George Mason as alternative to UMD for Marylanders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is the amazon connection benefiting GMU? Is it just for’the CS kids?

Mostly for CS and ECE, a little for other degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What majors are well regarded at GMU?

NP but we are looking at Schar school of Policy and Govt and on paper the faculty, majors and course offerings are more interesting than those at UMD and the location is great for internships, networking etc. We are going to visit schools when we get final acceptance and merit offers so I cannot speak to the culture (or "vibe" as my kid would say). My kid is not interested in football so not sure that matters.

My kid from MoCo also interested in GMU for a specific major (don't want to say as it's very very niche). Location is perfect for this major, and yea, DC doesn't care about football. They also wanted to be in a city/suburb and not a rural area.

UMDCP doesn't have the major DC wants, so I hope, fingers crossed, they get some merit.

So tell us it’s forensics without telling us it’s forensics

Could also be public policy (DC); Game Design (Bethesda Softworks/Microsoft); and/or cybersecurity (GMU has the high tech Manassas campus and Seoul Korea for practice)

Or dance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Townson is in state and if you live in Maryland a way shorter commute to pick up and drop off kid.

If price a issue and want to stay close look at Loyola my daughters good friend has medical issues where she needs to see a doctor a lot and lives in Bethesda. She wanted a school not that far away she could live on campus and her budget was only the MD in state rate. That was what her parents agreed to pay.

She was suprised when she got accepted to both Towson and Loyola that with merit aid Loyola tuition was lower than Towson. She also applied JMU but even with merit aid it could not beat Loyola offering below in state tuition.

So on the second tier schools Loyola for folks wanting to stay close is a great option. She did not want to apply, but my older daughter got a 100k merit offer from their (25 a year four years) and when we talked to school cause on fence they liked my daughter and threw in an extra 1K a year and said that was it. So 104K off tuition! She still turned it down the stinker.

Well, Loyola's sticker price is $76K per year...so with $26k in merit it's in the same range as GMU OOS, but definitely not a price-sensitive option compared to in-state MD options.

GMU OOS tuition is $38k. If high stats kids get $17k to $20k merit it is $18 to $21k. Loyola tuition is $57k so you would need $36k to $40k merit to make the 2 comparable.

I have heard Loyola gives merit in mid $30ks. We applied but won't consider unless the merit is in that range. Also concerned that their Forbes financial health score is now in the Cs. I don't understand how Jesuit schools afford to discount so deeply and wonder if most are in financial danger with the exception of Georgetown. Think the Jesuit schools would be a good fit for one of my kids but the financial futures of these schools gives me pause.

In my opinion, Jesuit schools have tried to minimize their Catholic heritage in an attempt to draw in secular students or students. But instead, they only succeeded in pushing away Catholics, including Catholic donor support.

Notre Dame is one of the few Catholic universities who have managed this well.

The Jesuits, by and large, have done it poorly, making it look like they are rejecting Catholicism and Catholic heritage.

Well the past decade has unearthed some pretty unsavory business that has tarnished the Catholic name. Jesuits are doing this to try to keep their institutions afloat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What majors are well regarded at GMU?

NP but we are looking at Schar school of Policy and Govt and on paper the faculty, majors and course offerings are more interesting than those at UMD and the location is great for internships, networking etc. We are going to visit schools when we get final acceptance and merit offers so I cannot speak to the culture (or "vibe" as my kid would say). My kid is not interested in football so not sure that matters.

My kid from MoCo also interested in GMU for a specific major (don't want to say as it's very very niche). Location is perfect for this major, and yea, DC doesn't care about football. They also wanted to be in a city/suburb and not a rural area.

UMDCP doesn't have the major DC wants, so I hope, fingers crossed, they get some merit.

So tell us it’s forensics without telling us it’s forensics

Not necessarily, GMU has some niche programs like game design, performing arts related like dance, specific govt related like tech policy and national security and the Smithsonian Conservation program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Townson is in state and if you live in Maryland a way shorter commute to pick up and drop off kid.

If price a issue and want to stay close look at Loyola my daughters good friend has medical issues where she needs to see a doctor a lot and lives in Bethesda. She wanted a school not that far away she could live on campus and her budget was only the MD in state rate. That was what her parents agreed to pay.

She was suprised when she got accepted to both Towson and Loyola that with merit aid Loyola tuition was lower than Towson. She also applied JMU but even with merit aid it could not beat Loyola offering below in state tuition.

