University of Mary Washington- What Am I Missing?

[Anonymous]

Why does every thread about VA schools turn into being about UVA? Then when anyone tries to redirect, they’re met with the snide comments about how their kid couldn’t get in. OP was seeking info about UMW and whether her kid could have gone to UVA or not is irrelevant. Also, not every kid aspires to go there. Who cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does every thread about VA schools turn into being about UVA? Then when anyone tries to redirect, they’re met with the snide comments about how their kid couldn’t get in. OP was seeking info about UMW and whether her kid could have gone to UVA or not is irrelevant. Also, not every kid aspires to go there. Who cares.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does every thread about VA schools turn into being about UVA? Then when anyone tries to redirect, they’re met with the snide comments about how their kid couldn’t get in. OP was seeking info about UMW and whether her kid could have gone to UVA or not is irrelevant. Also, not every kid aspires to go there. Who cares.

+1 the troll on this thread should be reported.

[Anonymous]

I loved my time at UMW, both undergraduate and grad school. I am still Facebook friends with multiple professors who continue to be interested and invested in my career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We recently took our DS on tours of UVA, VT, Radford, JMU, and UMW.

UMW was our favorite hands down. Beautiful campus, more than enough offerings- no Greek scene (son isn't a partier), ridiculously affordable and small enough to not get lost. All the others minus Radford just seemed so huge and overwhelming. I get that the academics might be stronger at UVA and Tech, but not if you're a middle of the road undecided student.

Why isn't UMW more popular?

Well you may have answered your own question. Many students, especially around here, don't want to go to the 149th ranked LAC with a bunch of "middle of the road undecided students." But if you liked it, by all means apply. It shouldn't be that hard to get in since the acceptance rate is 82%.

What a snarky and incorrect statement. About 95% of my DD's and DS's friends had literally no clue what they wanted to study when they left for school. And the ones that were certain they wanted to study medicine and computer science ended up studying education and engineering. A junior in HS is very different than a sophomore in college.

A meh peer group.

They went to Brown, UChicago, UPenn, Berkley, and Rutgers. How about yours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP,

I'm glad you liked it! My DD just finished her first year there. It has been a good fit for her. To answer your question about why it isn't more popular... I have a few ideas. In fact, they recently sent out a survey to parents, students, and alumnae to ask what the pros and cons were and what the image is, etc.

Here's my take.
(1) as a small school, it doesn't have the "big-U"-rah-rah sports image/marketing. They do have teams and the teams do well (soccer, basketball, volleyball, and clubs for rugby and others). But, if you as a parent went to a big-state-U type of school, you might steer your kid toward that dynamic.
(2) this is a big one: I really think the name "MARY..." turns off young men in the 17-18 yr old range. Honestly, I told them to LEAN INTO marketting themselves as "UMW" and minimize the "Mary" part. Yes, I'm a feminist, but in marketing, they need to look at who their audience is, and how the audience perceives them. Most male teens are not going to want to tell their friends they are going to "MARY..." Guys are going to want to tell their friends they are going to "Christopher Newport" or "Radford" before they want to say they are going to "Mary... U."

I know the alumni would have a fit if they changed the name altogether. But, I think in the service of staying relevant and solvent, they should seriously consider renaming themselves to "UVA-Fredericksburg" or "Univ. of Central Virginia" or something else. Even using JUST "UMW" would be a start.

3. They DO have a computer science degree... and that's CRUCIAL for attracting guys. They need to AMP UP the connections for that degree (i.e. internships, etc.)

That said, their biology dept. is very strong. My DD is in that dept. They have so many great international opportunities. It IS a lot easier to get to know your advisor and professors, and they do have research opportunities. If you want to apply to medical, dental or law school, or really any grad program later, having professors who actually KNOW you is going to make a huge difference in the quality of the recommendation letters they can write on your behalf.

My DD likes the size of the campus. She likes the food. She likes the size of the classes. The campus is pretty, and it's easy to get involved in clubs/activities. It is a campus that is accepting of diversity without the typical "toxic masculinity" that you see at "big-state-U." They students are just good people.

