WVU or CNU?

[Anonymous]

If your son is open to West Virginia and is looking for something less with less partying etc have him look at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown. It’s an inexpensive WV state school in a quaint but progressive town less than 2 hours from DC with Division 2 sports (and a popular D2 football team) that offers the kind of programs your kid is interested in. It’s not selective - but your kid doesn’t need to attend a selective school to major in the subjects that interest him.

[Anonymous]

My daughter had not considered CNU until I encouraged her to visit. She had great professors, plenty of fun at parties, able to participate in Greek life and a club sport. She went onto a highly ranked graduate program and got a good job. Go visit!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I want to keep this thread on target please because DC is really trying to find the pros/cons of each of these two schools. They are not interested in VCU. They aren't partiers (yet. As I stated in the OP) but will get into the sports scene if that's offered or the club sports scene if they can participate or even play their sport. They are leaning towards a degree in physical therapy, sports science, nursing, pre-nursing etc.

I have a kid graduating this weekend from CNU. While CNU is D3 they've actually won some D3 national championships over the last few years. The campus gets psyched up for it and there's a good chance your kid would actually have classes with them ie so know the kids and want see a game/match/event. They also have what appear to be fairly active on campus groups of different types. It's also been a good fit for my kid, the campus is dry (and while I'm not naive enough to think no one - including my kid- hasn't drank) it is thing on the campus they do take fairly seriously. There is a small Greek life should you're kid want that, but the focus doesn't appear to be on partying. It's also a conservative leaning campus so you just need to know that going in. My kid had a great 4 years and has a good job lined up for after graduation so all in all it was a great experience for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WVU's party culture is unmatched (IMO). I've seen straight laced students struggle just to keep up with the balance of partying vs grades. And many loose their merit aid after the first year.

If you are looking for something in between, maybe consider VCU. VCU still has a large sports presence, but no football team, so freshman have time to settle into school for a few months. Once basketball season starts, you still get a great sports scene (alone with other sports, just naming the main sports appeal).

How many WVU students do you actually know who lost their merit aid? What are you, a stalker?

I call bullshit.

Stalker? Just a mom who knows a growing group of students in the same boat, including one of my own. It's well known, especially during the last five years.

But sure, I'm just out here trying to tear down one school with no vested interest or actual experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WVU's party culture is unmatched (IMO). I've seen straight laced students struggle just to keep up with the balance of partying vs grades. And many loose their merit aid after the first year.

If you are looking for something in between, maybe consider VCU. VCU still has a large sports presence, but no football team, so freshman have time to settle into school for a few months. Once basketball season starts, you still get a great sports scene (alone with other sports, just naming the main sports appeal).

How many WVU students do you actually know who lost their merit aid? What are you, a stalker?

I call bullshit.

Stalker? Just a mom who knows a growing group of students in the same boat, including one of my own. It's well known, especially during the last five years.

But sure, I'm just out here trying to tear down one school with no vested interest or actual experience.

That’s a great non-answer. How many students do you actually know who attended WVU on merit scholarships and lost them after their freshman year? Just answer the question. And while you’re at it, let us know how you know the terms of their merit awards and their grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WVU's party culture is unmatched (IMO). I've seen straight laced students struggle just to keep up with the balance of partying vs grades. And many loose their merit aid after the first year.

If you are looking for something in between, maybe consider VCU. VCU still has a large sports presence, but no football team, so freshman have time to settle into school for a few months. Once basketball season starts, you still get a great sports scene (alone with other sports, just naming the main sports appeal).

How many WVU students do you actually know who lost their merit aid? What are you, a stalker?

I call bullshit.

Stalker? Just a mom who knows a growing group of students in the same boat, including one of my own. It's well known, especially during the last five years.

But sure, I'm just out here trying to tear down one school with no vested interest or actual experience. :roll:

That’s a great non-answer. How many students do you actually know who attended WVU on merit scholarships and lost them after their freshman year? Just answer the question. And while you’re at it, let us know how you know the terms of their merit awards and their grades.

Why are you so dismissive of that person’s experience and demanding exact numbers? Weird overly aggressive response. Sheesh!

Also, WVU has historically struggled with freshman and overall retention rates. The school has taken steps to try to address this in recent years (recently setting a record for freshman retention rates, which I think is great to hear).

[Anonymous]

WVU is a party school? Shocking. Yes, please share these numbers, PP cannot be serious in this assertation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WVU's party culture is unmatched (IMO). I've seen straight laced students struggle just to keep up with the balance of partying vs grades. And many loose their merit aid after the first year.