So on the second tier schools Loyola for folks wanting to stay close is a great option. She did not want to apply, but my older daughter got a 100k merit offer from their (25 a year four years) and when we talked to school cause on fence they liked my daughter and threw in an extra 1K a year and said that was it. So 104K off tuition! She still turned it down the stinker.

Well, Loyola's sticker price is $76K per year...so with $26k in merit it's in the same range as GMU OOS, but definitely not a price-sensitive option compared to in-state MD options.

GMU OOS tuition is $38k. If high stats kids get $17k to $20k merit it is $18 to $21k. Loyola tuition is $57k so you would need $36k to $40k merit to make the 2 comparable.

I have heard Loyola gives merit in mid $30ks. We applied but won't consider unless the merit is in that range. Also concerned that their Forbes financial health score is now in the Cs. I don't understand how Jesuit schools afford to discount so deeply and wonder if most are in financial danger with the exception of Georgetown. Think the Jesuit schools would be a good fit for one of my kids but the financial futures of these schools gives me pause.

In my opinion, Jesuit schools have tried to minimize their Catholic heritage in an attempt to draw in secular students or students. But instead, they only succeeded in pushing away Catholics, including Catholic donor support.

Notre Dame is one of the few Catholic universities who have managed this well.

The Jesuits, by and large, have done it poorly, making it look like they are rejecting Catholicism and Catholic heritage.

I strongly disagree with every one of your points. Jesuit schools have always focused on critical thinking and challenging assumptions. There is nothing new about their openness to other faiths and their focus on Catholicism as a call to service. A lot of us feel that they are the only Catholic colleges that are doing things the right way. This is all irrelevant to OP's thread but just want to chime in to say that not all Catholics are part of the "truer and fewer" movement like PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Townson is in state and if you live in Maryland a way shorter commute to pick up and drop off kid.

If price a issue and want to stay close look at Loyola my daughters good friend has medical issues where she needs to see a doctor a lot and lives in Bethesda. She wanted a school not that far away she could live on campus and her budget was only the MD in state rate. That was what her parents agreed to pay.

She was suprised when she got accepted to both Towson and Loyola that with merit aid Loyola tuition was lower than Towson. She also applied JMU but even with merit aid it could not beat Loyola offering below in state tuition.

So on the second tier schools Loyola for folks wanting to stay close is a great option. She did not want to apply, but my older daughter got a 100k merit offer from their (25 a year four years) and when we talked to school cause on fence they liked my daughter and threw in an extra 1K a year and said that was it. So 104K off tuition! She still turned it down the stinker.

Towson and Loyola are both farther from us in MoCo (Bethesda/Silver Spring area) than GMU. Not that I think it’s a consideration, but a strange point for a DC-based site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Townson is in state and if you live in Maryland a way shorter commute to pick up and drop off kid.

If price a issue and want to stay close look at Loyola my daughters good friend has medical issues where she needs to see a doctor a lot and lives in Bethesda. She wanted a school not that far away she could live on campus and her budget was only the MD in state rate. That was what her parents agreed to pay.

She was suprised when she got accepted to both Towson and Loyola that with merit aid Loyola tuition was lower than Towson. She also applied JMU but even with merit aid it could not beat Loyola offering below in state tuition.

So on the second tier schools Loyola for folks wanting to stay close is a great option. She did not want to apply, but my older daughter got a 100k merit offer from their (25 a year four years) and when we talked to school cause on fence they liked my daughter and threw in an extra 1K a year and said that was it. So 104K off tuition! She still turned it down the stinker.

Well, Loyola's sticker price is $76K per year...so with $26k in merit it's in the same range as GMU OOS, but definitely not a price-sensitive option compared to in-state MD options.

GMU OOS tuition is $38k. If high stats kids get $17k to $20k merit it is $18 to $21k. Loyola tuition is $57k so you would need $36k to $40k merit to make the 2 comparable.

I have heard Loyola gives merit in mid $30ks. We applied but won't consider unless the merit is in that range. Also concerned that their Forbes financial health score is now in the Cs. I don't understand how Jesuit schools afford to discount so deeply and wonder if most are in financial danger with the exception of Georgetown. Think the Jesuit schools would be a good fit for one of my kids but the financial futures of these schools gives me pause.

In my opinion, Jesuit schools have tried to minimize their Catholic heritage in an attempt to draw in secular students or students. But instead, they only succeeded in pushing away Catholics, including Catholic donor support.