If you are confident enough to do your own thing and not follow the pressure of the crowd that says "you must go to X, Y, or Z college" then you can have a very good experience at UMW. If you need Greek life or football Saturdays -- then this isn't going to be a good fit.

Good point on #2

[Anonymous]

UMW is a perfectly good school, but this thread is completely off the rails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We recently took our DS on tours of UVA, VT, Radford, JMU, and UMW.

UMW was our favorite hands down. Beautiful campus, more than enough offerings- no Greek scene (son isn't a partier), ridiculously affordable and small enough to not get lost. All the others minus Radford just seemed so huge and overwhelming. I get that the academics might be stronger at UVA and Tech, but not if you're a middle of the road undecided student.

Why isn't UMW more popular?

Well you may have answered your own question. Many students, especially around here, don't want to go to the 149th ranked LAC with a bunch of "middle of the road undecided students." But if you liked it, by all means apply. It shouldn't be that hard to get in since the acceptance rate is 82%.

What a snarky and incorrect statement. About 95% of my DD's and DS's friends had literally no clue what they wanted to study when they left for school. And the ones that were certain they wanted to study medicine and computer science ended up studying education and engineering. A junior in HS is very different than a sophomore in college.

A meh peer group.

They went to Brown, UChicago, UPenn, Berkley, and Rutgers. How about yours?

Yeah right.

You can't even spell one of the colleges.

NOVA CC maybe.

Written the individual that can't craft a proper sentence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We recently took our DS on tours of UVA, VT, Radford, JMU, and UMW.

UMW was our favorite hands down. Beautiful campus, more than enough offerings- no Greek scene (son isn't a partier), ridiculously affordable and small enough to not get lost. All the others minus Radford just seemed so huge and overwhelming. I get that the academics might be stronger at UVA and Tech, but not if you're a middle of the road undecided student.

Why isn't UMW more popular?

Well you may have answered your own question. Many students, especially around here, don't want to go to the 149th ranked LAC with a bunch of "middle of the road undecided students." But if you liked it, by all means apply. It shouldn't be that hard to get in since the acceptance rate is 82%.

What a snarky and incorrect statement. About 95% of my DD's and DS's friends had literally no clue what they wanted to study when they left for school. And the ones that were certain they wanted to study medicine and computer science ended up studying education and engineering. A junior in HS is very different than a sophomore in college.

A meh peer group.

They went to Brown, UChicago, UPenn, Berkley, and Rutgers. How about yours?

Yeah right.

You can't even spell one of the colleges.

NOVA CC maybe.

Hey lady- Berkley (sic) isn't a college. It's a university. Do you know the difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We recently took our DS on tours of UVA, VT, Radford, JMU, and UMW.

UMW was our favorite hands down. Beautiful campus, more than enough offerings- no Greek scene (son isn't a partier), ridiculously affordable and small enough to not get lost. All the others minus Radford just seemed so huge and overwhelming. I get that the academics might be stronger at UVA and Tech, but not if you're a middle of the road undecided student.

Why isn't UMW more popular?

It's pretty far behind JMU academically too. Is it less popular than Radford?

JMU was our least favorite by a long shot and he'd be accepted there. The dorms were garbage with old AC window units. The tour didn't include the library or any academic buildings. Mostly the time was spent talking about inclusion, I kid you not. I will say the dining hall food was good and that matters to him.

Ah, you’re one of them. Talk of “inclusion” is a trigger for you.

Your kid cares about the food and doesn’t care about inclusion. Sounds like a real deep thinker. You must be so proud.

Not caring about other people's sexuality means one is dull? Is that what woke means today?

Look, let’s be honest. There’s not a kid in Virginia who has a prayer at UVA who is also looking at Radford and was turned off my talk of “inclusion” at JMU.

My hunch is that OP’s son’s best shot at a decent in state school is UMW - and then only because he’d be applying as a boy - so OP wants us to talk it up.

