Rank these VA public universities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you rank them yourself based on what's important to YOUR KID as opposed to what a bunch of internet strangers think?

Exactly. These threads are so stupid. I would rank some of those schools much higher because they offer programs that are important to MY KIDS. Who care what strangers think? Everyone has their own priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It all depends on the major.

VT is tops for engineering
UVA/VCU for medical fields and nursing
UVA and W&M for liberal arts
Radford for criminal justice
UMW for historic preservation and geography
GMU for business

Pick a school based on your child’s interests not the school’s popularity

What about JMU? Are they good at anything other than elementary ed?

Of course they are. International Affairs, Political Science, languages, accounting, business. Do your research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a scientist, and work with a lot of engineers.

For Engineering:
Hands Dirty: VT > UVA
Management: UVA > VT

Physical Science (Physics, Chem, Geology):
Tech>W &M > UVA

Life Sciences (Bio): UVA > Tech

Ocean Sciences: W & M>UVA> Tech

CS: Tech>GMU>UVA

Undecided techish:

W & M -- offers the most flexibility.

Disagree with GMU - it's a big up and comer in engineering - all types - reservoir, civil, etc. Also big in computer sciences, as you say, including serious game design. Economics department is also very strong.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top 3 schools in the state

UVA
W&M
Tech

The rest are like a consolation prize. Everyone gets a medal

Has JMU slipped? I've seen this posted before which I find surprising because back in the 90's when I graduated HS, JMU was on par with Tech.

No, JMU hasn't "slipped." These rankings are all completely subjective. Everyone has a different opinion of these schools. Personally, I give top rankings to the schools that suit my kids best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top 3 schools in the state

UVA
W&M
Tech

The rest are like a consolation prize. Everyone gets a medal

Has JMU slipped? I've seen this posted before which I find surprising because back in the 90's when I graduated HS, JMU was on par with Tech.

No, JMU hasn't "slipped." These rankings are all completely subjective. Everyone has a different opinion of these schools. Personally, I give top rankings to the schools that suit my kids best.

I think JMU got trendy for a while and had a reputation (or created one) of being the alternate UVA. It is closer than Tech and not as big and not as science focused so the comparison was not ridiculous. Then Tech somehow managed to get lucky with its football program. Prior to the early 1990s, it wasn’t a big time program. It was a big science school far away. Then things happened and lots of people think Michael Vick was the beginning but it actually started before that. So Tech was suddenly a nationally known school. I recall the sports announcers kind of gushing about this upstart school with its amusing Hokie bird and total lack or pretension and amazing campus. And that is kind of Tech in a nutshell. It’s students are very aware that by most standards and in most circles, they are viewed as not attending or graduating from the best school in Virginia and they don’t care. They love the school and its architecture and its scenery and its culture. People at Tech mostly want to be there. They aren’t there because they didn’t get in someplace better or if they did, the chose Tech. I went there and turned down Lehigh and Wake Forest. I didn’t apply to UVA. So the notion that JMU is tied with Tech doesn’t make sense to me. People grow up Hokies and want to go there. I haven’t really met people who know from an early age that JMU is where they want to be. I think that has a bit to do with the history of the schools. Tech has been a University for a century plus and has admitted women way longer than JMU has been admitting men. JMU was a teaching college. It is a fine school but it is in no way comparable to tech for many reasons including the alumni network.

[Anonymous]

I think GMU is hurt by its location in NVa as so many of the kids from this area (one of the stronger areas in the state academically) want to go away to school. CNU is on the rise and probably the best option after W&M for kids who want a smaller non-stem option. JMU is only on par with Tech in the minds of its alumni.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It all depends on the major.

VT is tops for engineering
UVA/VCU for medical fields and nursing
UVA and W&M for liberal arts
Radford for criminal justice
UMW for historic preservation and geography
GMU for business

Pick a school based on your child’s interests not the school’s popularity

What about JMU? Are they good at anything other than elementary ed?

Partying

Yep. Why did someone leave them out of the party category?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Outside of Virginia, it's UVA, W&M and VTech, with VTech being a slight notch down except for engineering. The rest may be fine schools, but you are kidding yourself if you think they carry much prestige outside of the area.

