It is that time of year again, when flowers are not only in bloom, and the April showers falling, but when college decision time is approaching at a similar velocity. If you find yourself as a high school senior, you might feel stressed when anyone talks about college, as the infamous May 1 is coming fast. If you are already in college, you can most likely sympathize with what high school seniors are going through, at this moment in time. I remember what it was like for me trying to decide what type of college that I wanted to go to: private, public, big or small. Did I want to go to a school in a city or in a college town that centers everything around its local university? Either way, where one ends up might surprise you.
Taking into account my experience and those that I have heard, I have noticed a general theme: if one has been going to a private school for a number of years, one is more apt to attend a private institution. Went the public route? Mostly likely to go to a public institution.
In higher education, it is common, even "normal," to go with what you know. It has to do with familiarity, and if one is not familiar with the other, it seems scary. I never thought that I would go the private route, but for me, the benefits far outweigh the price that it costs to be here.
If there is to be a takeaway from this piece, it is to appreciate that private institutions have a lot to offer that might not be expected or known about.
Since I am having the greatest experience in gaining an education at a private institution, it might be helpful to share some of the benefits that might be overlooked and to also eliminate the sticker price syndrome a bit. Looking back to when I was a senior in high school, and was inching closer to the decision deadline, here are some aspects that I would have been helpful to know (Please keep in mind that my experiences are from the University of Portland, so not all private institution offer experiences as follows):
The first quality that comes with attending a private teaching institution, is the general care that professors have for their students. The farther one gets into their major, classes get smaller and professors more familiar. For example, this semester I am a junior, and I've had nearly all of my mechanical engineering professors in a class before. The care that professors at the University of Portland specifically shows, and that of which I have felt stems from the care of the students as an individual.
An example of this support occurred when one of my professors said: "You guys are humans before you are students." Then going on to explains that, particularly in engineering, one cannot do well in classes if they are not healthy physically, mentally, and in other aspects of being a human.
The second perk of attending a private university is that there are more opportunities for one to apply their knowledge. As mentioned before, if professors are closer to you in the first place, that gives individuals more of an "in" when it comes to opportunities such as internships and other application based opportunities. Being at a private school has allowed me to branch with my knowledge, in a way that might not be as much of a reality at a public university.
For example, I have a close enough relationship with some of my professors that I am now doing undergraduate work with one of the mechanical engineering faculty members. Other evidence of applicative opportunities that have come my way that otherwise would not have, is having the privilege of taking an invite-only advanced anatomy class.
Not only do private universities usually provide a more personable caring environment, but they also care about the students getting the most customizable education. To implement this, the dean of each particular school in the university often collects data t from course evaluations. Student input plays a large role at private institutions.
For example, when a majority of students all had a common issue with a specific component of a class, the dean of our school actually reached out and had a meeting to answer our questions and to hear our concerns in a genuine way.
These are only three of the many perks that I have recognized in my few semesters of belonging to the University of Portland. All in all, private universities have a lot to offer, and shouldn't be discounted and thrown to the side, just because of the unfamiliarity associated with them or the initial shock felt from the price.
Be aware though: attending a private university, such as the University of Portland, will give symptoms of feeling cared for in an academically rigorous environment, provide unique and draw dropping opportunities, and will require getting used to giving constructive feedback that will be seriously acted upon.
If you are approaching the senior deadline of May 1, you may find yourself wanting to transfer to another school, or you have already completed your experience, think about what the school will give you after the four years spent there are done and gone.
Ultimately, I encourage you to not just follow that path from high school into college that feels the most familiar. I can speak from experience, that while scary stepping out of my public-school-raised-self was challenged by coming to a private school. The challenge has allowed me to grow and stretch in ways that I other wise would not have, easily making it one of the best choices that I have made.
Follow your heart and academic interests, but also take into account how your needs can be met at the institution that you end up calling home!
