Since I was about 12 years of age, I have been hell bent on attending a private university. I have always been told that private schools can open more doors than a public school. And, I can see why. The class sizes are smaller, there tend to be more connections, and those who attend really want to be there. However, in so many ways I can only see doors closing when I think about a private school. The cost alone is enough to put you in debt for the rest of your life. It is terrible. Two of the colleges I applied to cost 200, 000 dollars for the full four years. I am not rich and neither is my family. It is unreal that they believe we can afford that.
I applied to four colleges: Hofstra, Mills, Bryant, and the University of Nevada, Reno. I was accepted to all and was waiting for financial information. UNR will cost me about 15, 000 a year. Hofstra will cost me about 30, 000 a year. Bryant and Mills will cost about 50, 000 a year. To me, the education is not worth the price. Let me explain:
I want to have a double major in Journalism and International Relations with a minor in Government. This is all well and good, except Mills only has a Government program, and Bryants Media program is only a year old. Hofstra has a wonderful communications department, but is it worth twice of what UNR is asking. The answer is no.
The Journalism Program at UNR is about one century old. They have a student to teacher ratio of about 1 to 18 (which is better than Hofstra), and they have had six Pullitzer Prize winners( this is even more than Stanford). Their teachers are professors with unbelievable resumes and Educations from Universities like Cornell and Harvard.
I chose UNR over Hofstra. Was this the wrong decision?
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Nothing from what I can see. I got accepted to Baylor, Texas Tech and Sam Houston State. Baylor is about 40 grand whereas Tech and Same are between 15 and 19 grand. I have no idea what I want to major in, but I know philosophy will be there somewhere. My mom wants me to go to Baylor but my dad doesn't care and is more worried with price, so I see you dilema, but I think you're making the right choice.
You chose your school based on the program you want to enter. You are obviously driven and have a clear idea of what you want to do with your life. I think state schools can be whatever you make them. Lots of kids go to a huge school with no clue what they want out of their education, and it can be harder to find at a big school. If you are self motivated, you can make the connections you need without the hand holding you might get at a smaller school.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I also agree with the others in saying you made the right choice. The most important thing about attending a college or university is that it has good programs for the things you want to concentrate in. Now I can't say attending a private university doesn't have its advantages, because I am lucky to attend one. But that is only due to significant scholarships. Otherwise, I would definitely be attending a large state school. Anyway, I think you made the right choice, and will be getting a great education.
"but bein' alive and bein' a woman and bein' colored is a metaphysical dilemna I haven't conquered yet."
-Lady in Yellow
I am going to be attending Point Park University in the fall, and it will run me about 30,000 a year. It's private as well. Although I did win the Presidential Scholarship that they offer, which knocks off $15,000 a year, it makes the cost of attending much like any other school.
Good luck with your choices, it sounds like you have a good idea of what you want.
~In order to have a better society, we need to CREATE a better society."
If its what you think is the right decision or is what you want then it probably is the right decision. If it doesn't end up working out you can always transfer!