Virginia parents do not have many good in-state options

[Anonymous]

Yeah, people either love or hate Blacksburg. I personally don’t care for it. I had a friend that I visited there during our college years who was an oos student (I didn’t grow up in the DC area). I enjoyed visiting her, but the campus and area just didn’t appeal to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blah. My kids have the stats for UVA, WM, VA Tech.

I would much rather have them attend any of those than UMD. I really hate College Park.

But Blacksburg, VA - a shining star!

We visited. Blacksburg seemed nice. Like a typical college town. College Park seems much more dumpy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland parents often complain about the lack of instate public options other than UMCP.

Guess what, Virginia is not that much better in my opinion.

Yes, Virginia has UVa, W&M and VT.

But Virginia is more populous than Maryland and W&M undergraduate enrollment is tiny. In addition, more Maryland parents are willing to send their kids to private colleges like many other parents in Northern states.

VT limits the number of in-state admission to get more OOS kids. So what if your kids don’t get in UVa, VT or W&M? That’s the big issue for many parents.

JMU is considered as the next best option. And I do think it’s a fine school and its business program is a solid choice. But what if your kids want to major in engineering or hard scinece? JMU doesn’t even have a proper engineering school (college of integrated science and engineering is not a real engineering school in my opinion).

GMU offers decent engineering and CS programs but not everyone in Northern Virginia wants to go to a school in Fairfax.

Too many good and ambitious Virginia kids don’t get in UVa, W&M, and VT. I think this is why there have been increased interest in some of OOS public school (pitt, IU, UDel, UConn, Tenn, Alabama, etc. ) among Virginia parents.

GMU is ranked higher tham JMU. So weird you would think it's the next best option.

My kid visited JMU, GMU, and VT. JMU is her favorite. She loved the welcoming spirit of the place. She wants to major in a hard science (not engineering, not pre-med). Are the science programs really that bad at JMU?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland parents often complain about the lack of instate public options other than UMCP.

Guess what, Virginia is not that much better in my opinion.

Yes, Virginia has UVa, W&M and VT.

But Virginia is more populous than Maryland and W&M undergraduate enrollment is tiny. In addition, more Maryland parents are willing to send their kids to private colleges like many other parents in Northern states.

VT limits the number of in-state admission to get more OOS kids. So what if your kids don’t get in UVa, VT or W&M? That’s the big issue for many parents.

JMU is considered as the next best option. And I do think it’s a fine school and its business program is a solid choice. But what if your kids want to major in engineering or hard scinece? JMU doesn’t even have a proper engineering school (college of integrated science and engineering is not a real engineering school in my opinion).

GMU offers decent engineering and CS programs but not everyone in Northern Virginia wants to go to a school in Fairfax.

Too many good and ambitious Virginia kids don’t get in UVa, W&M, and VT. I think this is why there have been increased interest in some of OOS public school (pitt, IU, UDel, UConn, Tenn, Alabama, etc. ) among Virginia parents.

GMU is ranked higher tham JMU. So weird you would think it's the next best option.

A. College rankings are stupid and not at all accurate
B. Even if you crazily put stock in rankings, they are 105 and 124. Hardly an earth shattering difference. Living in NOVA, I’d choose JMU for almost any major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maryland parents often complain about the lack of instate public options other than UMCP.

Guess what, Virginia is not that much better in my opinion.

Yes, Virginia has UVa, W&M and VT.

But Virginia is more populous than Maryland and W&M undergraduate enrollment is tiny. In addition, more Maryland parents are willing to send their kids to private colleges like many other parents in Northern states.

VT limits the number of in-state admission to get more OOS kids. So what if your kids don’t get in UVa, VT or W&M? That’s the big issue for many parents.

JMU is considered as the next best option. And I do think it’s a fine school and its business program is a solid choice. But what if your kids want to major in engineering or hard scinece? JMU doesn’t even have a proper engineering school (college of integrated science and engineering is not a real engineering school in my opinion).

GMU offers decent engineering and CS programs but not everyone in Northern Virginia wants to go to a school in Fairfax.

Too many good and ambitious Virginia kids don’t get in UVa, W&M, and VT. I think this is why there have been increased interest in some of OOS public school (pitt, IU, UDel, UConn, Tenn, Alabama, etc. ) among Virginia parents.

The biggest limitation with VA schools is the lack of solid STEM schools. At UMDCP for example CS is the most popular major. It is a top 15 program and there is nothing comparable in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland parents often complain about the lack of instate public options other than UMCP.

Guess what, Virginia is not that much better in my opinion.

