Why not GMU?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids away for college. It's the biggest gift you can give them. GMU is a lame option for NoVa kids. Let them fly!!

Agreed. A lot of parents limiting their children’s potential.

Potential doesn't mean paying for them to move far away and party for four years.

Sending your kids away to college is for the privileged few. Most people can't afford out of state.

Here’s a direct example. It can’t be that your kids are getting a good education that isn’t available at GMU either great networking opportunities in a new place. No, they’re just “party[ing] for four years.” This is the mindset of abusers who are jealous of their kids.

No one said that you can't get a good education at another school, just that having them go to GMU doesn't limit their potential.

BTW, my kids don't even go to GMU. But, what you are stating is ridiculous. Kids can reach their potential whether 10 or 100 miles from home. Living far away from home isn't what makes them reach their potential.

I'm not jealous of my children. I want great things for my kids, but going to school 100 miles away doesn't mean it helps them reach their potential.

You're weird.

Living far from home does help kids grow in a way that kids who stay home don't. It isn't quantifiable by an internship or a job but it certainly makes a person more interesting as an individual if they ventured out of their comfort zone/home area. That't indisputable.

I disagree.
The idea of someone living some place far away you've never been may sound interesting to YOU, but it doesn't make the individual per se more interesting. And people can "venture out of their comfort zone" in many ways, not just by leaving their home town. Those types of stepping out, imo, actually do make a person more interesting.

Yes, living far from home does make kids grow differently than if they stay home - mostly faster; mainly developing (hopefully) more independence sooner; sometimes becoming more confident and/or adventurous; maybe more social - maybe not. The more I think about it, the less I agree with you even on this point. I'd say "potentially grow differently."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it crazy that my Fairfax kid prefers GMU over William and Mary,?

Yes

No the "vibe" as my kids would say is very different for these two schools.

More different than any subjective notion of "vibe" could be are the admissions criteria of GMU and any of the t3 Virginia public schools.

https://research.schev.edu/enrollment/B10_FreshmenProfile.ASP

Very low test submitting percent at GMU compared to Virginia Tech, W&M, UVA. Median test scores are far lower than these three too. Vibe should be the least of anyone's concerns when choosing between GMU, JMU, VCU, etc. and the t3.

thanks! can you find this for other states?

I only know of this sort of website for VA. Here are some data points for DMVish schools.

School: Median SAT, %submitting scores

UVA: 1470, 59%
W&M: 1470, 59%
UMD: 1450, 48%
VTech: 1360, 48%
GWU: 1420, 42%
American: 1370, 36%
Delaware: 1280, 28%
GMU: 1240, 38%
VCU: 1150, 37%
JMU: 1240, 26%
Penn State: 1310, 39%

Stat wise, GMU is not that different to JMU, but people seem to hate on GMU more simply because of the location.

GMS > JMU in USNWR ranking.

This is such an interesting comment. People hating on GMU because of the location which is where so many of us actually live. Our kids wouldn't look at it because they wanted to go somewhere new. But I know so many grads who had an amazing experience there, and terrific professional outcomes. Some of them were locals and most did the traditional on-campus experience. We have one kid still in high school, and that will be the first school we will visit for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people who act like this are certain people who live in NOVA and feel like because a school is nearby, it must not be good. Meanwhile, GMU is a great school that serves thousands of students. Kind of like how someone who lives near UMD or UVA or any school most likely would choose to go elsewhere. Not everyone, of course, but that's a mentality that some have.

You got half of that right.

Which half?

Just ignore the troll. We are lucky to have GMU and all of its resources right here in our backyard.

+1
The Schar School of Public Policy is highly respected.
GMU also has a very good nursing program.
It has been an under-rated school for a very long time, finally starting to get some of its due recognition.

+2. I have a kid in the Schar School program now, and another one in a poli sci program at a more highly ranked school. The GMU program by far is more hands on. They have tons of interesting local speakers and events, send the kids a weekly notice of internship and research opportunities, and the classes the GMU student has taken seem just as rigorous and thought-provoking as the other school's. It seems GMU is very good at helping the kids to be prepared and positioned to get relevant jobs, while at the other school the kids seem to be navigating on their own.

