high end private school if he gets a good financial aid offer. For the right kind of student, getting to go to school with a bunch of other really smart people ends up being a lot of fun and a chance to really stretch the brain.

I am not talking about flagship schools only, many smaller state school have pretty rigorous entrance requirements to attend as well.

[CaveCanis01]

Originally Posted by golfgal

I am not talking about flagship schools only, many smaller state school have pretty rigorous entrance requirements to attend as well.

I'm interested in this since I have high school freshman. I have heard that U of M at Morris is a good school, but I haven't heard much about other smaller state schools in MN that have rigorous entrance requirements. Suggestions?

[TuborgP]

Originally Posted by The Outcast

My sisters son is going into his senior year of High School next month. So far his academic career has been great with a 4.2 GPA and a 32 score on the ACT. (Top 2%).

The easy approach would be for him to go to the State University near his home that lets just about everyone in. Only a small percent of the students are from the top of their High School class and have great ACT scores. But he is also considering going to an elite college with only 2000 students where only the elite students are accepted. 96% are in the top 10% fo their class and the average ACT score is 30.

If your son or daughter had super good grades and very high SAT or ACT scores do you think that they would be better served at an elite University, or would they do just as well at a State College with a diverse student body?

Does the state university have a highly regarded honors program? How is the specific content program at the state university rated compared to a private one? A number of the top universities in the country are public. It is not the school but the individual program and the quality of students in that program.

[debzkidz]

Originally Posted by golfgal

I think you are making some very big generalizations between state and private schools. There are plenty of state schools that are VERY difficult to get into (and your son will need a better ACT score to even be considered). There are plenty of kids in private schools on the 6 year track that never really graduate and are not at all motivated either. Also, brilliant is a stretch with a 4.2 and only a 32 on an ACT-good student, yes, brilliant maybe, maybe not.

Golfgal is right on the money here. While those are really good grades and scores, they are not going to mean your nephew can just walk into any school he chooses.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by The Outcast

My sisters son is going into his senior year of High School next month. So far his academic career has been great with a 4.2 GPA and a 32 score on the ACT. (Top 2%).

The easy approach would be for him to go to the State University near his home that lets just about everyone in. Only a small percent of the students are from the top of their High School class and have great ACT scores. But he is also considering going to an elite college with only 2000 students where only the elite students are accepted. 96% are in the top 10% fo their class and the average ACT score is 30.

If your son or daughter had super good grades and very high SAT or ACT scores do you think that they would be better served at an elite University, or would they do just as well at a State College with a diverse student body?

Strange, another CD user was in the exact same situation...about a year ago.


How well your nephew is 'served' depends on what he wants and how he relates to others. If he enjoys being at the top, and wants to remain at the top with little effort, then the State University.

If he wants or needs to constantly be challenged or will feel okay attending school with top students from all over the country (and World?)-where he will no longer be at the top, but somewhere in the middle- than the elite school will be best.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by CaveCanis01

I'm interested in this since I have high school freshman. I have heard that U of M at Morris is a good school, but I haven't heard much about other smaller state schools in MN that have rigorous entrance requirements. Suggestions?

Morris was the one I was thinking of in MN, UW-Eau Claire was another close by that came to mind.

[debzkidz]

Originally Posted by debzkidz

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Golfgal is right on the money here. While those are really good grades and scores, they are not going to mean your nephew can just walk into any school he chooses.

Forgot to mention this in my original post. While the 4.2 might be really great in your nephews particular high school, it's not in all schools. DS has a friend that attended a very competitive public high school a Houston suburb. She graduated last year with a 4.2 GPA, yet she was not even in the top 10% of her graduating class.