University of Mary Washington- What Am I Missing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a UMW alum. It was Mary Washington College when I attended, and they honestly should never have changed the name - it suited the school perfectly. It's a small, beautiful, tight-knit campus and I absolutely loved my time there. One reason I chose it is because it has no Greek life. Everyone is just friends with everyone else. There were plenty of parties on the weekend and although I lived about an hour away, I only went home a couple of times per semester. It was too much fun being on campus and I didn't want to miss anything! Lacrosse, rugby, soccer, basketball, baseball, etc. were all big and I believe still are. It's only missing a football team, which a lot of people don't care about.

Although it was the perfect school for me, my daughter wasn't interested, and I completely understand why. The gender imbalance has become much more pronounced since I went there, for one. Another factor that I'm sure will be pounced on by some, is the fact that the school now goes all-in on the "wokeness" factor, almost to the point of pushing it. We have no problem with kids of all different backgrounds and sexual orientation, but it would be nice if everyone could just BE without having it so in your face at all times. UMW seems to have gone excessively overboard in this area. This is a turnoff for people who are sick of discussing other people's sexuality all the time.

Although UMW has changed since I attended, it is still the perfect school for the right student.

I really doubt UMW is full of people “discussing other people’s sexuality all the time.” I can’t imagine basing a college decision on such a silly thing. And how do you know what’s going on on campus “all the time” anyway? You graduated decades ago. Is the alumni magazine offending you?

[Anonymous]

My info is probably out of date, but long ago they were a pretty good school, and small, so it was harder to get "lost" the way one could at bigger institutions. Writing was strong and there was a teaching focus. Econ professors were very competent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a UMW alum. It was Mary Washington College when I attended, and they honestly should never have changed the name - it suited the school perfectly. It's a small, beautiful, tight-knit campus and I absolutely loved my time there. One reason I chose it is because it has no Greek life. Everyone is just friends with everyone else. There were plenty of parties on the weekend and although I lived about an hour away, I only went home a couple of times per semester. It was too much fun being on campus and I didn't want to miss anything! Lacrosse, rugby, soccer, basketball, baseball, etc. were all big and I believe still are. It's only missing a football team, which a lot of people don't care about.

Although it was the perfect school for me, my daughter wasn't interested, and I completely understand why. The gender imbalance has become much more pronounced since I went there, for one. Another factor that I'm sure will be pounced on by some, is the fact that the school now goes all-in on the "wokeness" factor, almost to the point of pushing it. We have no problem with kids of all different backgrounds and sexual orientation, but it would be nice if everyone could just BE without having it so in your face at all times. UMW seems to have gone excessively overboard in this area. This is a turnoff for people who are sick of discussing other people's sexuality all the time.

Although UMW has changed since I attended, it is still the perfect school for the right student.

I really doubt UMW is full of people “discussing other people’s sexuality all the time.” I can’t imagine basing a college decision on such a silly thing. And how do you know what’s going on on campus “all the time” anyway? You graduated decades ago. Is the alumni magazine offending you?

Have you visited recently? Taken a tour?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We recently took our DS on tours of UVA, VT, Radford, JMU, and UMW.

UMW was our favorite hands down. Beautiful campus, more than enough offerings- no Greek scene (son isn't a partier), ridiculously affordable and small enough to not get lost. All the others minus Radford just seemed so huge and overwhelming. I get that the academics might be stronger at UVA and Tech, but not if you're a middle of the road undecided student.

Why isn't UMW more popular?

It's pretty far behind JMU academically too. Is it less popular than Radford?

JMU was our least favorite by a long shot and he'd be accepted there. The dorms were garbage with old AC window units. The tour didn't include the library or any academic buildings. Mostly the time was spent talking about inclusion, I kid you not. I will say the dining hall food was good and that matters to him.

Ah, you’re one of them. Talk of “inclusion” is a trigger for you.

Your kid cares about the food and doesn’t care about inclusion. Sounds like a real deep thinker. You must be so proud.

Not caring about other people's sexuality means one is dull? Is that what woke means today?

Look, let’s be honest. There’s not a kid in Virginia who has a prayer at UVA who is also looking at Radford and was turned off my talk of “inclusion” at JMU.

My hunch is that OP’s son’s best shot at a decent in state school is UMW - and then only because he’d be applying as a boy - so OP wants us to talk it up.

Uhhh, no. I'm OP. Son is a stand out baseball player and is entertaining options to play at those schools. He would not play for Tech or UVA but he could probably get in, Tech almost certainly. He didn't like UVA- said it was full of preppy nerds. We took him there so he's getting as much exposure to as many schools as possible. Like I said- UMW surprised us. If it weren't for the baseball option I'm not sure we would have visited given my misconception.

