If you’ve been applying to state schools, or even thinking of applying to state schools, then you’ve probably already heard myths and rumors about them. There are a lot of misconceptions about college; state schools in particular carry many of those false assumptions. Here are 5 common myths about state colleges.
- Easy to Get Into
A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that state schools are easy to get into, so they don’t push themselves as hard as they should in high school or spend too little time on their application. In reality, the requirements for almost all colleges are becoming more challenging while competition for limited spots is growin, and state schools like New England College are no exception. If you want to get accepted into a state school, you need to have a high GPA and impressive scores on all of your standardized tests.
- Bad Reputation
Some people think that state colleges are not as highly valued as private colleges. While some schools do excel in certain areas where others fall short, it is unfair to paint all state schools with the same brush. Whenever you are looking at a college’s reputation, you want to look at individual programs, rather than the school overall. Consider what field of study you want to focus on and then check the reputation and student success rate of that specific program.
- Great Option if You are Still Undeclared
Most state schools are large and offer a wide array of degree programs, however, that doesn’t mean that going to a large state school is the best choice if you haven’t settled on a major. You want to take a look at the general education requirements for each school to ensure that you will be getting a very well rounded education, which should help to point you in the right direction.
- Will Be Easy to Transition into the School’s Graduate School
A lot of people choose an undergraduate program based on where they would like to earn their graduate degrees. The thinking is that if you develop relationships with the faculty during your time as an undergrad, you will have an easier time getting accepted into their master’s programs. However, most schools like to make sure that they are always getting new blood and keeping their programs from going stale, so you might have a better shot if you earn your bachelor’s degree someplace else.
- You Can Only Get In as a Freshman
If you apply to a state school as a freshman and don’t get in, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t be accepted if you apply again the next year or the year after. If you get into another 4-year college, then your transcripts during that first year could help you when you apply your sophomore year. However, if you decide to stay home and take community college courses, then you will need to earn your associate’s degree before you can apply again. Once you do, it will be much transfer in.