Lindsay
Are all colleges the same? Does it matter if I go to a private university or state school or community college?
I want to know if it is worth it get out school loans for a private school. Or will I get the exact same knowledge at any other type of colleges that are much cheaper? Really struggling of getting enough money to go to my dream school which is private and expensive. #college-advice
3 answers
Amanda Nersasian
Amanda’s Answer
If you have a dream school in mind, definitely apply. The “sticker price” will not end up being what you will pay for that school. Definitely apply for FAFSA, as all colleges and universities (to which you apply) will review your FAFSA application and it will be considered in regards to a financial aid package. My suggestion is that you attend a school that: offers your major, “feels” comfortable (always visit the campus), and is affordable for you and your family. You can always look at transfer options if the school isn’t a good fit. Try to avoid private loans, as the interest rates are much higher than federal loans through FAFSA. And, apply for scholarships!
All the Best,
Amanda Nersasian
Vic Wong
Vic’s Answer
The answer to this question is: "it depends" (I totally get sucks to hear). There are different categories you could spend some time analyzing to make that decision. Factors that are in play here in each category include:
Values
- What do you value the most out of the college experience?
Education
- What degree you are pursuing? Major? Minor?
- Extracurriculars
- Study abroad?
- Honors programs?
Job Prospects
- Career aspiration? (Different fields recruit heavily from different schools - some jobs care about pedigree more so than others, undergraduate schooling may not play into the recruiting as much if you pursue a graduate degree)
- School/alumni network
Financial
- Are you planning on graduate school?
- Scholarships? FAFSA?
Campus Life
- Social groups/organizations? Greek Life?
- Housing requirements
- Sports?
By analyzing your values the rest should come easier in terms of seeing what the pros and cons are in more of a analytical way. I personally was in the same position as you and decided on a state school by flipping a coin and realizing that I could get to where I wanted to go with alternative means without paying for a private school.
Jacob Schwarber, CPA
Jacob’s Answer
Hi, Lindsay,
I think Amanda gave you some great advice in her answer but I'd like to add a little more to it. The incremental difference between a marquee, private school and other schools is probably not that big in terms of the actual subject matter you are taught. There are a lot of great public colleges and universities out there. There are also a lot of extremely successful people who didn't necessarily go to an ivy-league school.
My advice to you is try not to get wrapped up in the stereotypes surrounding a school's name and reputation. Figure out some criteria that are important to you (e.g. a specific program you are interested in, size of the student body, location, etc.) and use those to evaluate the different schools that interest you. College is a big investment, both in time and money. You want to get as much out of it as possible. Visit the schools that interest you, talk to the people who go there, and ask to speak to admissions counselors to get their unique perspectives. If you decide that a more expensive school is the best fit - that's great! Apply for scholarships, use FAFSA for financial aid, and do your best to make it less of a financial burden. If you visit some schools and decide that a state school or community college is the place you think you should be, fantastic! At the end of the day, you control what you get out of your college experience. There probably isn't one perfect school for you. Everywhere you look is going to have its pros and cons. Do your best to evaluate where you will fit best and then focus on making the most out of your experience.
I hope this helps - good luck!
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