| Mine got into both and ended up at JMU. He checked with people he knew had attended Elon and based on hearing that guys who didn’t go Greek (he didn’t want to join a frat) didn’t have much social life, he chose JMU. ( btw, he heard the same thing from both males and females). He’s happy with his choice. |
Elon does an awesome job making study abroad affordable so that everyone who wants to go, can go. |
For the full pay family I know with a kid in attendance at Elon, the kid had a great time in Europe for,a,semester but still had to pay a one year lease back at Elon because they couldn’t get someone to sublet just for fall semester, because so many kids also go abroad. I’m sure it’s “affordable” on paper to this $250k+ HHI house, but it is definitely more expensive. |
Elon has a winter term where many students study aborad for 3-4 weeks. It was seriously the highlight of my time there. |
| I feel that size and location should make a big difference as long as money isn’t a factor. There’s a very different feel to a big suburban public nearish DC vs a small rural private in the middle of nowhere. For my kid, Elon would be preferred (very much wants a smaller school). Another kid might want a larger school with more to do. |
| Well this is interesting. My kid (business) visited Elon intending to apply but got a little creeped out, I dont know why ( wasnt there) but he said it felt Stepford wife ish (to that effect, not his words, I think he said cult). He initially liked JMU as was admitted (and we know some kids with good business outcomes there and its cheap as hell being in VA) but the more he saw the less he liked the "divided campus". He ended up picking IU Kelley, which campus is flat out insane. Very expensive OOS but what we do for our kids... |
My 2024 DS was also creeped out and made me leave the tour in the middle. I thought it seemed lovely but it was not for him. |
JMU has the exact same study abroad program - except it’s a 3-4 week May term. I did it when I was a student there. I vote JMU. All of my friends who were business majors did well with landing jobs too. Go Dukes! |
| Unsolicited but my kid is in Europe this semester on study abroad. I have seen those 3-4 week study aboard programs and they are like vacation tours. Going abroad and moving in with new roommates, navigating a foreign college, traveling around Europe with just brand new friends, making your own hotel and air arrangements - that is study abroad. I cant tell you how much much my student has loved it and it has shown me that they can navigate the world without us, for better or worse. If you have the choice send your kid for 5 months, not 3-4 weeks, its a very different thing and I suspect mine may look back on it as the best time of his life - it has been magical and he did not know a soul going over there. |
+1 My JMU DC will have studied abroad three times by the time he graduates. One semester and two May terms. Fabulous experiences! |
| Are either of them known for being more liberal or conservative? |
| I’ve visited Elon and liked the campus and vibe but definitely felt isolated and smaller. A family member loved JMU, but bigger. imagine it comes down to just a preference for size/location. Two good options! |