Crazy to take big merit money at JMU over UVA full price?

[Anonymous]

the ones who went to UVA ... they are still talking how they went to UVA

So true. And a reason many are turned-off. When I'm in a room w/grads from Michigan, Ivies, UVA, it's UVA making sure you know they went to UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all honesty there’s no justification for overpaying for a UVA degree when the desired career tops out at $100k after grad school. Any “connections” will be of little or no use. Essentially, your fellow alumni would likely look down on the graduate for their chosen profession. It’s sad but true.

It’s not true. OP has no idea where her child will end up or in what major. 80% of all
students change their major at least once. UVA gives the child the greatest springboard in almost every field. If we are talking about in $13,000 in full tuition at JMU, that’s nothing compared to what a UVA experience could give this kid.

DP. You are a broken record with your “80%” claim on every thread. You seem to mistakenly think UVA is the only school that could possibly offer other majors should the student decide to change. Please stop the delusions. JMU offers a fantastic experience and education in myriad majors. There’s no way I’d pay for UVA if I had a full ride to JMU, or to many other schools, for that matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if the kid changes their major? A lot do. UVA will give the kid more options.

How so? That’s such a silly claim.

[Anonymous]

There have been several shootings on and around the UVA campus in the last few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:no shade to JMU but it's a huge difference in the job market overall, no matter the major. My grads are always been told, "wow UVA!" when they interview and it definitely makes an impression. I know that's anecdotal
but UVA in state is not that expensive, and the reputational difference is a wide gulf.

As a hiring manager in a competitive field, I focus more on the individual, their internships, their activities, and their demeanor more than where they went to school. JMU allows a kid to stand out and have opportunities that they may not have at a hyper competitive school like UVA - I have one of each on my team and both are hard workers and really smart. If I didn't know, I could not tell you which person went to UVA and which one went to JMU.

I guess one data point is better than none.

Several people have already agreed with this person, so… good luck pretending UVA grads are somehow any different or “better” than JMU grads. People would laugh at you if you actually stated this out loud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if the kid changes their major? A lot do. UVA will give the kid more options.

How many wanna be teachers, nurses and social workers end up in IB or PE?

There are definitely people who do Teach for America for a few years and then end up pivoting and going into a field where they can make $$$$. I work with several former TfAers who are doing very well. Plus the kids college friends/peer group will likely end up being wealthier and more successful as adults if the kid goes to UVA, which with lead to a better network/increases chances of marrying someone who is successful. As a PP said, there are no sure things in life but it sounds like the OP can stretch and pay for UVA and I bet that investment has a more than 50/50 chance of paying off.

I wouldn’t bet $80,000 on a 50/50 Mrs. degree.

+1
So absurd. Some of the most successful couples we know met while students at JMU. Is it the same poster who keeps making these outlandish claims about UVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

the ones who went to UVA ... they are still talking how they went to UVA

So true. And a reason many are turned-off. When I'm in a room w/grads from Michigan, Ivies, UVA, it's UVA making sure you know they went to UVA.

+100
They have really convinced themselves that they’re somehow more special than everyone else. Honestly, not sure I’d want my kids around people with such chips on their shoulders and delusions of grandeur.

[Anonymous]

1) Check the GPA requirement needed to keep the JMU scholarship once he is in school. And don't assume that your kid will be able to get that GPA freshman year in college just because he was able to get it in HS.
2) What are you going to do if the younger sib gets into UVA? Are you going to be willing to pay full freight for the younger sibling too? Or will younger sibling have to do, say CC then four year to match what you spent on older sib? Think about how either sib will feel if you stretch to pay for UVA for one but not the other.
3) You don't really know what your kid will wind up majoring in. That could change. In that case, it's better to be at UVA.

I would probably choose UVA, honestly, but it's hard to know without knowing more financial details. Are you talking, not going on vacations for a few years or are you talking taking out a second mortgage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

the ones who went to UVA ... they are still talking how they went to UVA

So true. And a reason many are turned-off. When I'm in a room w/grads from Michigan, Ivies, UVA, it's UVA making sure you know they went to UVA.

+100
They have really convinced themselves that they’re somehow more special than everyone else. Honestly, not sure I’d want my kids around people with such chips on their shoulders and delusions of grandeur.

UVA >>> JMU

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I would focus on fit. If your kid is someone who will thrive almost anywhere, JMU could be great choice. The kids we know there (or recent grads) are happy and have strong affinity for the university. UVA is great choice too. Good luck to your student!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all honesty there’s no justification for overpaying for a UVA degree when the desired career tops out at $100k after grad school. Any “connections” will be of little or no use. Essentially, your fellow alumni would likely look down on the graduate for their chosen profession. It’s sad but true.

It’s not true. OP has no idea where her child will end up or in what major. 80% of all
students change their major at least once. UVA gives the child the greatest springboard in almost every field. If we are talking about in $13,000 in full tuition at JMU, that’s nothing compared to what a UVA experience could give this kid.

DP. You are a broken record with your “80%” claim on every thread. You seem to mistakenly think UVA is the only school that could possibly offer other majors should the student decide to change. Please stop the delusions. JMU offers a fantastic experience and education in myriad majors. There’s no way I’d pay for UVA if I had a full ride to JMU, or to many other schools, for that matter.

Is the National Center for Education Statistics good enough for you. Please read and learn.