[Anonymous]

Is it because GMU does not signal intelligence in the same way UVA, WandM, UMD, etc. do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people who act like this are certain people who live in NOVA and feel like because a school is nearby, it must not be good. Meanwhile, GMU is a great school that serves thousands of students. Kind of like how someone who lives near UMD or UVA or any school most likely would choose to go elsewhere. Not everyone, of course, but that's a mentality that some have.

You got half of that right.

Which half?

Just ignore the troll. We are lucky to have GMU and all of its resources right here in our backyard.

+1
The Schar School of Public Policy is highly respected.
GMU also has a very good nursing program.
It has been an under-rated school for a very long time, finally starting to get some of its due recognition.

+2. I have a kid in the Schar School program now, and another one in a poli sci program at a more highly ranked school. The GMU program by far is more hands on. They have tons of interesting local speakers and events, send the kids a weekly notice of internship and research opportunities, and the classes the GMU student has taken seem just as rigorous and thought-provoking as the other school's. It seems GMU is very good at helping the kids to be prepared and positioned to get relevant jobs, while at the other school the kids seem to be navigating on their own.

My kid is considering the Schar School OOS over UMD (which we understand is "higher ranked"). The difference of having an entire school for Policy and Government vs. UMD's which is limited to a major inside the School of Social Science is attractive- especially for a high school kid who is still figuring out which specific type of work she is interested in. Also, the research and network opportunities (bonus that they have a lot available for credit) are set up to be easy to navigate vs. some of the higher ranked schools we applied to where you need to be more persistent/outgoing (not DD's personality) to be considered. I think the environment for a kid who is a strong student but didnt strive to be a teacher's pet type.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids away for college. It's the biggest gift you can give them. GMU is a lame option for NoVa kids. Let them fly!!

Agreed. A lot of parents limiting their children’s potential.

Potential doesn't mean paying for them to move far away and party for four years.

Sending your kids away to college is for the privileged few. Most people can't afford out of state.

Here’s a direct example. It can’t be that your kids are getting a good education that isn’t available at GMU either great networking opportunities in a new place. No, they’re just “party[ing] for four years.” This is the mindset of abusers who are jealous of their kids.

No one said that you can't get a good education at another school, just that having them go to GMU doesn't limit their potential.

BTW, my kids don't even go to GMU. But, what you are stating is ridiculous. Kids can reach their potential whether 10 or 100 miles from home. Living far away from home isn't what makes them reach their potential.

I'm not jealous of my children. I want great things for my kids, but going to school 100 miles away doesn't mean it helps them reach their potential.

You're weird.

Living far from home does help kids grow in a way that kids who stay home don't. It isn't quantifiable by an internship or a job but it certainly makes a person more interesting as an individual if they ventured out of their comfort zone/home area. That't indisputable.

I disagree.
The idea of someone living some place far away you've never been may sound interesting to YOU, but it doesn't make the individual per se more interesting. And people can "venture out of their comfort zone" in many ways, not just by leaving their home town. Those types of stepping out, imo, actually do make a person more interesting.

Yes, living far from home does make kids grow differently than if they stay home - mostly faster; mainly developing (hopefully) more independence sooner; sometimes becoming more confident and/or adventurous; maybe more social - maybe not. The more I think about it, the less I agree with you even on this point. I'd say "potentially grow differently."

I agree with that PP.

I remember when I first met my DH, he described one sister as "stupid" and one as "selfish." He pointed out that the stupid one grew up in FFX, like he did, but that she has literally never left. Graduated from hs, moved out of her mother's house in FFX city to a house in FFX county. After two kids and a divorce went to college at George Mason. Has been working here the rest of her life. Her brand of stupid (there are, of course, different types of stupid), could have been controlled for a bit if she'd seen a bit more of the world. Or even a bit more of the US. Or even a bit more of Virginia. Her provincial attitudes are pretty ugly (racist, classist, and even a bit hick-ish). After being a dem for most of her life she voted for Trump to "keep those people out -- they are taking our jobs." I think having gone away, even just for college, would have been a counterweight here. Not a heavy one, maybe. But it would have helped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it because GMU does not signal intelligence in the same way UVA, WandM, UMD, etc. do?

This is part of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it because GMU does not signal intelligence in the same way UVA, WandM, UMD, etc. do?

Because today, GMU has a commuter school reputation and feel.

Maybe 20 years from now it'll be ranked like Northeastern which overcame that label.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it because GMU does not signal intelligence in the same way UVA, WandM, UMD, etc. do?

Because today, GMU has a commuter school reputation and feel.

