The Other VA publics: CNU, GM, JMU, Radford, ODU, UMW, VCU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on what your child is interested in studying. If it's art/art history - VCU. Music - CNU or VCU. Pre-med - VCU or GMU (both have early-admission programs with med schools). Education or early-intervention therapies (speech, OT, etc.) - JMU.

You do know all of these schools offer many more majors than the ones you listed, right? There's something for everyone at each of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at W&M and one at JMU. I was surprised but it is a big dropoff in quality from WM to JMU. The only area JMU is better is the food -- and it is considerably better. Maybe JMU suffers in comparison because W&M really is a top-quality college? But the work my JMU kid is doing is easier than what he did in high school.

I also have kids at both W&M and JMU and this has not been our experience at ALL. Perhaps it's major-dependent, but our child at JMU has been working his tail off in a very demanding major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The trashing that invariably happens on these threads is sick. How about some gratitude for the fantastic in-state options Virginia offers?

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to UMW when it was MWC. The professors were largely outstanding and 85% of my classes were seminar-sized. I think I had a few surveys -- English, Bio, Geography -- that were 150 kids, and I still was able to talk to the professors. In fact, I keep in touch with one professor to this day.

It was not very hard to get into, and there were many more women than men, but I enjoyed the small LAC feel and made good friends. It was not difficult to find a group of people I felt at home with, which is to say it was reasonably diverse. It was not a commuter college at all, despite people saying that it is.

I also had a number of friends at GMU. It was not much to consider in the late 90s but I gather that it is a more robust option these days.

Another UMW/MWC alum here. I loved Mary Washington. I specifically chose it because of it's size, beauty, and access to professors. I made lifelong friends there and got a great education to boot. Highly recommend for anyone searching for a small LAC in a lovely setting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been watching GMU's progress over the past decade or so (I live nearby, use the gym, go to various events, took some graduate courses there for work, and have worked with some new hires from there) and it's been incredible to see the changes. It used to feel very much like a graduate heavy school--lots of master's and PhD programs--and a lot of commuter undergrads. There are now over 6000 students living on campus, so it's bustling all the time--even though a lot of students still commute (there's over 20K students) The diversity--and interaction between students from diverse groups--is impressive--not just racial/ethnic but also viewpoints. The new president Angel Cabrera is dynamic. They have a strong entrepreneurial push with lots of students starting up projects. Their pep band led by Doc Nix is very fun. There's a large group of international students. If feels different than just 5 years ago.
It has recently got R1 status (I think it's the one of the youngest institutions to do so)--which means it's one of the 115 most research intensive schools in the country, and many of its graduates earn quite a bit. The students strike me as serious. We've hired some CS/IT grads in our firm (a govt--IT consulting group) and they are quite good--hard workers, competent, able to pick up things. They aren't quite as articulate/polished as some of our recent hires from higher ranked schools (VTech and UVA), but they also don't seem as pampered. More pragmatic and able to get along and get things done.

+1

+2. I think GMU gets looked down on in NOVA because it is our “local” college and people are thinking circa 2005. Being a metro ride from DC and all the internship options, and in a highly educated diverse area, I think kids from NOVA below the top 10% but in the top 1/3 of FCPS would love to go— if it wasn’t so close to home and where they grew up. It’s CS school has a great reputation.

+3
Lots of OOS kids go there for all of the above reasons - and it's not in their backyard, so they don't see it the way many locals do. It's a very fine university and I'd be proud to send my kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The worse thing GMU did was align the university with the Koch brothers (noted for their political activities donating to conservative and Republican Party causes)

Better Koch than Soros.

Definitely agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Mary Washington fan. It is a hidden gem. A cute college town. Good academics--they are ranked for fulbrights and peace corps volunteers. It is one of those schools that people who know colleges like. It isnt quite Kenyon or Grinnel but it isn't Shennadoh or a really unheard of school.

I’m a big Mary Washington fan, too. I attended back when it was MWC. I think I received an excellent education there, and was well prepared for grad school. Class sizes were mostly small and taught by experienced professors rather than TA’s and students were known by name, not just a number. I would be happy if my kids wanted to go there.

+1,000
I have such nostalgia for my years at MWC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The worse thing GMU did was align the university with the Koch brothers (noted for their political activities donating to conservative and Republican Party causes)

Of all Virginia schools, I think only GMU has had any Nobel Prize winners associated with them at the time of their awards. This is a bit of a black eye on the state.

This isn't the DCUM-correct answer, but VCU has produced and had as faculty several Nobel winners. And of all VA publics, only UVA, VT, and VCU are recognized in the ARWU and in the Carnegie highest-profiles categories. VCU might not be difficult in terms of admission, but it is among the best universities in the country in many, many respects, and the campus is just electric and busy and a very appealing environment.

I stand corrected. John Fenn won in Chemistry while at VCU. Baruj Benacerraf, a graduate of the medical school shared the 1980 award for Medicine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The worse thing GMU did was align the university with the Koch brothers (noted for their political activities donating to conservative and Republican Party causes)

Better Koch than Soros.

Definitely agree.