Funny thing is that he thinks the UVA students are "preppy nerds" but you also called him "not a partier" Other than baseball, what IS this kid interested in? Anything?

DP, but.... are you equating partiers with "not nerds"? Because it seems like you are. And in my world partiers are loser degenerates with abuse issues. Most of the men are rapists as well.

Yea, you have serious issues alright. What a ridiculous response.

Look, however you want to stereotype the typical UVA student, “nerd” is not the word that usually comes to mind. Snobby, pretty/handsome, white, rich, athletic etc., sure. But not “nerd.” “Nerd” is what most people would say applies to W&M and, yes, UMW.

It’s obvious to both OP and her son that he doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting into UVA, and that’s why they’re dismissing it out of hand. We all know he’d kill to go there and play baseball over any other school in Virginia.

NP: I do know a couple of preppy nerds who went to UVA, but most were preppy frat boys.

[Anonymous]

To the George Costanza-type guy who thinks his odds are doubled at a school that has 65% females: it doesn’t work that way.

The students are all aware of the male:female ratio when they apply. Female students at a school with 65% females are not there to go man huntin’. They likely have a boyfriend elsewhere or are focused on academics or something else. If they were especially eager for casual romps with average guys, they wouldn’t be there.

So, ironically, it’s often the schools with 65% guys where an average guy might have success, because the females there definitely knew the ratio when they applied, and they apparently liked those odds.

[Anonymous]

We had an experience similar to yours when we visited. Prior to this, I didn’t know much about Mary Washington and my daughter and I were both pleasantly surprised. I too don’t get why it flies under the radar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We recently took our DS on tours of UVA, VT, Radford, JMU, and UMW.

UMW was our favorite hands down. Beautiful campus, more than enough offerings- no Greek scene (son isn't a partier), ridiculously affordable and small enough to not get lost. All the others minus Radford just seemed so huge and overwhelming. I get that the academics might be stronger at UVA and Tech, but not if you're a middle of the road undecided student.

Why isn't UMW more popular?

Well, for starters, “if you’re a middle of the road” student you’re not getting into either UVA or Tech. And that’s when you look at UMW.

Well ok. I think OP is aware that it’s not the school that kids who are getting into Tech or UVA are considering. But for the more average students, which there are tons of, why isn’t it more popular. Specifically, and I feel bad about saying this, but in comparison to CNU?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We recently took our DS on tours of UVA, VT, Radford, JMU, and UMW.

UMW was our favorite hands down. Beautiful campus, more than enough offerings- no Greek scene (son isn't a partier), ridiculously affordable and small enough to not get lost. All the others minus Radford just seemed so huge and overwhelming. I get that the academics might be stronger at UVA and Tech, but not if you're a middle of the road undecided student.

Why isn't UMW more popular?

It's pretty far behind JMU academically too. Is it less popular than Radford?

JMU was our least favorite by a long shot and he'd be accepted there. The dorms were garbage with old AC window units. The tour didn't include the library or any academic buildings. Mostly the time was spent talking about inclusion, I kid you not. I will say the dining hall food was good and that matters to him.

Ah, you’re one of them. Talk of “inclusion” is a trigger for you.

Your kid cares about the food and doesn’t care about inclusion. Sounds like a real deep thinker. You must be so proud.

Not caring about other people's sexuality means one is dull? Is that what woke means today?

Look, let’s be honest. There’s not a kid in Virginia who has a prayer at UVA who is also looking at Radford and was turned off my talk of “inclusion” at JMU.

My hunch is that OP’s son’s best shot at a decent in state school is UMW - and then only because he’d be applying as a boy - so OP wants us to talk it up.

Not OP, but have you ever toured Mary Washington? If so, you’d probably also wonder why it’s not more popular. It seems like it seems like it should be more appealing that it would attract enough kids to have a higher admittance profile. That’s the mystery.

[Anonymous]

Are we really debatig if a school with a 20% acceptance rate and a data set of 4.0+/1500 SATs is full of nerds? What else would it be? That's not the profile of the cool kids. That's the profile of the TJ nerds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a UMW alum. It was Mary Washington College when I attended, and they honestly should never have changed the name - it suited the school perfectly. It's a small, beautiful, tight-knit campus and I absolutely loved my time there. One reason I chose it is because it has no Greek life. Everyone is just friends with everyone else. There were plenty of parties on the weekend and although I lived about an hour away, I only went home a couple of times per semester. It was too much fun being on campus and I didn't want to miss anything! Lacrosse, rugby, soccer, basketball, baseball, etc. were all big and I believe still are. It's only missing a football team, which a lot of people don't care about.