Maybe 20 years from now it'll be ranked like Northeastern which overcame that label.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids away for college. It's the biggest gift you can give them. GMU is a lame option for NoVa kids. Let them fly!!

Agreed. A lot of parents limiting their children’s potential.

Potential doesn't mean paying for them to move far away and party for four years.

Sending your kids away to college is for the privileged few. Most people can't afford out of state.

Here’s a direct example. It can’t be that your kids are getting a good education that isn’t available at GMU either great networking opportunities in a new place. No, they’re just “party[ing] for four years.” This is the mindset of abusers who are jealous of their kids.

No one said that you can't get a good education at another school, just that having them go to GMU doesn't limit their potential.

BTW, my kids don't even go to GMU. But, what you are stating is ridiculous. Kids can reach their potential whether 10 or 100 miles from home. Living far away from home isn't what makes them reach their potential.

I'm not jealous of my children. I want great things for my kids, but going to school 100 miles away doesn't mean it helps them reach their potential.

You're weird.

Living far from home does help kids grow in a way that kids who stay home don't. It isn't quantifiable by an internship or a job but it certainly makes a person more interesting as an individual if they ventured out of their comfort zone/home area. That't indisputable.

I disagree.
The idea of someone living some place far away you've never been may sound interesting to YOU, but it doesn't make the individual per se more interesting. And people can "venture out of their comfort zone" in many ways, not just by leaving their home town. Those types of stepping out, imo, actually do make a person more interesting.

Yes, living far from home does make kids grow differently than if they stay home - mostly faster; mainly developing (hopefully) more independence sooner; sometimes becoming more confident and/or adventurous; maybe more social - maybe not. The more I think about it, the less I agree with you even on this point. I'd say "potentially grow differently."

I agree with that PP.

I remember when I first met my DH, he described one sister as "stupid" and one as "selfish." He pointed out that the stupid one grew up in FFX, like he did, but that she has literally never left. Graduated from hs, moved out of her mother's house in FFX city to a house in FFX county. After two kids and a divorce went to college at George Mason. Has been working here the rest of her life. Her brand of stupid (there are, of course, different types of stupid), could have been controlled for a bit if she'd seen a bit more of the world. Or even a bit more of the US. Or even a bit more of Virginia. Her provincial attitudes are pretty ugly (racist, classist, and even a bit hick-ish). After being a dem for most of her life she voted for Trump to "keep those people out -- they are taking our jobs." I think having gone away, even just for college, would have been a counterweight here. Not a heavy one, maybe. But it would have helped.

This reads kinda funny because the FFX area and GMU in particular are very diverse and have the types of growth opportunities the other PP mentions. One of the reasons DS chose to go to GMU from OOS is because it is so diverse. The PP's provincial SIL was so doltish, notwithstanding having lived in FFX all her life, to not realize this? Or perhaps lacked the drive to go somewhere more like-minded for her? This does not sound like a FFX or GMU problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids away for college. It's the biggest gift you can give them. GMU is a lame option for NoVa kids. Let them fly!!

Agreed. A lot of parents limiting their children’s potential.

Potential doesn't mean paying for them to move far away and party for four years.

Sending your kids away to college is for the privileged few. Most people can't afford out of state.

Here’s a direct example. It can’t be that your kids are getting a good education that isn’t available at GMU either great networking opportunities in a new place. No, they’re just “party[ing] for four years.” This is the mindset of abusers who are jealous of their kids.

No one said that you can't get a good education at another school, just that having them go to GMU doesn't limit their potential.

BTW, my kids don't even go to GMU. But, what you are stating is ridiculous. Kids can reach their potential whether 10 or 100 miles from home. Living far away from home isn't what makes them reach their potential.

I'm not jealous of my children. I want great things for my kids, but going to school 100 miles away doesn't mean it helps them reach their potential.

You're weird.

Living far from home does help kids grow in a way that kids who stay home don't. It isn't quantifiable by an internship or a job but it certainly makes a person more interesting as an individual if they ventured out of their comfort zone/home area. That't indisputable.

I disagree.
The idea of someone living some place far away you've never been may sound interesting to YOU, but it doesn't make the individual per se more interesting. And people can "venture out of their comfort zone" in many ways, not just by leaving their home town. Those types of stepping out, imo, actually do make a person more interesting.


