JMU and UVA

[Anonymous]

My kid went to both - JMU undergrad and UVA law. Both were great experiences. JMU undergrad experience was excellent - UVA law school experience was excellent (it's ranked in the top 5 in the US). Each campus had distinctive vibes and offerings that provided a fantastic instate educational experience for my kid. It's all about making the most of your time, wherever you go. As others have said, we are lucky to have so many fine choices in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all will gasp…..but I was at admitted student day at UVA last week and met people who a.) were also touring JMU and preferred it over UVA and b.) met people who were transferring into UVA from JMU as a second year because they preferred what UVA had to offer .

Everyone is different…..we’re lucky to have such amazing schools to choose from. All you haters need to get a life.

Well, you can't get pissed at the haters when you say everyone is different. The fact is, there are people who do not like JMU's campus and location and very much prefer UVA. To me, you can't even compare.

DP why can’t you just accept that some people prefer JMU and acknowledge that’s a respectable opinion?

Who isn't acknowledging that? I agreed people are different so it shouldn't be a surprise that some people will hate it. You can't get mad at the people who don't feel the same as you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all will gasp…..but I was at admitted student day at UVA last week and met people who a.) were also touring JMU and preferred it over UVA and b.) met people who were transferring into UVA from JMU as a second year because they preferred what UVA had to offer .

Everyone is different…..we’re lucky to have such amazing schools to choose from. All you haters need to get a life.

Well, you can't get pissed at the haters when you say everyone is different. The fact is, there are people who do not like JMU's campus and location and very much prefer UVA. To me, you can't even compare.

DP why can’t you just accept that some people prefer JMU and acknowledge that’s a respectable opinion?

Who isn't acknowledging that? I agreed people are different so it shouldn't be a surprise that some people will hate it. You can't get mad at the people who don't feel the same as you do.

Feeling compelled to say you don’t think they compare is unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

I know 2 kids who chose JMU over UVA and Tech.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Which college has happier students? This isn’t a question about rankings. We are thinking about fit and the social vibe at JMU and UVA. DD is in at both.

It seems like there are a lot of JMU fans on this board so that's probably telling. However, we visited there today and honestly, we weren't fans. Pros are the mountain views, it's clean, safe, and lots of student clubs and activities. The con in my opinion is that it's in the middle of nowhere. There's a small downtown but that's it. DD couldn't imagine being there for 4 years but everyone has their own preference. We prefer Charlottesville.

Not to bring math into this, but the census bureau puts Staunton and Harrisonburg into the same CSA. Each area has about 125,000 people, for a total of 250k in the Valley. Charlottesville MSA, on the other side of the mountains, has about 225,000 people.

JMU is more rural and UVA has more of an urban feel to it with access to better shopping and restaurants. There's even a Trader Joes nearby. Again, people like different things.

That's your definition of "more urban"?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:JMU and VT are both SIGNIFICANTLY more attractive campuses than UVA

I completely agree with this ^^.

I completely disagree.

So does most of the world. UVA is near the top of most beautiful campus lists every year. Never seen the other two mentioned.

OK. But I have seen Georgetown listed many times as well, which boggles my mind.

I can't even get over how someone can think this. Georgetown is objectively beautiful. And UVA in my opinion is tiers above JMU. One is a generic college campus by the mountains with nothing much to do outside of that and the other a walkable campus with beautiful architecture in a charming and vibrant college town with a lot of stuff to do in the area.

DP. Oh wow. Both Georgetown and UVA each have one small area that is attractive. That's it. The rest of the campus, in both instances, is mediocre to ugly. JMU not only has a lovely campus, particularly the bluestone/quad area, but is also located in the gorgeous Shenandoah Valley, and surrounded by low mountains. It's also a walkable campus with plenty to do in the area, to include lots of outdoor activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JMU and VT campuses feel small even though they are not and are just pretty. UVA feels disjointed and spread out and there is always construction going on. The lawn is nice but that is it. To each their own but to me UVA is nowhere as pretty.

+1000
I recently toured all three and this was exactly the impression we had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JMU and VT are both SIGNIFICANTLY more attractive campuses than UVA

I completely agree with this ^^.

I completely disagree.

So does most of the world. UVA is near the top of most beautiful campus lists every year. Never seen the other two mentioned.

Can you post the list?

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/beautiful-college-campuses

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/most-beautiful-colleges-in-america

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/colleges-universities/americas-most-beautiful-college-campuses

https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2016-01-29/the-20-most-beautiful-college-campuses-in-america

Your last link has Virginia Tech - but not UVA. Oops!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JMU and VT campuses feel small even though they are not and are just pretty. UVA feels disjointed and spread out and there is always construction going on. The lawn is nice but that is it. To each their own but to me UVA is nowhere as pretty.

Yes, exactly, they're small and depressing, whereas UVA has this gorgeous campus and quaint small-town vibe.

Ok, now we know you're just a sad troll.
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Which college has happier students? This isn’t a question about rankings. We are thinking about fit and the social vibe at JMU and UVA. DD is in at both.

