Public vs Private Schooling?

At Andrews University, students come from a variety of backgrounds; one of these aspects includes whether students attended a private SDA academy school versus a public high school. This week, I talked to students around campus to gain insight into their spiritual and academic experiences, how such experiences may have shaped them, and how it has affected them currently (if applicable) at Andrews.

“Going to a private school has helped me gain greater knowledge about the Bible, which has heavily impacted my spiritual life. I’ve learned not only the different Bible stories but also insightful perspectives and interpretations of the Bible and faith. I think the biggest differences between public and private school is having religion integrated into the curriculum, connecting with teachers, and getting involved in extracurricular activities. Though religion classes may have been one more class to take and there were less options for AP classes, I greatly appreciated that we had more opportunities to get involved with different clubs, sports teams, and student offices as well as being able to go on class trips or music tours with friends. Through these activities, I was able to bond with people outside my friend group and make unforgettable memories.”
Aileen Ahn (freshman, biology)

“I attended public school, and I think that public school was a good experience because I got to experience what it is like to be with different people in the real world, which I wouldn’t have been able to at a religious school where everyone shares common worldviews. I think that my favorite part in high school was to share community with those that differed with me in both religious and cultural bases. Finding commonality and realization that we are all humans at the end of the day despite our differences is something so beautiful that will forever stick with me. When it comes to the religious aspect, being able to ask myself questions about the existence of God and everything surrounding us really made me realize that not everything has an answer and I’ve always turned back to Him no matter how hard it might get. Christian school really implements the style of life I want to live, where there are events that constantly remind me that God is there with me in addition to having a community of people who keep the Sabbath with me. This is an unchangeable experience, and truly what makes it so special and dear is that we all share common values and it makes me happy knowing that I’m not the only one.”
Andrea Fernandez (freshman, biochemistry)

“I would say that Adventist academies are awesome for the right person. I’ve had friends who have really enjoyed their time at academy, and friends who have hated it. I attended an Adventist academy and my favorite part was the small class sizes and the amount of school sponsored trips we went on. However, public schools usually offer better academic and extracurricular opportunities (AP classes, clubs, etc.). In public schools you can also avoid people you don’t like, as opposed to private schools where you’re forced to see everyone day in and day out. There’s pros and cons to each!”
Sam Namkung (senior, psychology)

“My educational background consisted of homeschooling for most of elementary school and then going to Adventist schools for middle school and high school. What I loved most about my school was that the teachers cared about me and my education. From the stories my friends that didn’t go to an Adventist school have told me, this seems like a uniquely Adventist or at least private school experience. Which makes sense; after all, taking a super low salary to teach kids in a religious school means you have to be passionate about helping them, or else why bother. An Adventist school usually doesn’t have a ton of money, thus extracurriculars and fancy academic classes were not offered, which you would think would be a downside—however, I would argue that it was the best thing about my school, because it taught me to work on my own education. If I wanted to learn something, I went ahead and learned it without letting the school’s resources be the limiting factor to my education. This learned agency was the most valuable tool that I acquired at my school. In terms of religion, Adventist schools and institutions are places that purport a strong faith community which…to be honest I have never seen. It makes sense though, as most high school students don’t get to choose their high schools and at that age, religion and God may not be high priorities.
Ian Neideigh (sophomore, chemistry)

“Pros: I liked how close I got to my friends (I went to boarding school, so you get to live with all your friends), I also had a good relationship with the staff members, since they cared to talk to us if we needed advice or if we wanted to hang out. They would even invite us for dinner, games, etc. It was also easy to be involved in school events and church events.

Cons: There were less academic opportunities and less academic rigor; also, everyone’s business was everyone’s business (there were about 250 students in the school). Additionally, there was less freedom and more rules overall.
I think that going to an Adventist school gave me more opportunity for spiritual growth, especially in service activities and the opportunity of having staff members who were willing to answer questions about God.”
Daena Holbrook (freshman, engineering)

“My thoughts on public school (because I have not attended) are that while it is a more worldly environment for a person to learn in, it is here that kids become more socially aware of other cultures, religions, genders, and ways of thinking. Also, they are more likely to be exposed to real life situations such as fighting, teen pregnancy, etc. and so when they enter the real world, they are not shocked. As far as my experience with private school, though you have bad influences and outside children from all different aspects of life, it is a great way to become a strong leader of integrity, learn to lead faith-based lives, and take your academics seriously while putting God first. And though you might often end up feeling sheltered or “stuck in a bubble,” you will always have an appreciation for it in the end.”
Farrah Murray  (freshman, biology)

“I’ve only attended public schools until coming to Andrews, and they were vastly different from my experience here. My class size was around 600, and I met new people almost every week. It was a great place to have lots of friends, but not the best place to foster deeper relationships. Although I enjoyed the opportunities at public school, I’ve come to appreciate the feeling of community at Andrews much more.”
Colin Cha (sophomore, biochemistry)

“I went to one of the bigger Adventist academies but it was still a lot smaller compared to your typical public high school. It was just big enough where everyone could mind their own business, but also small enough so that you knew everyone who was in your class for the most part. Something I disliked about the school was that there was less mingling and more cliqueness. Everyone was really nice for the most part, but it felt like you had your own friend group and you had to stay there. Something I did appreciate about the academy was that they offered a lot of various classes and the teachers were pretty good. I think the biggest difference between public and private schools is that there are definitely less restrictions for the most part. Especially coming into an Adventist university, going to visit friends at public universities was so shockingly different in terms of what is expected of the students outside of academics.”
Helena Hilton (freshman, liberal arts)