DC can’t decide
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
DS, FCPS, can’t decide between these options. Business major. Is also considering pre med or pre physical therapy. Sporty kid, hard working, a bit shy, might join a fraternity. Not interested in study abroad. We can afford the cost differences.
JMU: $32k instate. In honors college. Pros: close, cheapest, we have family nearby. Known quantity. Has a great pre-professional health majors team. Friendly, sporty school. Could join a frat. He could be happy here. Could play his sport at club level. Cons: some people don’t think it’s that rigorous/well ranked. A bit of a party school. Almost too close to home. No team for his sport. U South Carolina: $46k after merit. Darla Moore, Capstone scholar (but not honors) Pros: Great business school. Big SEC school with lots of football and basketball. Fraternity system strong here. Nice urban campus, son liked his visit. Could play club sport. Cousin from Virginia will also attend. Cons. Far. (8-9 hour drive or 2 hour flight). A bit of a party school. It’s in SC, so history and red state politics might be part of the culture. He would be more of an outsider, but that might help him grow. Would have to change schools/majors to do pre med. big school (35k people) William & Mary guaranteed Jan./ Spring Admit. You either go to Nova CC, or study abroad in fall and get 12 credits. Pros: highest ranked school by far. Close (3 hours) and opportunity to try different majors. Smaller size 7k, maybe closer relationships with professors. Lots of internship opportunities. Could join a frat and maybe even walk on to his sport and play D1. Cons: Are officially a transfer student. Jan admit is a turn-off for DS, feels like he is missing starting college. Not interested in the study abroad at all. Not clear who he would meet in the fall 2024 if he goes to nova. not very sporty overall as a school. Not sure if this is his fit or school. Not direct admit to business school. Might be in the bottom 1/2 of his class. DCUM, please be kind. (She says naively…) |
Anonymous
| If he really doesn’t want the W&M option, I’d favor JMU over U of SC. |
Anonymous
| I understand not wanting the January start. So, since it's between JMU and U of SC, I'd also go with JMU. |
Anonymous
|
How confident kid can walk onto the team…and what does that mean for a delayed start? Would kid have to go to a CC near W&M to participate in Fall workouts?
My understanding is nearly everyone that maintains a decent GPA eventually gets into the business program…just may be junior year vs sophomore year. |
Anonymous
| Feels like usc is the move based on your child’s interests. Good luck to them! |
Anonymous
I was wondering this too. Why not rent an apartment in Williamsburg and go to CC there - but practice with their D1 team and perhaps attend traditional W&M events throughout the Fall and meet classmates. They don't need to be in class together to start making friendships. |
Anonymous
| Personally I would run, not walk towards W&M and not bother with the others. |
Anonymous
You can’t do that. You can lose eligibility- it’s limited in what you can participate in- as a redshirt limited # practices. If not even a student there, not even allowed by NCAA. |
Anonymous
Reach out to the W&M coach, but I think it might be tricky, depending on the sport. In any event, the coach might be able to give him workouts that better prepare him. By the way, I have kids at both JMU and W&M: JMU nursing (junior) and W&M Kinesiology (sophomore transfer). |
Anonymous
|
I’d lean JMU in this scenario, but it’s a close call over U of SC. Did he do both admitted student days?
William and Mary just doesn’t seem like the right fit and the spring admit thing kinda stinks. |
Anonymous
This is the correct answer. |
Anonymous
|
I vote JMU. All his career interests are solid there, and it seems a good place to be slightly undecided.
|
Anonymous
|
I would go for W&M without question, but if he really can’t… JMU.
I went to a college that had a large January admit class (Cal) and while on its face it seemed strange, by March no one would have any clue who was “new” and there was a big January class so lots of people in the same position. It’s a great way to get into a much more highly ranked school… and really, truly, no one will even bat an eye. If he’s truly not interested in study abroad (why not???) could he get a p/t job and take a couple of cc classes in the fall to save money and knock out some credits? I know it feels like the biggest downer to him, but it’s four months. |
Anonymous
| UofSC. Outside of this area JMU is unknown. Darla Moore is well respected. Every school is a party school depending on how social your child is |
Anonymous
| JMU |