State schools vs Private schools
November 19th, 2005
So what really is the difference between state schools and private schools? I goto a private school, and Law went to two public schools. Of course there are obvious differences, and of course all schools are unique, but heres my question: how has your school shaped your mentality and do you attribute it to the private/public affiliation of the school?
Here are my personal takes:
1) Large asian populations scare me less - yes yes, I claim to be the ultimate twinkie (or more often the anti-asian), however going to CMU has desensitized me to situations where a majority of the people in a room are asian. Sure i still get uncomfortable when that number approaches 100 people, but I see so many fobs and fob wannabes at my school that you just get used to it.
2) Work is a lifestyle - Cloistering yourself in a room and working on an academic related subject for hours (days even) is not necessarily a regular occurrence for me. However at my private school, everyone works exhorbitant amounts, takes excess amounts of course units, and feels lonely when theres no homework to pass the night by - its commonplace here. So when i pulled my first all-nighter last monday, i thought, “Wow I’ve succumbed to peer pressure…”
3) The smaller the community, the higher percent of weird people there are. uh.. no comment, its true though, just look at my post on CS majors.
4) money money money - you get a weird perspective on the concept of money. Eating out is more of an option since its “only a drop in the bucket compared to my tuition.” You also feel a sense of entitlement - with grades, priveleges, rights - since you feel that your tuition actually contributes to this (it doesn’t in reality). So you end up demanding that your teacher give you an A because they are unfair, and you end up taking 67.5 units (22.5 credit hours) because it reduces the cost per unit value of your tuition.
I can’t think of any more at the moment. Post your own!
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Hi
I have studied at two universities at once. I graduated Law and Theology-Social Work, and I can tell some differences that I saw. First, I will say that yes,I think the school where you learn plays a very important role in developing both your mind and your character. THese two universities were very different. One (law) stressed very much the importance of being somebody, of having a good position in the society, money, influnece, everyhing related to this. The other, Theology-social work stressed more the character, being honest, caring for people, …. trusting God. The latter one was way better, in my opinion. Though I am glad that I have fallowed both, cause now I can see life from two different perspective , which do not necesarrly exlude each other, but sometimes are complementary. On the other hand,I am SO SO happy for having studied in the Theology school, it made the huge differenc in my life! And thanks to this I am spending this year as missionary, (some people would say “waisting” my time as missionary. But I am very very happy working for God.
This is the best in my life!
Comment by Adelina — 11/21/05 @ 2:07 am
going to a public school, 1 & 2 are definitly a huge part of my experience. Everyone here is a workaholic and you feel guilty if you go out two weekends in a row. “Going out” is going to a friend’s place to watch a movie on a saturday night. Then you go home and work 2 hours. Furthermore, UofT is pretty fob-packed although, admittedly, there are still times it startles me
Comment by Aileen — 11/25/05 @ 12:22 pm
I’m doing an abstract on the differece between private and public schools.I found that there are some difference besides the fact that private schools don’t have to obey edu. laws, and they can pick who they won’t into school, which is funny because people who pay taxes fund private school from rich to poor from black to green to handicap to non handicap. I’d also like to add that it depends on the indivuals not the schools. Plus I think writting 7 abtracts then writtening a 10 page over all essay on the 7 abstact sucks hardcore ,so what do I Know.
Comment by marshall cacoulidis — 12/7/05 @ 1:46 am
individuals! OH, to answer your question.My dad was in the army, so i’ve been to 8 public schools were I was placed in specail ed. classes. Now i’m in college getting B’s. So to people who run all those public schools can kiss my hawaiian fruit punch! Label me a retard! They also made me relize that, although people may think your dumb you can always prove them wrong.
Comment by marshall cacoulidis — 12/7/05 @ 2:04 am