Another +1. DC just graduated from GMU. Terrific experience and education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been watching GMU's progress over the past decade or so (I live nearby, use the gym, go to various events, took some graduate courses there for work, and have worked with some new hires from there) and it's been incredible to see the changes. It used to feel very much like a graduate heavy school--lots of master's and PhD programs--and a lot of commuter undergrads. There are now over 6000 students living on campus, so it's bustling all the time--even though a lot of students still commute (there's over 20K students) The diversity--and interaction between students from diverse groups--is impressive--not just racial/ethnic but also viewpoints. The new president Angel Cabrera is dynamic. They have a strong entrepreneurial push with lots of students starting up projects. Their pep band led by Doc Nix is very fun. There's a large group of international students. If feels different than just 5 years ago.
It has recently got R1 status (I think it's the one of the youngest institutions to do so)--which means it's one of the 115 most research intensive schools in the country, and many of its graduates earn quite a bit. The students strike me as serious. We've hired some CS/IT grads in our firm (a govt--IT consulting group) and they are quite good--hard workers, competent, able to pick up things. They aren't quite as articulate/polished as some of our recent hires from higher ranked schools (VTech and UVA), but they also don't seem as pampered. More pragmatic and able to get along and get things done.

+1

+2. I think GMU gets looked down on in NOVA because it is our “local” college and people are thinking circa 2005. Being a metro ride from DC and all the internship options, and in a highly educated diverse area, I think kids from NOVA below the top 10% but in the top 1/3 of FCPS would love to go— if it wasn’t so close to home and where they grew up. It’s CS school has a great reputation.

Eh. No thanks.

Agree. IT's a commuter school with no real campus or identity.

You're a little behind the times. The Carnegie Foundation for Teaching changed GMU's designation to residential in 2011. It also made is a R-1 (top research) university two years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been watching GMU's progress over the past decade or so (I live nearby, use the gym, go to various events, took some graduate courses there for work, and have worked with some new hires from there) and it's been incredible to see the changes. It used to feel very much like a graduate heavy school--lots of master's and PhD programs--and a lot of commuter undergrads. There are now over 6000 students living on campus, so it's bustling all the time--even though a lot of students still commute (there's over 20K students) The diversity--and interaction between students from diverse groups--is impressive--not just racial/ethnic but also viewpoints. The new president Angel Cabrera is dynamic. They have a strong entrepreneurial push with lots of students starting up projects. Their pep band led by Doc Nix is very fun. There's a large group of international students. If feels different than just 5 years ago.
It has recently got R1 status (I think it's the one of the youngest institutions to do so)--which means it's one of the 115 most research intensive schools in the country, and many of its graduates earn quite a bit. The students strike me as serious. We've hired some CS/IT grads in our firm (a govt--IT consulting group) and they are quite good--hard workers, competent, able to pick up things. They aren't quite as articulate/polished as some of our recent hires from higher ranked schools (VTech and UVA), but they also don't seem as pampered. More pragmatic and able to get along and get things done.

+1

+2. I think GMU gets looked down on in NOVA because it is our “local” college and people are thinking circa 2005. Being a metro ride from DC and all the internship options, and in a highly educated diverse area, I think kids from NOVA below the top 10% but in the top 1/3 of FCPS would love to go— if it wasn’t so close to home and where they grew up. It’s CS school has a great reputation.

Eh. No thanks.

Agree. IT's a commuter school with no real campus or identity.

You're a little behind the times. The Carnegie Foundation for Teaching changed GMU's designation to residential in 2011. It also made is a R-1 (top research) university two years ago.

Where 3/4 live off-campus. So, commuter school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been watching GMU's progress over the past decade or so (I live nearby, use the gym, go to various events, took some graduate courses there for work, and have worked with some new hires from there) and it's been incredible to see the changes. It used to feel very much like a graduate heavy school--lots of master's and PhD programs--and a lot of commuter undergrads. There are now over 6000 students living on campus, so it's bustling all the time--even though a lot of students still commute (there's over 20K students) The diversity--and interaction between students from diverse groups--is impressive--not just racial/ethnic but also viewpoints. The new president Angel Cabrera is dynamic. They have a strong entrepreneurial push with lots of students starting up projects. Their pep band led by Doc Nix is very fun. There's a large group of international students. If feels different than just 5 years ago.
It has recently got R1 status (I think it's the one of the youngest institutions to do so)--which means it's one of the 115 most research intensive schools in the country, and many of its graduates earn quite a bit. The students strike me as serious. We've hired some CS/IT grads in our firm (a govt--IT consulting group) and they are quite good--hard workers, competent, able to pick up things. They aren't quite as articulate/polished as some of our recent hires from higher ranked schools (VTech and UVA), but they also don't seem as pampered. More pragmatic and able to get along and get things done.

+1

+2. I think GMU gets looked down on in NOVA because it is our “local” college and people are thinking circa 2005. Being a metro ride from DC and all the internship options, and in a highly educated diverse area, I think kids from NOVA below the top 10% but in the top 1/3 of FCPS would love to go— if it wasn’t so close to home and where they grew up. It’s CS school has a great reputation.

Eh. No thanks.

Agree. IT's a commuter school with no real campus or identity.

You're a little behind the times. The Carnegie Foundation for Teaching changed GMU's designation to residential in 2011. It also made is a R-1 (top research) university two years ago.

Where 3/4 live off-campus. So, commuter school.

That's true at JMU, also. And most state universities.

[Anonymous]

Where 3/4 live off-campus. So, commuter school.

I would say a better definition of a commuter school would be one where a large number of the students live in the home where they grew up and/or a large number vacate the campus to go home on weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what world is VT considered better than JMU?


Half of the idiots I know went to VT.

Engineering

VT has name recognition throughout the country. Most people beyond the east coast have never heard of JMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The trashing that invariably happens on these threads is sick. How about some gratitude for the fantastic in-state options Virginia offers?

People always talk about the "fantastic" colleges available in Virginia, but beyond W&M, UVA, Tech, and JMU the other schools are on par with other states' public universitites.