“Based on various reports from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and academic studies, it is highly common for college students to change their majors.
Around 80% of college students in the U.S. change their major at least once.

On average, college students change their major at least three times over the course of their college career.

While some data indicates about 30% of undergraduates change their major within the first three years, others show 50-75% or up to 80% change their major at some point before graduation.

It is often considered a normal part of the college experience for students to explore new interests and refine their career goals.

Contrary to the belief that this delays graduation, some research suggests students who switch majors can have a higher graduation rate (82-84%) when they find a better fit. “

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all honesty there’s no justification for overpaying for a UVA degree when the desired career tops out at $100k after grad school. Any “connections” will be of little or no use. Essentially, your fellow alumni would likely look down on the graduate for their chosen profession. It’s sad but true.

It’s not true. OP has no idea where her child will end up or in what major. 80% of all
students change their major at least once. UVA gives the child the greatest springboard in almost every field. If we are talking about in $13,000 in full tuition at JMU, that’s nothing compared to what a UVA experience could give this kid.

DP. You are a broken record with your “80%” claim on every thread. You seem to mistakenly think UVA is the only school that could possibly offer other majors should the student decide to change. Please stop the delusions. JMU offers a fantastic experience and education in myriad majors. There’s no way I’d pay for UVA if I had a full ride to JMU, or to many other schools, for that matter.

Is the National Center for Education Statistics good enough for you. Please read and learn.

“Based on various reports from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and academic studies, it is highly common for college students to change their majors.
Around 80% of college students in the U.S. change their major at least once.

On average, college students change their major at least three times over the course of their college career.

While some data indicates about 30% of undergraduates change their major within the first three years, others show 50-75% or up to 80% change their major at some point before graduation.

It is often considered a normal part of the college experience for students to explore new interests and refine their career goals.

Contrary to the belief that this delays graduation, some research suggests students who switch majors can have a higher graduation rate (82-84%) when they find a better fit. “

The quibble isn't about whether kids change their majors - of course they do! The issue is that you are constantly trying to tout UVA as the *only* school one should attend if there's even a chance the student will need to change their major. You just sound utterly absurd every time you post this. JMU is a great school with a wide variety of majors to choose from. My own kids changed their majors while attending JMU with no problem. Please stop repeating yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all honesty there’s no justification for overpaying for a UVA degree when the desired career tops out at $100k after grad school. Any “connections” will be of little or no use. Essentially, your fellow alumni would likely look down on the graduate for their chosen profession. It’s sad but true.

It’s not true. OP has no idea where her child will end up or in what major. 80% of all
students change their major at least once. UVA gives the child the greatest springboard in almost every field. If we are talking about in $13,000 in full tuition at JMU, that’s nothing compared to what a UVA experience could give this kid.

DP. You are a broken record with your “80%” claim on every thread. You seem to mistakenly think UVA is the only school that could possibly offer other majors should the student decide to change. Please stop the delusions. JMU offers a fantastic experience and education in myriad majors. There’s no way I’d pay for UVA if I had a full ride to JMU, or to many other schools, for that matter.

Is the National Center for Education Statistics good enough for you. Please read and learn.

“Based on various reports from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and academic studies, it is highly common for college students to change their majors.
Around 80% of college students in the U.S. change their major at least once.

On average, college students change their major at least three times over the course of their college career.

While some data indicates about 30% of undergraduates change their major within the first three years, others show 50-75% or up to 80% change their major at some point before graduation.

It is often considered a normal part of the college experience for students to explore new interests and refine their career goals.

Contrary to the belief that this delays graduation, some research suggests students who switch majors can have a higher graduation rate (82-84%) when they find a better fit. “

The quibble isn't about whether kids change their majors - of course they do! The issue is that you are constantly trying[url] to tout UVA as the *only* school one should attend if there's even a chance the student will need to change their major. [b] You just sound utterly absurd every time you post this. JMU is a great school with a wide variety of majors to choose from. My own kids changed their majors while attending JMU with no problem. Please stop repeating yourself.

I have never said that but it is true that one should not pick a school based upon a major they may change from. You don’t go to Georgia Tech to study political science. So yes if looking to a specific program, as OP’s kid thinks they are, all else equal, they should pick the school that gives them the most options. That could be UCLA. In the case of this post OP specifically asked about JMU versus UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

the ones who went to UVA ... they are still talking how they went to UVA

So true. And a reason many are turned-off. When I'm in a room w/grads from Michigan, Ivies, UVA, it's UVA making sure you know they went to UVA.

+100
They have really convinced themselves that they’re somehow more special than everyone else. Honestly, not sure I’d want my kids around people with such chips on their shoulders and delusions of grandeur.

I don’t see that at all. PPs are giving honest responses. You may not want to hear it, but that’s your problem there was no “grandeur” exhibited here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, I would focus on fit. If your kid is someone who will thrive almost anywhere, JMU could be great choice. The kids we know there (or recent grads) are happy and have strong affinity for the university. UVA is great choice too. Good luck to your student!

This. As a parent of a Freshman in college I am seeing the fallout of when kids do not pick schools that are good fits. We know many kids already transferring after their first year because the college wasn't a good fit. UVA and JMU are very different in terms of campus size, feel, student body. Go tour when classes are in session, start following social media accounts. Let your child pick based on where they're excited to go, what is a good fit. Then they're more likely to stay. Fit matters.