Uhhh, no. I'm OP. Son is a stand out baseball player and is entertaining options to play at those schools. He would not play for Tech or UVA but he could probably get in, Tech almost certainly. He didn't like UVA- said it was full of preppy nerds. We took him there so he's getting as much exposure to as many schools as possible. Like I said- UMW surprised us. If it weren't for the baseball option I'm not sure we would have visited given my misconception.

Funny thing is that he thinks the UVA students are "preppy nerds" but you also called him "not a partier" Other than baseball, what IS this kid interested in? Anything?

DP, but.... are you equating partiers with "not nerds"? Because it seems like you are. And in my world partiers are loser degenerates with abuse issues. Most of the men are rapists as well.

Yea, you have serious issues alright. What a ridiculous response.

Look, however you want to stereotype the typical UVA student, “nerd” is not the word that usually comes to mind. Snobby, pretty/handsome, white, rich, athletic etc., sure. But not “nerd.” “Nerd” is what most people would say applies to W&M and, yes, UMW.

It’s obvious to both OP and her son that he doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting into UVA, and that’s why they’re dismissing it out of hand. We all know he’d kill to go there and play baseball over any other school in Virginia.

Do you not realize others may disagree with you? Surely you don’t actually believe that everyone wants to go to uva or would want to go if given the chance.

We’re talking about a “baseball standout” focusing on VA state schools. We’re not talking about “everyone.”

Do you not realize that not everyone wants to play baseball at uva?

Now you’re just being silly.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]I went to UVA, graduated in '97. No way in Hell would I let my DD go there. I saw literally, countless rapes in the attics at Rugby Road.

I'd be real careful being all rah rah UVA around people thta ctually know the school.[/quote]

Bet you’d be the first one to play the legacy card if UVA cared about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is 55% female, 45% male.

Can we just let the UVA discussion fade away? This thread is really about what UMW has going for it. Let.it.go.

A previous poster dismissed the gender in inbalance at UMW as no different than the other Virginia schools. This poster merely pointed out that that was not true. Sorry your kid can’t get into UVA.

I don't understand why UVa folks jump to saying this in this board. Why sorry?

- signed by parent whose kid got into UVA and was concerned they'd turn out like this.

[Anonymous]

The kids I know who are going to UMW are nice kids but not into school at all. A lot of schools are like that though. Kids who like to continue the family college trend but don't really have a passion for academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does every thread about VA schools turn into being about UVA? Then when anyone tries to redirect, they’re met with the snide comments about how their kid couldn’t get in. OP was seeking info about UMW and whether her kid could have gone to UVA or not is irrelevant. Also, not every kid aspires to go there. Who cares.

That's not really correct or fair. Op said at 11:32 "Uhhh, no. I'm OP. Son is a stand out baseball player and is entertaining options to play at those schools. He would not play for Tech or UVA but he could probably get in, Tech almost certainly. He didn't like UVA- said it was full of preppy nerds. We took him there so he's getting as much exposure to as many schools as possible. Like I said- UMW surprised us. If it weren't for the baseball option I'm not sure we would have visited given my misconception."

I believe it's reasonable to address the assertion he could have gotten in but didn't want to because it's "full of preppy nerds." That's really not true, and
certainly invites a response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does every thread about VA schools turn into being about UVA? Then when anyone tries to redirect, they’re met with the snide comments about how their kid couldn’t get in. OP was seeking info about UMW and whether her kid could have gone to UVA or not is irrelevant. Also, not every kid aspires to go there. Who cares.

That's not really correct or fair. Op said at 11:32 "Uhhh, no. I'm OP. Son is a stand out baseball player and is entertaining options to play at those schools. He would not play for Tech or UVA but he could probably get in, Tech almost certainly. He didn't like UVA- said it was full of preppy nerds. We took him there so he's getting as much exposure to as many schools as possible. Like I said- UMW surprised us. If it weren't for the baseball option I'm not sure we would have visited given my misconception."

I believe it's reasonable to address the assertion he could have gotten in but didn't want to because it's "full of preppy nerds." That's really not true, and
certainly invites a response.

I went there. It is full of preppy nerds. Average freshman today got a 1580 on the SATs. Nerds don't do that?