Forum Index
»
College and University Discussion
Are VA publics really better than Maryland's?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
Virginia is just not attractive to some people. Not interesting really. |
Anonymous
| Yes, VA has more, and more varied, public colleges and universities, which translates into more options for in-state applicants aiming to pay in-state tuition. They range from top-tier nationally known institutions like UVA and W&M, to less competitive options - there's something for everyone. |
Anonymous
| I'm from MD and I love how VA has so many options. My kid still isn't interested in any of the schools there though with the exception of possibly UVA or VA Tech. UVA is very hard to get into though for most kids so for someone who wants a big college, great academics, rah rah experience, VA tech is the only one left but it's also very remote. |
Anonymous
|
MD is similar to NJ. Rutgers-New Brunswick is their good big public. In addition, they have Rutgers-Camden & Rutgers-Newark.
In Maryland, we have UMBC, Towson & many others in addition to UMD-College Park. https://www.usmd.edu/institutions/ NJ has 3 million more people though! Virginia has an enviable public higher ed system. |
Anonymous
Agree. That's why CA's options are better than VA's, because it's just a larger state with more options. |
Anonymous
| UMBC is not bad. Pretty similar between VA and MD. The main difference is VA has VTech and UVA versus UMD. Remaining options are the same. |
Anonymous
Yes, but as another poster mentioned the area immediately around d the campus is rundown and sketchy. Even driving near there is awful - and close to an accident prone stretch on the Beltway. 0/10 for location imo. |
Anonymous
| you have top tier state school and then the rest. This stuff like VCU, GMU, and JMU is better than Towson or UMBC is dumb. |
Anonymous
| I agree VA is better for higher ed because it has a wider range of different types of schools with a range of selectivity and settings. Big, small, urban, rural. A top arts school (VCU) and a great engineering school (VT). Every student should be able to find something that is a fit. And, because VA is a physically larger state than MD, there are more "away from home" options. Lots of kids don't want to go to the school just a few miles from home, e.g. UMD and, in VA, GMU. But, GMU is available for NoVA students who, for whatever reason, don't want to or can't afford to go away. |
Anonymous
| In my view, yes. |
Anonymous
Yea, IMO VCU, GMU, JMU is no better than UMBC. And I say that as a MD parent whose kid is looking at those VA schools. But, VA does have W&M and Vtech, too. The state is just larger, so has more options. |
Anonymous
| Yes. VA higher Ed options are tons better. So many good ones. Even after top three there’s: JMU, GMU, VCU. As good or better than Towson and very, very affordable. |
Anonymous
How is VCU better than Towson? IMO, they are not different. |
Anonymous
| There is a greater range of options in Virginia. |
Anonymous
That’s because you are clueless. VCU is a national university while Towson is a regional university. VCU has a far wider range of programs including a medical school and one of the top ranked fine arts programs in the country. It is a far more comprehensive and diverse university. Just because admissions may not be tougher doesn’t mean “they are not different.” They’re very different. |