State Schools vs Liberal Arts Colleges

State Schools

Pros:

• Often offer a better selection of majors
• Most state schools are notorious for wild parties
• Tuition is lower, especially if you are classified as in-state
• Large classes make it easier to sleep in one or two days each week
• Many state schools offer first rate educations. Graduates of the University of Maryland, University of Virginia, and University of Michigan all do very well after graduation.
  

Cons

• If the state school isn't a "brand name" school, one might have a hard time finding a job
• Sometimes, bureaucracy can leave one feeling more like a number than a student
• The environment at some state schools can aptly be described as anti-intellectual.
  

Liberal Arts Colleges

Pros

• Liberal arts colleges often streamline students towards graduate schools
• Your professors will know you by name, the liberal arts experience will ensure you understand class material.
  

Cons

• Tuition is often in excess of $30,000 per year, and when housing and food costs are included they can cost $50,000 each year.
• Be prepared for small classes where participation is mandatory
• Many liberal arts colleges are lacking (or don't even have) engineering programs or programs in the hard sciences.
  

What Schools Should I Apply To? How Many?

You should probably apply to at least 5-7 schools, but the more you can find the time, money, and effort to apply to, the better.

Some College Application Tips:

• Try to apply only to schools that you might actually want to attend as you will probably be attending at least one of them.
• Break your applications into three tiers: Reach Schools, Strong Applicant Schools, and Sure Things.
  
• Apply to two or three reach schools, three or four schools in which your GPA and SAT are within the middle 25th to 75th percentiles, and at least two sure things. This strategy will ensure that you get into at least one school even if you have a bad admissions cycle, after all, if you are reading this blog then you probably aren't considering taking the year off.
• Research schools you are interested in thoroughly. Visits are strongly recommended. When I was applying to schools, I remember disliking (a certain state school) the moment I stepped foot on the campus. The feel of the campus will tell you more about the school than the GPA and SAT of its student body. Remember, you are going to be living there for four years. Make sure you can tolerate it.
• Ask yourself: Do I want to live in a big city, small city, a college town, or what? I personally know that I don't enjoy living in the city, and that personal preference made a big difference in my eventual choice.

So what school should you apply to? I don't know... it all depends. See above :)