College and University Blog
A Private or Public University—Which One Shall It Be?
Private and public universities are not entirely the same. This is especially true in critical areas, such as curriculum, atmosphere and cost.
When one decides to go off to college, not only is the particular program important, the type of school is important as well. This depends on the preferences, needs and academic and financial capabilities of the one applying. Since each person is uniquely distinct, the choice of school and school type will also be uniquely distinct.
There are basically two types of universities (or, generically, institutions of higher learning): the private school and the public school. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, so no school will be perfect. The school should, though, be perfect for the individual and not be chosen based on general consensus.
The private school, which has, through the years, gained the reputation for being “snooty” or “stuffy” in atmosphere, does, indeed, have a smaller community of students and is therefore more intimate in nature, although such uppity attitudes are not a guarantee. Class and campus participation is more engaging, and the greater degree of one-on-one interaction between students and students and professors provides for a more enhanced education. This kind of institution is quite often operated by religious affiliations, although not always. They are, as the type signifies, privately own, though, and therefore not regulated by government. Curriculum is based on the preference of the owner or the exclusive group of individuals who run the facility. If one has the finances to fund this experience and has the exceptional background and GPA to become accepted, this type of school can be beneficial.
However, those who are community minded and thrive on diversity would likely prefer the public, or state, university. As the reference suggests, this type of institution is funded and regulated by the state in which the institution is located and therefore is cheaper. This last point might not only have to do with greater funding, but also the fact that the institution facilitates the needs of the general public, those whose incomes fall within a lower bracket. In this sense, the public, or state, university has gained the reputation for being “liberal” and can accommodate people from many different backgrounds and cultures, hence the diversity factor, which can also assist in one’s education, as one can gain insight through these differences. Greater opportunities abound here, as well as direct contact with potential employers at the seasonal job fairs that are promoted for the sake of student convenience. Fewer one-on-one opportunities and larger classes quite often result in less engaged educational experiences (although that depends on the student’s drive, interest and tenacity), but individual-guided learning is the norm, which might or might not be a bad thing, depending on, again, the students and their drives and preferences. The curriculum wouldn’t revolve around intensity as much as a sense of well-roundedness and uniqueness to the particular student’s experiences and interests, unlike that at the private school, which is well-focused for the sake of specialization.
In the end, it depends on the student and the environment in which that student is best suited. Both types of colleges offer wonderful experiences.