Yes, Virginia has UVa, W&M and VT.

But Virginia is more populous than Maryland and W&M undergraduate enrollment is tiny. In addition, more Maryland parents are willing to send their kids to private colleges like many other parents in Northern states.

VT limits the number of in-state admission to get more OOS kids. So what if your kids don’t get in UVa, VT or W&M? That’s the big issue for many parents.

JMU is considered as the next best option. And I do think it’s a fine school and its business program is a solid choice. But what if your kids want to major in engineering or hard scinece? JMU doesn’t even have a proper engineering school (college of integrated science and engineering is not a real engineering school in my opinion).

GMU offers decent engineering and CS programs but not everyone in Northern Virginia wants to go to a school in Fairfax.

Too many good and ambitious Virginia kids don’t get in UVa, W&M, and VT. I think this is why there have been increased interest in some of OOS public school (pitt, IU, UDel, UConn, Tenn, Alabama, etc. ) among Virginia parents.

The biggest limitation with VA schools is the lack of solid STEM schools. At UMDCP for example CS is the most popular major. It is a top 15 program and there is nothing comparable in VA.

What is your definition of "solid?" It sounds like UMDCP is way above "solid."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol. Literally. I mean, it isn't California but it is flat out ridiculous to say Virginia does not have good in-state options.

Honestly, the only people who are unhappy about Virginia's in-state options are the few percent who are on the margins of getting into UVA. My kids aren't going to be applying to UVA, but they'll have at least a half dozen other schools to choose from in Virginia. All at a very reasonable cost, too.

PP...yep that's us!

I feel you. The Virginia legislature should follow the lead of other states, and limit OOS at UVA to 10% of the student body, and fund an increase in enrollment by at least 50%.

In other words ruin it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the science programs really that bad at JMU?

I hesitate to say “bad”, but JMU definitely is very weak in real science degrees like Physics or Chem. The same science degree from ODU or GMU or VCU would be much much stronger, and obviously both UVa and VT have very credible science degrees. Going. to JMU for that degree will adversely impact one’s options at college graduation. Harder to get into a good grad science program from JMU and also harder to get a job. JMU would be OK if one’s career goal were o spend one’s life being a high school science teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blah. My kids have the stats for UVA, WM, VA Tech.

I would much rather have them attend any of those than UMD. I really hate College Park.

But Blacksburg, VA - a shining star!

DP. Actually, yes. My DC attends VT and loves Blacksburg. It's in the mountains and the area is wonderful for outdoor activities. DC and friends hiked up to McAfee Knob in the fall and were stunned by how gorgeous it is. They usually do a hike every weekend or so. The town itself is a small, cute college town, perfect for students who aren't interested in an urban campus. It has everything my DC wanted and more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland parents often complain about the lack of instate public options other than UMCP.

Guess what, Virginia is not that much better in my opinion.

Yes, Virginia has UVa, W&M and VT.

But Virginia is more populous than Maryland and W&M undergraduate enrollment is tiny. In addition, more Maryland parents are willing to send their kids to private colleges like many other parents in Northern states.

VT limits the number of in-state admission to get more OOS kids. So what if your kids don’t get in UVa, VT or W&M? That’s the big issue for many parents.

JMU is considered as the next best option. And I do think it’s a fine school and its business program is a solid choice. But what if your kids want to major in engineering or hard scinece? JMU doesn’t even have a proper engineering school (college of integrated science and engineering is not a real engineering school in my opinion).

GMU offers decent engineering and CS programs but not everyone in Northern Virginia wants to go to a school in Fairfax.

Too many good and ambitious Virginia kids don’t get in UVa, W&M, and VT. I think this is why there have been increased interest in some of OOS public school (pitt, IU, UDel, UConn, Tenn, Alabama, etc. ) among Virginia parents.

GMU is ranked higher tham JMU. So weird you would think it's the next best option.

My kid visited JMU, GMU, and VT. JMU is her favorite. She loved the welcoming spirit of the place. She wants to major in a hard science (not engineering, not pre-med). Are the science programs really that bad at JMU?

What? Why would say science programs are bad there? They are quite good.
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blah. My kids have the stats for UVA, WM, VA Tech.

I would much rather have them attend any of those than UMD. I really hate College Park.

But Blacksburg, VA - a shining star!

We visited. Blacksburg seemed nice. Like a typical college town. College Park seems much more dumpy.

College Park does have two superstar attractions; IKEA and a Metro station that was moved far away from campus because of racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol. Literally. I mean, it isn't California but it is flat out ridiculous to say Virginia does not have good in-state options.