Notre Dame is one of the few Catholic universities who have managed this well.

The Jesuits, by and large, have done it poorly, making it look like they are rejecting Catholicism and Catholic heritage.

I strongly disagree with every one of your points. Jesuit schools have always focused on critical thinking and challenging assumptions. There is nothing new about their openness to other faiths and their focus on Catholicism as a call to service. A lot of us feel that they are the only Catholic colleges that are doing things the right way. This is all irrelevant to OP's thread but just want to chime in to say that not all Catholics are part of the "truer and fewer" movement like PP.

+1 and sorry OP for going off topic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Townson is in state and if you live in Maryland a way shorter commute to pick up and drop off kid.

If price a issue and want to stay close look at Loyola my daughters good friend has medical issues where she needs to see a doctor a lot and lives in Bethesda. She wanted a school not that far away she could live on campus and her budget was only the MD in state rate. That was what her parents agreed to pay.

She was suprised when she got accepted to both Towson and Loyola that with merit aid Loyola tuition was lower than Towson. She also applied JMU but even with merit aid it could not beat Loyola offering below in state tuition.

So on the second tier schools Loyola for folks wanting to stay close is a great option. She did not want to apply, but my older daughter got a 100k merit offer from their (25 a year four years) and when we talked to school cause on fence they liked my daughter and threw in an extra 1K a year and said that was it. So 104K off tuition! She still turned it down the stinker.

Towson and Loyola are both farther from us in MoCo (Bethesda/Silver Spring area) than GMU. Not that I think it’s a consideration, but a strange point for a DC-based site.

Agree it is a strange point. I get for some kids it is good to be nearby for emergencies but if you are worried about a difference of incremental drive time that is probably less than hour, kid should probably stay home for school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Townson is in state and if you live in Maryland a way shorter commute to pick up and drop off kid.

If price a issue and want to stay close look at Loyola my daughters good friend has medical issues where she needs to see a doctor a lot and lives in Bethesda. She wanted a school not that far away she could live on campus and her budget was only the MD in state rate. That was what her parents agreed to pay.

She was suprised when she got accepted to both Towson and Loyola that with merit aid Loyola tuition was lower than Towson. She also applied JMU but even with merit aid it could not beat Loyola offering below in state tuition.

So on the second tier schools Loyola for folks wanting to stay close is a great option. She did not want to apply, but my older daughter got a 100k merit offer from their (25 a year four years) and when we talked to school cause on fence they liked my daughter and threw in an extra 1K a year and said that was it. So 104K off tuition! She still turned it down the stinker.

It will be interesting to see where UMD, Loyola and GMU come in price wise in the next few weeks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GMU is way better than UMBC or Towson

I am not sure about that UMBC has great outcomes in stem programs and Towson is great for education, nursing and accounting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GMU admissions can be weird. Friend got into George Washington U and not GMU

What major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biggest university without a football team.

They have a club football team, maybe it will eventually expand to be Div III?

Also, they have a basketball team and the games are fun. I'm actually a fan of a different team within their conference (University of Dayton) so I've been to a few of their games at GMU. GMU has a great band that plays at the games too.

A friend got a full ride + Honors program to play in that band. Now in law school

Schools give full ride for wanting someone to be in their band? Band is that important?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biggest university without a football team.

They have a club football team, maybe it will eventually expand to be Div III?

Also, they have a basketball team and the games are fun. I'm actually a fan of a different team within their conference (University of Dayton) so I've been to a few of their games at GMU. GMU has a great band that plays at the games too.

A friend got a full ride + Honors program to play in that band. Now in law school

Schools give full ride for wanting someone to be in their band? Band is that important?

Read and learn. https://music.gmu.edu/academics/ensembles/green-machine-athletic-bands

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biggest university without a football team.

They have a club football team, maybe it will eventually expand to be Div III?

Also, they have a basketball team and the games are fun. I'm actually a fan of a different team within their conference (University of Dayton) so I've been to a few of their games at GMU. GMU has a great band that plays at the games too.

Different poster.

I hope that GMU expands their football team to div 3. It would really improve the status of the school among graduating seniors to add that "normal" part of college culture

Where would they build a stadium? Neighborhoods around GMU would riot.

[Anonymous]

When are decisions for GMU coming out? We keep getting emails to "make sure you have created a username and PW, because announcements are coming soon!" but then nothing....