Public college versus private college: finding the best learning experience.

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The Debate Between Public And Private Colleges

The pros and cons of both public and private colleges have been discussed at many forums and likewise the myth regarding the lower quality of public education as compared to the private education, has also been frequently exposed. It has been propounded and proved in many cases that all that is required is hard work and good planning in a student's life and with these attributes public school education can also be as fruitful as private school education.

The Basic Difference Between A Public And Private Education

There is no doubt that there are some basic differences between the two, the most important being the funding sources. Whereas public schools get their funds from the government coffers, private school funding is mostly dependant on tuition, gifts and fees which is naturally very high. Of late, both public and private four-year colleges have raised their tuition to the tune of 14.1% and 6% respectively. Moreover, in the case of public colleges, the location matters as attending an out of state public college could mean an additional tuition of $7,046.

Advantages Of Private Colleges

The advantages of studying in private colleges cannot be overlooked as the high tuition ensures a smaller class due to which there is less red tape and greater personal attention from the professors. Moreover, there is more competition in their selection process and as such only the best get selected leading to better overall results.

It would be wrong to say that public education is not up to the standard of private education as there are many public colleges which render excellent education. As such it would be advisable to research both public and private colleges before making a final choice. There is no doubt that finance could be a major factor against the private institutions but your advisor could guide you regarding scholarships and grants that you can qualify for.

Lack Of Public Spaces In Private Colleges

In a majority of private colleges, 95 percent of the students live in the houses, which look like family homes, of the residential enclaves. This does give a homely environment and leads to institutional loyalty especially for the new entrants. However, this institutional identity deters healthy debate due to lack of public spaces. In order to create a healthy feeling of diversity in the fields of racial and economic arenas and in expressing political, religious and cultural views, public space is absolutely essential.

In your academic life you should have the space to be able to express your political convictions without making it personal although you might be suspicious whether your opinions can be expressed in this way.

Public And Private Colleges: Learning From Each Other

Both public and private colleges can learn from each other in a variety of ways. In the case of private colleges they have a lot to learn about developing a general sense of public space by training different students of socially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. They have to create a greater awareness of public culture by pinpointing public commitment and fixing public responsibility.

Public institutions treat their students as responsible members of the state whereas private colleges have a different definition of their students. In their case, institutional loyalty is paramount leading to an exclusive sense of belonging which is not ideal for adopting diversity as the objective of the college.

There are both good and not so good public and private colleges. It is up to you to research properly and then decide which college to go to.