So who cares about their prestige outside the area, unless you think your graduate can't get a job on their own merits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you rank them yourself based on what's important to YOUR KID as opposed to what a bunch of internet strangers think?

In answer to your question, I'm not from here, so I don't know much about the schools except from internet searches. I'm just trying to get a sense of things from people who are more familiar with the VA schools. My kid doesn't know what she wants to major in. She's not a math/science kid, but clearly a humanities/fine arts kid. She'll probably go "undecided" if that's allowed. She gets good grades in challenging courses - but not straight As, and as I understand it, UVA and W&M are very competitive, so those are probably out. Not sure how to rank the rest and trying to eliminate some so we can narrow the field. Trying to decide if a kid like that should bother looking at V-Tech, for instance.

If you are "not from here", why are you focusing on VA colleges?
Also, has your daughter taken standardized tests? This is an important aspect of college admissions and state schools pay close attention to test scores.

Focusing on VA colleges because we live in VA and thinking about cost (when I said I'm not from here, I meant that I haven't lived here long enough to know the schools).
No - she hasn't taken tests yet, but didn't do great on PSATs. I realize that is a part of the admissions calculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Help me rank these schools from most reputable to least. I'm not from VA, so I am still trying to get a feel for this. Here's my guess - tell me if this is about right:

UVA
W&M
CNU
JMU
VTech
GMU
VCU, UMW, ODU, Longwood, Radford (These all seem to me to be around the same level - is that accurate?)

Also, are UVA and VTech schools that you would mostly only consider if you were math/science oriented?

Yes for science/math but not engineering. Only Vtech for eng.

VT has a wonderful liberal arts program as well. It's not only engineering, math, and science.

Good to know, thanks! We'll keep it on our radar and check it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you rank them yourself based on what's important to YOUR KID as opposed to what a bunch of internet strangers think?

In answer to your question, I'm not from here, so I don't know much about the schools except from internet searches. I'm just trying to get a sense of things from people who are more familiar with the VA schools. My kid doesn't know what she wants to major in. She's not a math/science kid, but clearly a humanities/fine arts kid. She'll probably go "undecided" if that's allowed. She gets good grades in challenging courses - but not straight As, and as I understand it, UVA and W&M are very competitive, so those are probably out. Not sure how to rank the rest and trying to eliminate some so we can narrow the field. Trying to decide if a kid like that should bother looking at V-Tech, for instance.

If you are "not from here", why are you focusing on VA colleges?
Also, has your daughter taken standardized tests? This is an important aspect of college admissions and state schools pay close attention to test scores.

Focusing on VA colleges because we live in VA and thinking about cost (when I said I'm not from here, I meant that I haven't lived here long enough to know the schools).
No - she hasn't taken tests yet, but didn't do great on PSATs. I realize that is a part of the admissions calculus.

First time I'm hearing this. Is PSAT also a factor in college admissions?

Really! Why not kindergarten spelling tests! Jeez!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you rank them yourself based on what's important to YOUR KID as opposed to what a bunch of internet strangers think?

Exactly. These threads are so stupid. I would rank some of those schools much higher because they offer programs that are important to MY KIDS. Who care what strangers think? Everyone has their own priorities.

OP here. I try not to respond to posts like these, but it always kills me when people bother to comment on posts just to say that they are "stupid". I realize how this thread can come off to some of you. Personally I have found some of the posts here to be interesting and informative. Thanks to all who have posted insightful information about these schools in VA. I've learned quite a bit and appreciate your collective knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you rank them yourself based on what's important to YOUR KID as opposed to what a bunch of internet strangers think?

In answer to your question, I'm not from here, so I don't know much about the schools except from internet searches. I'm just trying to get a sense of things from people who are more familiar with the VA schools. My kid doesn't know what she wants to major in. She's not a math/science kid, but clearly a humanities/fine arts kid. She'll probably go "undecided" if that's allowed. She gets good grades in challenging courses - but not straight As, and as I understand it, UVA and W&M are very competitive, so those are probably out. Not sure how to rank the rest and trying to eliminate some so we can narrow the field. Trying to decide if a kid like that should bother looking at V-Tech, for instance.

