Going to a state school is often viewed as a death sentence to many. There is usually a very negative connotation with going to a state university or college and the announcement that you are attending one is usually met with a, "oh" or a "that's okay." If we're being honest, I was very upset to go to the University of New Hampshire because I, too, was under the impression that going to your state school meant that you had failed. As far as I as concerned up until a few weeks ago, going to a state school meant that you were dumb, poor, or just wanted to party. I am willing to admit that I was not only wrong, but that I was 100% meant to attend this amazing university. And I would also like to apologize for looking down on it for so long. There are few times in life when you truly know that you're on the right path and I am confident that I'm where I am supposed to be.
1. Resources
The resources at a private university (usually) cannot even compare to those of a state school. State schools have many more students and therefore accomadate for much bigger audiences. They also have many more alums and subsequently many more benefactors which means that they can have amazing labratories, research centers, gymnasiums, and more.
2. Culture
Because state schools are so well known exchange students are much more likely to attend there. Having exchange students at your school is an amazing opportunity because you can become exposed to such a wide array of cultures and different ways of life. It also gives you the opportunity to meet people that you otherwise may never had had the chance to meet.
3. Opportunities
The opportunities that a state school gives you are like no other. Every day students get amazing research grants, scholarships, study abroad opportunities, internships, the chance to work with outstanding experts in their field, and the list goes on. State schools are some of the best places to get your start working in the field of your dreams before you even get your degree.
4. Perspective
While going to your own state school may not sound all that great, to someone from a different state it could be their dream school. Growing up in New Hampshire meant that everyone I knew looked at UNH as just a place that most of the graduating class would attend in the fall. It wasn't until I got here that I realized that most of the people in my dorm were actually from other states and chose to go here because they really wanted to. This opened my eyes to see that to most people here UNH is their dream school, not somewhere they dreaded to go to.
5. Professors
The professors at state schools are incredibly qualified and often hold the highest degree in their field of expertise. Most of them are published authors or incredibly experienced researchers. Many of them will allow students to partner with them on a project or are more than willing to give advice to a student who needs guidance on how to achieve success after they graduate.
6. Range
Because state schools are the home to so many different kinds of students they often have a huge choice of majors. Many private colleges are limited in the number of majors that they offer and cannot accomadate to every type of student. State schools can be very comforting to students that go in undeclared or are not certain that they love the major that they chose because they know that the university will more than likely offer the major that they decide on.
7. People
The people that you will meet at a state school come from across the country and even the world. You will meet someone who will write the next great American novel, Bio students, history buffs, multilingual speakers, aspiring mathematicians, business aficionados, future lawyers, intelligent future politicians, and incredible athletes.
Everyone that you meet, no matter where they are from or what they are there to do, is there to be the best person that they can be in whatever aspect that may be. And they all believe that this school is the place to make it happen.
