Which is the better VA university: VA Tech or JMU?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JMU & VT are seen as equal. Certainly VT is the choice for engineering.

Of course questions like this don't ask the important question ~ which of these schools are right for your student. Don't get this answer entirely from a message board. The very best thing you can do is study the online Undergraduate Catalogue very carefully - learning about majors/what those majors require/pre-reqs needed/classes they would take. Then you need to research the strengths of the departments.

Far from a simple answer. But again, in terms of perceived prestige from FFX residents, they are equal

You mean from your perspective JMU is equal to VT maybe. But you can't generalize the "perceived prestige from FFX residents" because you're not all "FFX residents." All the "FFX residents" I know would put VT ahead of JMU in every category (except maybe distance from "FFX" or proximity to a Walmart and a Kmart).

[Anonymous]

I think in a lot of ways they are comparable, however JMU's business department is ranked much higher than VT's. For engineering, obviously VT is the best choice. Academically, in a lot of ways they are comparable, but there are some areas in which one is stronger than the other.

A lot of whether one or the other would be the best fit for a child depends on what size school they would like to attend. My DS wanted a large university, and VT appealed to him more than JMU for that reason. A child who would prefer a smaller, more personal feel while still enjoying the advantages of a mid-sized university would probably appreciate JMU more.

During our visit to VT, the student giving us the tour told us straight out that some of her classes were taught by TA's and that sometimes students were not able to get the courses they needed, when they needed them. Those were things we'd heard rumors about, but they were not addressed in the admissions presentation that we received at VT (which was heavy on emphasizing school spirit and low on discussing the important academic topics).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:which one is jmu? the one in fairfax or the one out on rt 81?

JMU = James Madison University (located in Harrisonburg - about 2.5 hours SW of DC)

GMU = George Mason University (located in Fairfax)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think in a lot of ways they are comparable, however JMU's business department is ranked much higher than VT's. For engineering, obviously VT is the best choice. Academically, in a lot of ways they are comparable, but there are some areas in which one is stronger than the other.

A lot of whether one or the other would be the best fit for a child depends on what size school they would like to attend. My DS wanted a large university, and VT appealed to him more than JMU for that reason. A child who would prefer a smaller, more personal feel while still enjoying the advantages of a mid-sized university would probably appreciate JMU more.

During our visit to VT, the student giving us the tour told us straight out that some of her classes were taught by TA's and that sometimes students were not able to get the courses they needed, when they needed them. Those were things we'd heard rumors about, but they were not addressed in the admissions presentation that we received at VT (which was heavy on emphasizing school spirit and low on discussing the important academic topics).

+1

[Anonymous]

VT is very big and more of a party school.

[Anonymous]

"in terms of perceived prestige from FFX residents, they are equal"

Yes, after one person weighs in that VT is better, and another person weighs in that JMU is better, and this happens till infinity, if all were tallied, yes in terms of perceived prestige from FFX residents, they are equal. Departments will vary.

[Anonymous]

Are you in at both?

If this is for a future application season, it's a hugh waste of energy to debate this when you may not have a choice. Apply to both, and many others to be smart. See where you get in. Chances are this won't be your choice. Visit, research, determine which is best for you.

[Anonymous]

hugh=huge

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only VA college DD applied to was Tech. JMU (in her view and the view of her friends) is becoming 13th grade.

jmu has always been 13th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. As a parent of a VA junior, I have several questions about Tech and JMU. 1) For a non math/science major, is one reputed to be stronger than the other, including for grad school placement? 2) Does JMU have the gigantic classes I have heard Tech has? 3) Does anyone have experience with honors programs at either school? 4) If your DC had the choice between these schools (not UVA or WM) and going private, and you could afford the latter (albeit not easily), would it be worthwhile? 5) Social climate at either school? My DC really doesn't want to go to a large school, so WM is top choice. I am not sure how much to encourage looking at private schools in case DC doesn't get in, or whether we should insist that Tech or JMU be backups. (I know they are not safeties for everyone, but they would be for DC.). Thanks!

Have you looked into University of Mary Washington? A step down from WM for sure, but similar in many ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only VA college DD applied to was Tech. JMU (in her view and the view of her friends) is becoming 13th grade.

jmu has always been 13th grade.

Never heard that. In fact I have heard it's a very good school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only VA college DD applied to was Tech. JMU (in her view and the view of her friends) is becoming 13th grade.

jmu has always been 13th grade.

Never heard that. In fact I have heard it's a very good school.

It's a fine school. The seniors from around here go to JMU and they already know tons of other kids so they report back that it's like high school -- lots of parties with kids they knew from high school. My DD prefers VT because she recognized less people from high school there. So some see the familiarity as a positive and others as a negative.

[Anonymous]

According to Naviance at my sons' HS:

JMU:
Accepted average GPA: 3.83
SAT 1600 scale : 1277
SAT 2400 scale: 1984
ACT 27

VaTech
Accepted average GPA: 4.02
SAT 1600: 1341
SAT 2400: 2000
ACT 29



Both schools had over 1200 applicants in the pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to Naviance at my sons' HS:

JMU:
Accepted average GPA: 3.83
SAT 1600 scale : 1277
SAT 2400 scale: 1984
ACT 27

VaTech
Accepted average GPA: 4.02
SAT 1600: 1341
SAT 2400: 2000
ACT 29



Both schools had over 1200 applicants in the pool.

On the bottom end of the acceptance graph:

I would also add that Va Tech had a fairly solid acceptance above a 3.85 and virtually nothing below.
JMU did not have as strong of a demarcation on the low end, mixed between 3.5 and 3.7.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. As a parent of a VA junior, I have several questions about Tech and JMU. 1) For a non math/science major, is one reputed to be stronger than the other, including for grad school placement? 2) Does JMU have the gigantic classes I have heard Tech has? 3) Does anyone have experience with honors programs at either school? 4) If your DC had the choice between these schools (not UVA or WM) and going private, and you could afford the latter (albeit not easily), would it be worthwhile? 5) Social climate at either school? My DC really doesn't want to go to a large school, so WM is top choice. I am not sure how much to encourage looking at private schools in case DC doesn't get in, or whether we should insist that Tech or JMU be backups. (I know they are not safeties for everyone, but they would be for DC.). Thanks!

Have you looked into University of Mary Washington? A step down from WM for sure, but similar in many ways.

yep, I was just going to post this myself. If you are looking for an in-state alternative to W&M, I'd look to UMW before JMU or VT.