Although it was the perfect school for me, my daughter wasn't interested, and I completely understand why. The gender imbalance has become much more pronounced since I went there, for one. Another factor that I'm sure will be pounced on by some, is the fact that the school now goes all-in on the "wokeness" factor, almost to the point of pushing it. We have no problem with kids of all different backgrounds and sexual orientation, but it would be nice if everyone could just BE without having it so in your face at all times. UMW seems to have gone excessively overboard in this area. This is a turnoff for people who are sick of discussing other people's sexuality all the time.

Although UMW has changed since I attended, it is still the perfect school for the right student.

I really doubt UMW is full of people “discussing other people’s sexuality all the time.” I can’t imagine basing a college decision on such a silly thing. And how do you know what’s going on on campus “all the time” anyway? You graduated decades ago. Is the alumni magazine offending you?

Have you visited recently? Taken a tour?

Oh boy. You’re one of them. In any event, that doesn’t answer the question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved my time at Mary Washington and would choose it again - in a heartbeat. I went to VT for grad school and felt very prepared. I think I was better prepared than classmates from VT undergrad, JMU, and other popular schools.
For the right student, UMW is an amazing choice. Small class sizes where you get to know your professors as individuals, no Greek system so you become friends with the people in your dorm, and a walkable campus/downtown make it a gem.

Some students do go home on weekends but it’s definitely not a commuter school.

Can you elaborate more about what the social life is like there? I went to VT, and my daughter is considering Mary Washington. One of the things I loved about Tech was how much there was to do there (outside of Greek life or football games). I’m a little hesitant about what the social life is like at small schools. What is the typical Friday or Saturday night like for a Mary Washington student?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are we really debatig if a school with a 20% acceptance rate and a data set of 4.0+/1500 SATs is full of nerds? What else would it be? That's not the profile of the cool kids. That's the profile of the TJ nerds.

The same school is full of supremely talented athletes and has a thriving Greek life that naysayers love putting down. It’s not a nerd school in the slightest, but unless you’re enough of a standout athlete or student to get accepted yourself you’re not going to have the opportunity to see that for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We recently took our DS on tours of UVA, VT, Radford, JMU, and UMW.

UMW was our favorite hands down. Beautiful campus, more than enough offerings- no Greek scene (son isn't a partier), ridiculously affordable and small enough to not get lost. All the others minus Radford just seemed so huge and overwhelming. I get that the academics might be stronger at UVA and Tech, but not if you're a middle of the road undecided student.

Why isn't UMW more popular?

It's pretty far behind JMU academically too. Is it less popular than Radford?

JMU was our least favorite by a long shot and he'd be accepted there. The dorms were garbage with old AC window units. The tour didn't include the library or any academic buildings. Mostly the time was spent talking about inclusion, I kid you not. I will say the dining hall food was good and that matters to him.

What’s wrong with talking about inclusion? That sounds like a good thing!

My DD’s impression was that everyone at JMU carried themselves with an air of resignation that they were at a second-choice school.

That said it’s undergrad-oriented which is a great thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the George Costanza-type guy who thinks his odds are doubled at a school that has 65% females: it doesn’t work that way.

The students are all aware of the male:female ratio when they apply. Female students at a school with 65% females are not there to go man huntin’. They likely have a boyfriend elsewhere or are focused on academics or something else. If they were especially eager for casual romps with average guys, they wouldn’t be there.

So, ironically, it’s often the schools with 65% guys where an average guy might have success, because the females there definitely knew the ratio when they applied, and they apparently liked those odds.

A lot changes from age 18 to 22. You might be surprised to find plenty of “casual romps” at all colleges. Often from those you’d least expect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s nothing wrong with UMW. It’s a good school. For some reason it’s slipped in the VA state school pecking order, but that might be because others have gotten hotter while UMW hasn’t. The gender imbalance is a turn off for many. It does have a reputation as more of a women’s college. It’s a great choice for someone who can’t get into William & Mary.

I doubt it’s a school for a “baseball standout” who is turned off by “preppy nerds” though.

Thank you for bringing this thread around to where it should be. I am not the OP, but I too have wondered exactly why some other schools got hotter while Mary Washington slipped. It has a lot going for it that some of the other schools don’t - namely a very attractive campus and walking proximity to a nice downtown. So why has it gone down in popularity?