Yes, living far from home does make kids grow differently than if they stay home - mostly faster; mainly developing (hopefully) more independence sooner; sometimes becoming more confident and/or adventurous; maybe more social - maybe not. The more I think about it, the less I agree with you even on this point. I'd say "potentially grow differently."

I agree with that PP.

I remember when I first met my DH, he described one sister as "stupid" and one as "selfish." He pointed out that the stupid one grew up in FFX, like he did, but that she has literally never left. Graduated from hs, moved out of her mother's house in FFX city to a house in FFX county. After two kids and a divorce went to college at George Mason. Has been working here the rest of her life. Her brand of stupid (there are, of course, different types of stupid), could have been controlled for a bit if she'd seen a bit more of the world. Or even a bit more of the US. Or even a bit more of Virginia. Her provincial attitudes are pretty ugly (racist, classist, and even a bit hick-ish). After being a dem for most of her life she voted for Trump to "keep those people out -- they are taking our jobs." I think having gone away, even just for college, would have been a counterweight here. Not a heavy one, maybe. But it would have helped.

This reads kinda funny because the FFX area and GMU in particular are very diverse and have the types of growth opportunities the other PP mentions. One of the reasons DS chose to go to GMU from OOS is because it is so diverse. The PP's provincial SIL was so doltish, notwithstanding having lived in FFX all her life, to not realize this? Or perhaps lacked the drive to go somewhere more like-minded for her? This does not sound like a FFX or GMU problem.

+1 moving away to an area that is less diverse and metropolitan just to say that you left your hometown doesnt really add much value. You can learn how to do you day to day adulting anywhere but meeting others with different viewpoints is what provides growth and there are plenty of opportunities to do this in the DC area. We have visited a few OOS publics in the Midwest and NE and there is a pretty stark difference in things like performing arts, museums, global cuisine restaurants and diverse populations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it because GMU does not signal intelligence in the same way UVA, WandM, UMD, etc. do?

How does a university "signal intelligence"? The faculty at GMU are top notch. Is it the sweatshirt color?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids away for college. It's the biggest gift you can give them. GMU is a lame option for NoVa kids. Let them fly!!

Agreed. A lot of parents limiting their children’s potential.

Potential doesn't mean paying for them to move far away and party for four years.

Sending your kids away to college is for the privileged few. Most people can't afford out of state.

Here’s a direct example. It can’t be that your kids are getting a good education that isn’t available at GMU either great networking opportunities in a new place. No, they’re just “party[ing] for four years.” This is the mindset of abusers who are jealous of their kids.

No one said that you can't get a good education at another school, just that having them go to GMU doesn't limit their potential.

BTW, my kids don't even go to GMU. But, what you are stating is ridiculous. Kids can reach their potential whether 10 or 100 miles from home. Living far away from home isn't what makes them reach their potential.

I'm not jealous of my children. I want great things for my kids, but going to school 100 miles away doesn't mean it helps them reach their potential.

You're weird.

Living far from home does help kids grow in a way that kids who stay home don't. It isn't quantifiable by an internship or a job but it certainly makes a person more interesting as an individual if they ventured out of their comfort zone/home area. That't indisputable.

I disagree.
The idea of someone living some place far away you've never been may sound interesting to YOU, but it doesn't make the individual per se more interesting. And people can "venture out of their comfort zone" in many ways, not just by leaving their home town. Those types of stepping out, imo, actually do make a person more interesting.

Yes, living far from home does make kids grow differently than if they stay home - mostly faster; mainly developing (hopefully) more independence sooner; sometimes becoming more confident and/or adventurous; maybe more social - maybe not. The more I think about it, the less I agree with you even on this point. I'd say "potentially grow differently."

I agree with that PP.

I remember when I first met my DH, he described one sister as "stupid" and one as "selfish." He pointed out that the stupid one grew up in FFX, like he did, but that she has literally never left. Graduated from hs, moved out of her mother's house in FFX city to a house in FFX county. After two kids and a divorce went to college at George Mason. Has been working here the rest of her life. Her brand of stupid (there are, of course, different types of stupid), could have been controlled for a bit if she'd seen a bit more of the world. Or even a bit more of the US. Or even a bit more of Virginia. Her provincial attitudes are pretty ugly (racist, classist, and even a bit hick-ish). After being a dem for most of her life she voted for Trump to "keep those people out -- they are taking our jobs." I think having gone away, even just for college, would have been a counterweight here. Not a heavy one, maybe. But it would have helped.

