JMU vs. Colby

[Anonymous]

My DC has a chance to do their sport at either one of these two schools. But they are vastly different academically and socially! Curious about impressions from DCUM. Sure, JMU not a high academic school but also many/most people have not heard of Colby outside of certain circles. Such a weird choice my DC has! (yes, offers at both)

[Anonymous]

JMU!

[Anonymous]

I base the decision on: the degree of travel inconvenience, and what her gut tells her.

[Anonymous]

Outside Virginia it's likely not too many people are more familiar with JMU than with Colby, if that's an actual criterion for selecting a school.

Colby is a so-called "potted Ivy"; that is, an academically well-rated and nationally known small liberal arts college. JMU is a large middle-of-the-road regional university. As you note, they are vastly different in character, reputation, academic rigor, location, size, and in many other dimensions.

It might be best to leave the sports aspect out of things unless your kid hopes to be a sports professional. Instead, look at which school will provide the best preparation for post-college life, whether that is employment in a particular field or graduate school.

[Anonymous]

In addition to being very different academically, they are different athletically. Sports at JMU will be a much bigger commitment than at Colby.

What major does your kid want?

What do they want their sports experience to be? The primary driver of their school experience, or just one piece?

Do they want to study abroad?

[Anonymous]

Is cost a factor? Colby is expensive. Have you visited both?

[Anonymous]

How do finances play into this? Is JMU in state for you? Are they offering athletic aid?

Is your family likely to qualify for financial aid at Colby?

For my family, OOS at JMU, middle income so qualify for need based aid, kid who plays an equivalency sport that doesn't usually give a huge amount of aid, Colby would almost certainly be cheaper and that would be a huge factor. For a higher income VA kid, the opposite would almost certainly be true. Obviously if your kid plays a headcount sport, there will be a huge difference in costs.

But, for some families that isn't a concern.

[Anonymous]

Colby!!!!!!!!!!

JMU is really just a VA/DMV school. I've always heard of Colby (not from this area) but I've never heard of JMU until I moved here. But I am a small liberal arts graduate so maybe it was in my orbit from when I applied to college. And then in law school, I knew lots of Colby grads. Didn't know any from JMU.

[Anonymous]

The quality of education would be much higher at Colby.

[Anonymous]

Op here: Cost not a factor. Wondering about reputational aspects for post-grade job prospects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here: Cost not a factor. Wondering about reputational aspects for post-grade job prospects.

Unless there is a specific major where this makes a difference, than Colby has better reputation.

But, the schools are so entirely different that your kid is likely to be much happier or engaged at one than the other. A happy engaged kid at JMU is going to have a better engaged outcome than a kid who wanted JMU and his parents made him go to Colby. So, I'd start with what your kid wants.

What does your kid want college to be like? What do they want to study? How much time do they want to spend on sports?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colby!!!!!!!!!!

JMU is really just a VA/DMV school. I've always heard of Colby (not from this area) but I've never heard of JMU until I moved here. But I am a small liberal arts graduate so maybe it was in my orbit from when I applied to college. And then in law school, I knew lots of Colby grads. Didn't know any from JMU.

+1

If everything else is equal, this is all very true. I'm from NYC. Everyone from NJ and north knows Colby is a good school.

I had never heard of JMU until I moved to NoVa.

[Anonymous]

Visit Colby in February before you decide, if she hasn’t already spent a good amount of time in very cold climates in winter. It is no joke.

And I disagree with the person who said out sports aside. Sports are likely to dominate her experience. What are both coaches like? Teammates? Schedule? How about travel? If it’s a spring outdoors sport she will likely travel a ton at Colby and less at JMU. Vice versa if it’s a snow sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here: Cost not a factor. Wondering about reputational aspects for post-grade job prospects.

Hands down Colby. I’d choose it for my kid in a heartbeat over JMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Outside Virginia it's likely not too many people are more familiar with JMU than with Colby, if that's an actual criterion for selecting a school.

Colby is a so-called "potted Ivy"; that is, an academically well-rated and nationally known small liberal arts college. JMU is a large middle-of-the-road regional university. As you note, they are vastly different in character, reputation, academic rigor, location, size, and in many other dimensions.

It might be best to leave the sports aspect out of things unless your kid hopes to be a sports professional. Instead, look at which school will provide the best preparation for post-college life, whether that is employment in a particular field or graduate school.

JMU football is on the rise so more people will have heard of JMU in a few years. Outside DC and NY/NJ bubbles most people have not heard of Colby.