Advice

[xkalhonaaho]

I have a question.

Which is better...going to a public school or a private one?

Are private ones worth the cost? (i.e. $22,000/yr)  Would it be worth it if I got financial aid for the next two years? (i.e. $13,000).

This dilemma happens every year and I'm getting rather sick of it.  So insight outside of parental units and admissions committe would be

Comments

[my_az_is_in_cz]

Well, I went to private school from kindergarten to third grade then switched to public when my school shut down. I can honestly say that I much prefer public school...to me, there seems to be a wider variety of people and that a lot of the kids are much more down to earth. Quite a few kids in private schools are - frankly - rich brats. (Not all of them, of course. Some of my best friends are private school kids

[dory_the_fishie]

Well, I suppose I'm a bit biased when it comes to advising about schools, but you asked. :)

I, personally, prefer private school (specifically private Catholic, but it's because that addition of faith is important to me). Yes, I guess the types of kids are more limited, but it just so happens the types of kids I like tend to go to private school. But that's just me. I wouldn't trade the high school I go to for a public one any day, because I really really really love my school, and I'm so thankful for the friends I've met. I went to public elementary school, and I can honestly say I haven't kept in touch with any of the friends I made there. Though, I know, elementary and high school are totally different.

But there are good public schools, and there are really great people who go to them. It just comes down to what you prefer. For me, it's private Catholic school, but for others it's public school.

/seriousness

-huggles teh kal some more-

[lexbagpipes]

I've found private schools to the better choice.
a. You know more people very well- not so much a face in the crowd or lost in the cracks
b. It looks better on an application
c. You have a scholarship, I think
d. You're much more likely to get a better education

[cherryfeather]

KAL!!

*glomps and huggles*

I would say that, while I personally am very fond of my school--smaller private schools might provide a better learning environment. And it might be nice to get a smaller demographic of people. See, at private school, I suspect you're more likely to get people who care about learning, as opposed to some of the people at my school who are obviously only there because the state forces them to.

However, I do love my massive public school. I just loved my smaller public school a little more, because everyone knew your name and we were all on the same page, learning-wise. I mean, I didn't have people who would ogle my grades and proclaim how madcap-intelligent I am like I do now.

Now, enough of this seriousness. *drags you back into the forums*

[avendya]

I go to a public school, and have most of my life. I love it, because of the options it brings. Public schools have more kids, and thus, more after-school stuff, more - well, just more people, and a better chance of finding people you like and/or a subject/activity you love.

However, if you like the private school better, go for it. It's more sheltered, yes, but also closer and probably much safer. If you want faith-based, that's the only way to go. Personally, it would drive me up the wall, but that's just me.