Private vs. Public
Sarah explains the factors she considered when making her decision
BY SARAH WALLACE
I am a teenager living in Virginia, and I consider myself very lucky. It’s an
ideal place for kids our age to live. Miles of coastline and temperate climate
aside, the state offers many other things that we (and our parents) find very
important: namely, excellent educational opportunities.
Like California and North Carolina, Virginia boasts great higher education at
an even greater value. Schools like the University of Virginia and The College
of William and Mary are considered by many to be "Public Ivies," where admission
is competitive and the quality of education is top-notch. However, what really
draws good students to these school from my region is less their reputation and
more their low cost. For residents, public school means in-state tuition. The
difference between four years at a public school, like U.Va., and four years at
a private school, like Duke, often tops $100,000. So, what if you’re privileged
enough to be in a situation where you have to decide between Elite Private
School A and Good Public School B? How important is a private school's name if a
comparable school is available at a fraction of the cost?
|
 |
|
Register to view the rest of this article.
 | |
|