It seems like there are a lot of JMU fans on this board so that's probably telling. However, we visited there today and honestly, we weren't fans. Pros are the mountain views, it's clean, safe, and lots of student clubs and activities. The con in my opinion is that it's in the middle of nowhere. There's a small downtown but that's it. DD couldn't imagine being there for 4 years but everyone has their own preference. We prefer Charlottesville.

Not to bring math into this, but the census bureau puts Staunton and Harrisonburg into the same CSA. Each area has about 125,000 people, for a total of 250k in the Valley. Charlottesville MSA, on the other side of the mountains, has about 225,000 people.

So Charlottesville is smaller? Weird flex.

It’s not a flex. Like I said, it’s math. Do you want a concentrated single city center of 225k, or do you prefer a slightly larger population but dispersed over a distance of 30 miles? I think there are pros and cons of both.

Except Trader Joe’s. I hate Trader Joe’s.

Which one has more gangs?

Harrisonburg. Latinos in the poultry industry become radicalized. See https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/nov/15/20041115-113006-6626r/

Bless your heart.

Governor Glenn Youngkin signed Executive Order 41 today, launching a statewide partnership to combat gang and community violence, including recent incidents in the Charlottesville and Albemarle County region. The initiative focuses on tackling gang activity, drug and human trafficking, and firearms-related violence while supporting victims and affected communities.

Recent gang activity in the Charlottesville and Albemarle County region has been marked by violent incidents and large-scale drug trafficking. On October 19, 2024, a suspected gang-related shooting in the 1600 block of Rio Hill Drive resulted in the death of 23-year-old Zerrion Eubanks-Warfield, with another victim sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. This incident followed a federal indictment in September 2023, where 17 individuals were charged with distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in the area. These cases reflect ongoing gang-related criminal activity in the region.

https://cvillerightnow.com/news/208802-governor-glenn-youngkin-issues-executive-order-to-combat-gangs-and-gang-violence-across-virginia/

[Anonymous]

JMU hands down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all will gasp…..but I was at admitted student day at UVA last week and met people who a.) were also touring JMU and preferred it over UVA and b.) met people who were transferring into UVA from JMU as a second year because they preferred what UVA had to offer .

Everyone is different…..we’re lucky to have such amazing schools to choose from. All you haters need to get a life.

Well, you can't get pissed at the haters when you say everyone is different. The fact is, there are people who do not like JMU's campus and location and very much prefer UVA. To me, you can't even compare.

And vice-versa, you twit.

[Anonymous]

One of my kids attended JMU for undergrad and had a fabulous four years, to include two study abroad stints. Now at Georgetown Law and enjoying it but misses the idyllic campus of JMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JMU and VT are both SIGNIFICANTLY more attractive campuses than UVA

I completely agree with this ^^.

I completely disagree.

So does most of the world. UVA is near the top of most beautiful campus lists every year. Never seen the other two mentioned.

OK. But I have seen Georgetown listed many times as well, which boggles my mind.

I can't even get over how someone can think this. Georgetown is objectively beautiful. And UVA in my opinion is tiers above JMU. One is a generic college campus by the mountains with nothing much to do outside of that and the other a walkable campus with beautiful architecture in a charming and vibrant college town with a lot of stuff to do in the area.

DP. Oh wow. Both Georgetown and UVA each have one small area that is attractive. That's it. The rest of the campus, in both instances, is mediocre to ugly. JMU not only has a lovely campus, particularly the bluestone/quad area, but is also located in the gorgeous Shenandoah Valley, and surrounded by low mountains. It's also a walkable campus with plenty to do in the area, to include lots of outdoor activities.

Man, some people get so butt hurt that some people like UVA and Georgetown more than JMU. Why so defensive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JMU and VT are both SIGNIFICANTLY more attractive campuses than UVA

I completely agree with this ^^.

I completely disagree.

So does most of the world. UVA is near the top of most beautiful campus lists every year. Never seen the other two mentioned.

OK. But I have seen Georgetown listed many times as well, which boggles my mind.

I can't even get over how someone can think this. Georgetown is objectively beautiful. And UVA in my opinion is tiers above JMU. One is a generic college campus by the mountains with nothing much to do outside of that and the other a walkable campus with beautiful architecture in a charming and vibrant college town with a lot of stuff to do in the area.

DP. Oh wow. Both Georgetown and UVA each have one small area that is attractive. That's it. The rest of the campus, in both instances, is mediocre to ugly. JMU not only has a lovely campus, particularly the bluestone/quad area, but is also located in the gorgeous Shenandoah Valley, and surrounded by low mountains. It's also a walkable campus with plenty to do in the area, to include lots of outdoor activities.

Man, some people get so butt hurt that some people like UVA and Georgetown more than JMU. Why so defensive?

Not really. The people that can’t understand why someone would turn down uva get defensive when you tell them not everyone would choose uva over jmu.