Why hasn't GMU surpassed UVA, W&M, VT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the number of Nobel prizes it won - it's more than the rest of the State combined. It's a world class university for blue collar workers .

GMU has won zero Nobel prizes. Buchanan won when he was at UVA and years later became GMU professor. Smith received the award while he was at George Mason, but it was for work He had done at Arizona.

No. Buchanan won while at GMU and had long since left UVA. He was actually at Virginia Tech before joining GMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a commuter school. And Trumpy.

Liberal actually

Trumpier than UVA or W&M.

Well, UVA and W&M are left of center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Prestige. Plain and simple. Look at this forum. The constant Ivy League, T10, T20, etc.

All parents want prestige, but it’s a college education that is most important. That degree. Really, any degree is fine. For most careers, that is all that matters. Where they receive it is rather moot.

I recently went to a presentation and the attorney graduated from Towson pre-law and University of Baltimore School of Law. Not prestigious, but he is doing fabulous and happy.

Okay, but by this logic GMU should never “surpass” anyone. At best it is equivalent.

Correct. There is not much history of a run of the mill state school overtaking a flagship. I actually can’t think of any examples.

UCLA was the Los Angeles division of Berkeley and is now ranked higher, I believe.

[Anonymous]

The only thing holding GMU back is the quality of its teaching staff. Most undergrads dont care about research - they go to learn coding, accounting, business etc.

For business, I know GMU hires random folks who teach part time at GMU. Just does not inspire confidence.

Its location/size is not an issues - most colleges in Europe, Asia are similar in that regards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering the fact that its location is so much better than any of the three in the title of this post?

The location is at the intersection of two four lane highways across the street from a Wendy’s, McDonald’s, and Taco Bamba.

Like every other American university?

Of the three other schools OP mentioned, none of them have their main entrance across from a strip mall and marked with a big neon sign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering the fact that its location is so much better than any of the three in the title of this post?

The location is at the intersection of two four lane highways across the street from a Wendy’s, McDonald’s, and Taco Bamba.

Like every other American university?

Of the three other schools OP mentioned, none of them have their main entrance across from a strip mall and marked with a big neon sign.

So what? Those other schools are OLD. GMU is modern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Prestige. Plain and simple. Look at this forum. The constant Ivy League, T10, T20, etc.

All parents want prestige, but it’s a college education that is most important. That degree. Really, any degree is fine. For most careers, that is all that matters. Where they receive it is rather moot.

I recently went to a presentation and the attorney graduated from Towson pre-law and University of Baltimore School of Law. Not prestigious, but he is doing fabulous and happy.

Okay, but by this logic GMU should never “surpass” anyone. At best it is equivalent.

Correct. There is not much history of a run of the mill state school overtaking a flagship. I actually can’t think of any examples.

UCLA was the Los Angeles division of Berkeley and is now ranked higher, I believe.

? ranked higher where and for what?

To me, Cal = STEM, and UCLA is more for humanities and/or premed.

I have friends/family who went to both, in state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing holding GMU back is the quality of its teaching staff. Most undergrads dont care about research - they go to learn coding, accounting, business etc.

For business, I know GMU hires random folks who teach part time at GMU. Just does not inspire confidence.

Its location/size is not an issues - most colleges in Europe, Asia are similar in that regards.

But not in the United States. GMU is a commuter college that the Kock brothers have essentially purchased.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only thing holding GMU back is the quality of its teaching staff. Most undergrads dont care about research - they go to learn coding, accounting, business etc.

For business, I know GMU hires random folks who teach part time at GMU. Just does not inspire confidence.

Its location/size is not an issues - most colleges in Europe, Asia are similar in that regards.

But not in the United States. GMU is a commuter college that the Kock brothers have essentially purchased.

? If NoVa is full of liberals, and supposedly, most of the students are from NoVa area, how does that make GMU conservative?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering the fact that its location is so much better than any of the three in the title of this post?

The location is at the intersection of two four lane highways across the street from a Wendy’s, McDonald’s, and Taco Bamba.

Like every other American university?

Of the three other schools OP mentioned, none of them have their main entrance across from a strip mall and marked with a big neon sign.

So what? Those other schools are OLD. GMU is modern.

That's another problem. No one wants to go to a brand new school. Especially when the school isn't actually brand new and is from the 60s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only thing holding GMU back is the quality of its teaching staff. Most undergrads dont care about research - they go to learn coding, accounting, business etc.

For business, I know GMU hires random folks who teach part time at GMU. Just does not inspire confidence.

Its location/size is not an issues - most colleges in Europe, Asia are similar in that regards.

But not in the United States. GMU is a commuter college that the Kock brothers have essentially purchased.

? If NoVa is full of liberals, and supposedly, most of the students are from NoVa area, how does that make GMU conservative?

The really smart liberal kids don't go to GMU, they go to UVA or William and Mary or Virginia tech for STEM. Do you have a kid in NOVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the number of Nobel prizes it won - it's more than the rest of the State combined. It's a world class university for blue collar workers .

GMU has won zero Nobel prizes. Buchanan won when he was at UVA and years later became GMU professor. Smith received the award while he was at George Mason, but it was for work He had done at Arizona.

And the Mason hater; both were part of the faculty when they won at GMU.

VA Tech people cry for not keeping Buchanan and Arizona for Smith; If you were a student of either when they won the Nobel Prize it was at GMU.

And don't forget Supreme Court Justices becoming visiting professors at GMU Law - who cares about ideology? You land a clerk position then you are set for life. Do you get that at the slightly higher ranked Law Schools?

And a few Pulitzer Prize winners. A number which is within reach of UVA and W&M. Please don't bring up Poe - that was before GMU was even an idea.

Cry some more that your elite wine drinking snooty school hasn't destroyed the beer drinking blue collar working school. You think it's still an "only commuter school" or something more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Prestige. Plain and simple. Look at this forum. The constant Ivy League, T10, T20, etc.

All parents want prestige, but it’s a college education that is most important. That degree. Really, any degree is fine. For most careers, that is all that matters. Where they receive it is rather moot.

I recently went to a presentation and the attorney graduated from Towson pre-law and University of Baltimore School of Law. Not prestigious, but he is doing fabulous and happy.

Okay, but by this logic GMU should never “surpass” anyone. At best it is equivalent.

Correct. There is not much history of a run of the mill state school overtaking a flagship. I actually can’t think of any examples.

UCLA was the Los Angeles division of Berkeley and is now ranked higher, I believe.

? ranked higher where and for what?

To me, Cal = STEM, and UCLA is more for humanities and/or premed.

I have friends/family who went to both, in state.

DP. I was at UCLA recently; they have banners up all over the place that its the #1 ranked public school. Berkeley held that spot for decades.

[Anonymous]

No football
Diverse population
Commuter students greater than others
More non traditional students
Less blue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GMU's problem is that it is in the backyard of most NOVA kids and who wants that for college? Kids should spread their wings. Otherwise, a better option than some other publics.

Sure, but NoVa isn't all of Virginia. Why do students from places like Richmond, Norfolk/VA beach, Bristol not want to go to GMU? Does Virginia Tech have the same issue with kids that grew up within 20 or so miles of Blacksburg not wanting to go there?