Are you considering applying to universities in the US? If so, then you need to understand the differences between public and private universities. In a nutshell, public universities receive funding from the state and federal governments, while private universities do not receive any government funding and rely solely on donations, tuition fees and other private sources. Sounds simple, right? However, this basic distinction significantly affects not only the academic opportunities and campus life that schools offer, but also their admissions criteria. Therefore, students need to understand the key differences between public and private universities in order to make the right strategic decisions when applying and optimize their chances of success.
Academic offerings and support
Public universities are generally much larger than private ones: at my alma mater, UC Berkeley, there are over 6000 students per class year, compared to 1000 to 2000 at the Ivy League schools. As a result, public universities often offer two to three times the number of major choices as private schools do. This is especially important for students interested in more niche or “newer” majors, which are more easily found at large public schools, as many smaller private schools simply lack the student demand to justify developing certain programs. Even within a more traditional major, public schools usually have more course offerings and a larger faculty, providing students with a greater variety of opportunities for research and specialization.
However, being among such a large student body requires independence and self-discipline, as there is much less guidance and hand-holding for students than at private schools. My biggest class at Berkeley had over 700 students, and access to professors is quite limited and requires a lot of initiative from students. Even graduate teaching assistants are often overwhelmed, so students have little support and need to be proactive about their learning or risk falling behind. This may not be an issue for students who prefer to be independent and drive their own learning. However, students who prefer learning in a more intimate environment or developing strong relationships with professors may be better suited to smaller private universities and liberal arts colleges, where classes are more interactive and discussion-based.
Academic and career advising are also vastly different at public and private universities. Students at public universities are often left to navigate the myriad of courses and major, college and university graduation requirements themselves. At Berkeley, I did not have an assigned academic advisor, and it was up to me to stay organized, do research and plan ahead to ensure I was taking the right courses at the right time as well as building work experience outside of the classroom. I could sign up for ad hoc advising appointments when I had specific questions, but no one was charged with overseeing my degree or pushing me to apply to internships. Compare that to my other alma mater, Harvard University, where incoming freshmen are assigned a dedicated team of advisors (consisting of a faculty member, an administrator or graduate student and an older undergraduate student) with whom the student meets regularly, as well as a major advisor once they declare a major.
Campus life and community
Public and private universities also offer very different campus experiences. At public universities, there is a student organization for just about every interest or career path one can imagine. Since campuses and classes are so large and can feel scattered and impersonal, and students at public universities often live off-campus after freshman year (as housing is rarely guaranteed, unlike at private universities), participation in student organizations is crucial for students to develop friendships and a sense of community. As a result, different students at the same public school can have very different experiences based on the activities they participate in. In contrast, campus life at private universities is generally more homogeneous but more close-knit, with opportunities for community-building and socializing built into residence hall programs and classwide events and activities.
Diversity is another area where public and private universities differ. Since public universities are state-funded and have an obligation to admit a certain number of in-state students and be accessible to students from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, their student bodies tend to be less geographically diverse but more demographically diverse than those of private universities.
Why does this matter for applications?
Given the sheer number of US universities and wide range of experiences they offer to students, we stress the importance of “fit” when working with students interested in the US to identify the schools that are most suitable for their needs and priorities and also for which they are competitive applicants. For example, public universities tend to place more emphasis on school grades and test scores and have strict cutoffs for academics, such as the minimum GPA requirement at UC schools. On the other hand, private schools value cultural fit and often have unusual supplemental essay prompts that require a more creative approach to showcase the student’s unique personality. Understanding the differences between public and private universities is a helpful starting point to evaluate academic and cultural fit and craft a school list that will play to the student’s strengths.
Quantum Prep is an education consultancy that focuses on placing their students at the best colleges or universities. We boast of diverse results. In addition to the traditional rap sheet of prestigious university acceptances, our consultants like to highlight the different paths they have sent students on. All of our students are different; we are proud of our one-on-one tailored approach towards university counselling. Contact us for a complimentary 30-minute initial meeting, where you can get tailored individualized advice on how to put your best foot forward. Read our reviews to see what our clients think of us.
By Prudence Ng, Admissions Consultant
Published 16-08-2024