This reads kinda funny because the FFX area and GMU in particular are very diverse and have the types of growth opportunities the other PP mentions. One of the reasons DS chose to go to GMU from OOS is because it is so diverse. The PP's provincial SIL was so doltish, notwithstanding having lived in FFX all her life, to not realize this? Or perhaps lacked the drive to go somewhere more like-minded for her? This does not sound like a FFX or GMU problem.

Fairfax, VA is "so diverse" in a very particular kind of way. As is GMU. Perhaps if you were not OOS, you would understand this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it because GMU does not signal intelligence in the same way UVA, WandM, UMD, etc. do?

How does a university "signal intelligence"? The faculty at GMU are top notch. Is it the sweatshirt color?

I don't think you know what "top" means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids away for college. It's the biggest gift you can give them. GMU is a lame option for NoVa kids. Let them fly!!

Agreed. A lot of parents limiting their children’s potential.

Potential doesn't mean paying for them to move far away and party for four years.

Sending your kids away to college is for the privileged few. Most people can't afford out of state.

Here’s a direct example. It can’t be that your kids are getting a good education that isn’t available at GMU either great networking opportunities in a new place. No, they’re just “party[ing] for four years.” This is the mindset of abusers who are jealous of their kids.

No one said that you can't get a good education at another school, just that having them go to GMU doesn't limit their potential.

BTW, my kids don't even go to GMU. But, what you are stating is ridiculous. Kids can reach their potential whether 10 or 100 miles from home. Living far away from home isn't what makes them reach their potential.

I'm not jealous of my children. I want great things for my kids, but going to school 100 miles away doesn't mean it helps them reach their potential.

You're weird.

Living far from home does help kids grow in a way that kids who stay home don't. It isn't quantifiable by an internship or a job but it certainly makes a person more interesting as an individual if they ventured out of their comfort zone/home area. That't indisputable.

I disagree.
The idea of someone living some place far away you've never been may sound interesting to YOU, but it doesn't make the individual per se more interesting. And people can "venture out of their comfort zone" in many ways, not just by leaving their home town. Those types of stepping out, imo, actually do make a person more interesting.


Yes, living far from home does make kids grow differently than if they stay home - mostly faster; mainly developing (hopefully) more independence sooner; sometimes becoming more confident and/or adventurous; maybe more social - maybe not. The more I think about it, the less I agree with you even on this point. I'd say "potentially grow differently."

I agree with that PP.

I remember when I first met my DH, he described one sister as "stupid" and one as "selfish." He pointed out that the stupid one grew up in FFX, like he did, but that she has literally never left. Graduated from hs, moved out of her mother's house in FFX city to a house in FFX county. After two kids and a divorce went to college at George Mason. Has been working here the rest of her life. Her brand of stupid (there are, of course, different types of stupid), could have been controlled for a bit if she'd seen a bit more of the world. Or even a bit more of the US. Or even a bit more of Virginia. Her provincial attitudes are pretty ugly (racist, classist, and even a bit hick-ish). After being a dem for most of her life she voted for Trump to "keep those people out -- they are taking our jobs." I think having gone away, even just for college, would have been a counterweight here. Not a heavy one, maybe. But it would have helped.

This reads kinda funny because the FFX area and GMU in particular are very diverse and have the types of growth opportunities the other PP mentions. One of the reasons DS chose to go to GMU from OOS is because it is so diverse. The PP's provincial SIL was so doltish, notwithstanding having lived in FFX all her life, to not realize this? Or perhaps lacked the drive to go somewhere more like-minded for her? This does not sound like a FFX or GMU problem.

+1 moving away to an area that is less diverse and metropolitan just to say that you left your hometown doesnt really add much value. You can learn how to do you day to day adulting anywhere but meeting others with different viewpoints is what provides growth and there are plenty of opportunities to do this in the DC area. We have visited a few OOS publics in the Midwest and NE and there is a pretty stark difference in things like performing arts, museums, global cuisine restaurants and diverse populations.

Moving anywhere that is different will "add value." Moving to Roanoke from NoVA will do that. You don't need "performing arts, museums, global cuisine restaurants and diverse populations" to learn that people live differently than you have. In fact, if you come from a relatively cosmopolitan place, you might learn more about other people in "the Midwest."