If you are "not from here", why are you focusing on VA colleges?
Also, has your daughter taken standardized tests? This is an important aspect of college admissions and state schools pay close attention to test scores.

Focusing on VA colleges because we live in VA and thinking about cost (when I said I'm not from here, I meant that I haven't lived here long enough to know the schools).
No - she hasn't taken tests yet, but didn't do great on PSATs. I realize that is a part of the admissions calculus.

First time I'm hearing this. Is PSAT also a factor in college admissions?

OP here. I meant that she hasn't taken SAT/ACT. But I have an idea of how she will do based on her PSAT scores, and it's probably not great. And that I understand that SAT/ACT is a big part of college admissions. Sheesh.

Really! Why not kindergarten spelling tests! Jeez!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you rank them yourself based on what's important to YOUR KID as opposed to what a bunch of internet strangers think?

In answer to your question, I'm not from here, so I don't know much about the schools except from internet searches. I'm just trying to get a sense of things from people who are more familiar with the VA schools. My kid doesn't know what she wants to major in. She's not a math/science kid, but clearly a humanities/fine arts kid. She'll probably go "undecided" if that's allowed. She gets good grades in challenging courses - but not straight As, and as I understand it, UVA and W&M are very competitive, so those are probably out. Not sure how to rank the rest and trying to eliminate some so we can narrow the field. Trying to decide if a kid like that should bother looking at V-Tech, for instance.

If you are "not from here", why are you focusing on VA colleges?
Also, has your daughter taken standardized tests? This is an important aspect of college admissions and state schools pay close attention to test scores.

Focusing on VA colleges because we live in VA and thinking about cost (when I said I'm not from here, I meant that I haven't lived here long enough to know the schools).
No - she hasn't taken tests yet, but didn't do great on PSATs. I realize that is a part of the admissions calculus.

First time I'm hearing this. Is PSAT also a factor in college admissions?

Really! Why not kindergarten spelling tests! Jeez!

Are you purposely being dense? Of course PSAT is not a factor but is an indication of how the student might do on SATs so something to consider when you are trying to figure out what your child's options might be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top 3 schools in the state

UVA
W&M
Tech

The rest are like a consolation prize. Everyone gets a medal

Has JMU slipped? I've seen this posted before which I find surprising because back in the 90's when I graduated HS, JMU was on par with Tech.

No, JMU hasn't "slipped." These rankings are all completely subjective. Everyone has a different opinion of these schools. Personally, I give top rankings to the schools that suit my kids best.

I think JMU got trendy for a while and had a reputation (or created one) of being the alternate UVA. It is closer than Tech and not as big and not as science focused so the comparison was not ridiculous. Then Tech somehow managed to get lucky with its football program. Prior to the early 1990s, it wasn’t a big time program. It was a big science school far away. Then things happened and lots of people think Michael Vick was the beginning but it actually started before that. So Tech was suddenly a nationally known school. I recall the sports announcers kind of gushing about this upstart school with its amusing Hokie bird and total lack or pretension and amazing campus. And that is kind of Tech in a nutshell. It’s students are very aware that by most standards and in most circles, they are viewed as not attending or graduating from the best school in Virginia and they don’t care. They love the school and its architecture and its scenery and its culture. People at Tech mostly want to be there. They aren’t there because they didn’t get in someplace better or if they did, the chose Tech. I went there and turned down Lehigh and Wake Forest. I didn’t apply to UVA. So the notion that JMU is tied with Tech doesn’t make sense to me. People grow up Hokies and want to go there. I haven’t really met people who know from an early age that JMU is where they want to be. I think that has a bit to do with the history of the schools. Tech has been a University for a century plus and has admitted women way longer than JMU has been admitting men. JMU was a teaching college. It is a fine school but it is in no way comparable to tech for many reasons including the alumni network.

Ok, the thing is when I graduated HS in 1990. The top schools were hands down UVA, W&M, Tech, and JMU. The kids going to tech/jmu weren’t at the tippy top of their classes, but a bit below. They were certainly above average students, even for those who were college bound. Now 30 years later it seems that Tech has firmly kept its place, but I see many posters lumping JMU along with GMU, VCU, CNU which was absolutely not the case when I was in HS which makes me wonder if JMU has slipped in prestige from the 80’s.