Making a decision of where you want to attend.
Deciding where you want to go to college is one of the hardest decisions you will have to make during your senior year of high school. However, where you ultimately want to end up is a decision that only you can make. You have to take in all the factors that the different levels of institutions have to offer and decide from there where you ultimately see yourself at.
Over my three, almost four years of college, I have attended three separate schools. I began at a local community college to get my A.A. and save money, I transferred to FSU after getting my A.A. for only one year, and now I am back at a local university in my hometown. These three institutions all have their pros and cons that can help to make the decision easier.
Private Universities
- Tuition is really and I mean really high! According, to US news the average cost and tuition to attend a private university in America was $35,676 per year.
- Tend to be smaller, which means smaller class size
- Smaller range of majors and activities offered on campus
- Geographically more diverse
Public Universities
- In-state tuition is on average a little below $7,000 a year. Out of state is around $22,000 a year
- Larger class size
- Less likely to form a good professor-student relationship
- More activities- varsity sports, greek life, club, intramural sports, etc.
- More degree programs
Community colleges/State College
- A way to get your first two years of school down cheaply
- More A.S. degree options
- Technical Certificate options
- Allows for students to save money if they still do not know what they want to major in
- Easier work, but still having high quality professors
- More support
- Smaller class sizes
- Less activities on campus
- Less likely to offer a lot of varsity sports and intramural sports
Wherever you choose to go has to be a decision you make for yourself. Throughout my three years I have explored and adventured through 3 separate institutions and personally I am so glad I started off at a community college. And now that I am at a local university, I appreciate the smaller scale feel compared to FSU.
Choose what is best for you.
xoxo,
Haley G.
Haley's life & adventures 