If you are looking for something in between, maybe consider VCU. VCU still has a large sports presence, but no football team, so freshman have time to settle into school for a few months. Once basketball season starts, you still get a great sports scene (alone with other sports, just naming the main sports appeal).

How many WVU students do you actually know who lost their merit aid? What are you, a stalker?

I call bullshit.

Stalker? Just a mom who knows a growing group of students in the same boat, including one of my own. It's well known, especially during the last five years.

But sure, I'm just out here trying to tear down one school with no vested interest or actual experience. :roll:

That’s a great non-answer. How many students do you actually know who attended WVU on merit scholarships and lost them after their freshman year? Just answer the question. And while you’re at it, let us know how you know the terms of their merit awards and their grades.

Why are you so dismissive of that person’s experience and demanding exact numbers? Weird overly aggressive response. Sheesh!

Also, WVU has historically struggled with freshman and overall retention rates. The school has taken steps to try to address this in recent years (recently setting a record for freshman retention rates, which I think is great to hear).

I’m dismissive of it because I just don’t believe it. Or, if she actually does have the information, then she has a screw loose.

[Anonymous]

WVU may shut its doors. Safe to say they do not have the 150k–200k endowment/capita that most reputable schools have. Neither does CNU, for that matter. I would be looking at schools at least as well regarded as Tulane and up only.

[Anonymous]

My DC has loved CNU. It’s a nice school and I personally consider it better than UMW, Radford and WVU. My DC has done study abroad and has an internship lined up this summer. There are parties in the fraternity houses off campus if you are interested in that. Club sports have been fun for them. The varsity D3 sports are taken pretty seriously, especially soccer and football.

[Anonymous]

OP, the student should apply much more widely than these two schools. Don't waste time comparing two schools. Instead get 8 more on the list. Ideally a few with rolling and EA admission. Get some acceptances nailed down in early Fall.

Late Senior year the student can be comparing options, compare these two schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WVU may shut its doors. Safe to say they do not have the 150k–200k endowment/capita that most reputable schools have. Neither does CNU, for that matter. I would be looking at schools at least as well regarded as Tulane and up only.

This isn’t helpful. Not every student out there can attain (or afford) schools like Tulane or those ranked even higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WVU's party culture is unmatched (IMO). I've seen straight laced students struggle just to keep up with the balance of partying vs grades. And many loose their merit aid after the first year.

If you are looking for something in between, maybe consider VCU. VCU still has a large sports presence, but no football team, so freshman have time to settle into school for a few months. Once basketball season starts, you still get a great sports scene (alone with other sports, just naming the main sports appeal).

How many WVU students do you actually know who lost their merit aid? What are you, a stalker?

I call bullshit.

Stalker? Just a mom who knows a growing group of students in the same boat, including one of my own. It's well known, especially during the last five years.

But sure, I'm just out here trying to tear down one school with no vested interest or actual experience. :roll:

That’s a great non-answer. How many students do you actually know who attended WVU on merit scholarships and lost them after their freshman year? Just answer the question. And while you’re at it, let us know how you know the terms of their merit awards and their grades.

Why are you so dismissive of that person’s experience and demanding exact numbers? Weird overly aggressive response. Sheesh!

Also, WVU has historically struggled with freshman and overall retention rates. The school has taken steps to try to address this in recent years (recently setting a record for freshman retention rates, which I think is great to hear).

I’m dismissive of it because I just don’t believe it. Or, if she actually does have the information, then she has a screw loose.

Why are you so incredulous at the idea that a number of freshman at a large party school with historically low retention rates would have difficulty maintaining their grades and thus losing merit aid? I’m not that poster but it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I want to keep this thread on target please because DC is really trying to find the pros/cons of each of these two schools. They are not interested in VCU. They aren't partiers (yet. As I stated in the OP) but will get into the sports scene if that's offered or the club sports scene if they can participate or even play their sport. They are leaning towards a degree in physical therapy, sports science, nursing, pre-nursing etc.

FYI: CNU will have a new, state-of-art Science and Engineering Research Center scheduled to open Spring 2026 https://cnu.edu/whoweare/campus-changes/

"Specialized classroom space, an exercise science lab and a biomechanics lab to support our growing major in kinesiology in both teaching and research"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WVU may shut its doors. Safe to say they do not have the 150k–200k endowment/capita that most reputable schools have. Neither does CNU, for that matter. I would be looking at schools at least as well regarded as Tulane and up only.

This isn’t helpful. Not every student out there can attain (or afford) schools like Tulane or those ranked even higher.

Then maybe they shouldn't be going to college. Why enter an academic environment if you aren't academic?