Honestly, the only people who are unhappy about Virginia's in-state options are the few percent who are on the margins of getting into UVA. My kids aren't going to be applying to UVA, but they'll have at least a half dozen other schools to choose from in Virginia. All at a very reasonable cost, too.

PP...yep that's us!

I feel you. The Virginia legislature should follow the lead of other states, and limit OOS at UVA to 10% of the student body, and fund an increase in enrollment by at least 50%.

In other words ruin it.

I can accept “my kid can’t get in because only the very cream of the state gets to attend”

I cannot accept “my kid can’t get in because the administration filled the place with kids from New York and New Jersey who don’t want to go to Rutgers and Binghamton and they pay double what you do”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland parents often complain about the lack of instate public options other than UMCP.

Guess what, Virginia is not that much better in my opinion.

Yes, Virginia has UVa, W&M and VT.

But Virginia is more populous than Maryland and W&M undergraduate enrollment is tiny. In addition, more Maryland parents are willing to send their kids to private colleges like many other parents in Northern states.

VT limits the number of in-state admission to get more OOS kids. So what if your kids don’t get in UVa, VT or W&M? That’s the big issue for many parents.

JMU is considered as the next best option. And I do think it’s a fine school and its business program is a solid choice. But what if your kids want to major in engineering or hard scinece? JMU doesn’t even have a proper engineering school (college of integrated science and engineering is not a real engineering school in my opinion).

GMU offers decent engineering and CS programs but not everyone in Northern Virginia wants to go to a school in Fairfax.

Too many good and ambitious Virginia kids don’t get in UVa, W&M, and VT. I think this is why there have been increased interest in some of OOS public school (pitt, IU, UDel, UConn, Tenn, Alabama, etc. ) among Virginia parents.

The biggest limitation with VA schools is the lack of solid STEM schools. At UMDCP for example CS is the most popular major. It is a top 15 program and there is nothing comparable in VA.

Oh wow - this actually made me laugh. VT is every bit comparable with UMDCP. One is ranked #46 and the other #47 in National Universities. In top publics, one is #19 and the other is #20. VT is #13 for engineering, while UMD is #19. Their numbers are practically identical in most respects. Where did you get the "top 15" ranking for UMD?

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/virginia-tech-3754/overall-rankings
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/university-of-maryland-2103/overall-rankings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland parents often complain about the lack of instate public options other than UMCP.

Guess what, Virginia is not that much better in my opinion.

[/b]Yes, Virginia has UVa, W&M and VT. [b]

But Virginia is more populous than Maryland and W&M undergraduate enrollment is tiny. In addition, more Maryland parents are willing to send their kids to private colleges like many other parents in Northern states.

VT limits the number of in-state admission to get more OOS kids. So what if your kids don’t get in UVa, VT or W&M? That’s the big issue for many parents.

JMU is considered as the next best option. And I do think it’s a fine school and its business program is a solid choice. But what if your kids want to major in engineering or hard scinece? JMU doesn’t even have a proper engineering school (college of integrated science and engineering is not a real engineering school in my opinion).

GMU offers decent engineering and CS programs but not everyone in Northern Virginia wants to go to a school in Fairfax.

Too many good and ambitious Virginia kids don’t get in UVa, W&M, and VT. I think this is why there have been increased interest in some of OOS public school (pitt, IU, UDel, UConn, Tenn, Alabama, etc. ) among Virginia parents.

If your kid can't get into UVA, VT, or W&M,
I'd be a crabby parent too. Is your kid a slacker?

Reading that thread about how an FCPS kid with a 4.3/1500 has no chance at UVA, VT, or W&M, it really does not seem like Virginia kids have good options. Be a genius, go out of state, or go to Mason? Those are rough options for a hardworking smart kid looking for a traditional 4-year college experience. In most of the country, a 4.3/1500 kid can walk into their state flagship.

Stares in California

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the science programs really that bad at JMU?

I hesitate to say “bad”, but JMU definitely is very weak in real science degrees like Physics or Chem. The same science degree from ODU or GMU or VCU would be much much stronger, and obviously both UVa and VT have very credible science degrees. Going. to JMU for that degree will adversely impact one’s options at college graduation. Harder to get into a good grad science program from JMU and also harder to get a job. JMU would be OK if one’s career goal were o spend one’s life being a high school science teacher.

DP. Please list your source for the above claims. Nothing I have experienced - both with my own kids who are JMU grads (one in a science major) and many others we know - come even a little bit close to the fiction you're spinning. Thanks.