University of Mary Washington

[Anonymous]

What's it like? Seems to be getting mentioned on DCUM quite a bit these days.

[Anonymous]

Really solid VA option - doesn't get as much attention as the larger schools. Committed faculty, beautiful campus, small classes, close community, academics can be quite rigorous. Nice choice for the student who doesn't need a huge football/Greek scene.

[Anonymous]

UMW's place in the Virginia state school pecking order has dropped fairly dramatically over the last 20 years. It used to be a solid number 3 in admissions standards - after UVA and William & Mary. Now it's nowhere close to that.

[Anonymous]

Fredericksburg is an interesting town and i think the school is trying to bridge the gap between the old Fredericksburg compared to the new sprawling area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UMW's place in the Virginia state school pecking order has dropped fairly dramatically over the last 20 years. It used to be a solid number 3 in admissions standards - after UVA and William & Mary. Now it's nowhere close to that.

Which VA schools moved up in admissions standards in the past 20 years to displace it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMW's place in the Virginia state school pecking order has dropped fairly dramatically over the last 20 years. It used to be a solid number 3 in admissions standards - after UVA and William & Mary. Now it's nowhere close to that.

Which VA schools moved up in admissions standards in the past 20 years to displace it?

JMU, Tech and possibly GMU and CNU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMW's place in the Virginia state school pecking order has dropped fairly dramatically over the last 20 years. It used to be a solid number 3 in admissions standards - after UVA and William & Mary. Now it's nowhere close to that.

Which VA schools moved up in admissions standards in the past 20 years to displace it?

I'm not sure what standards PP has in mind. UMW has dropped, but it's been considered below UVA, W&M, and VT for far longer than 20 years. Now it's considered below JMU and possibly GMU and CNU as well - probably on par with VCU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMW's place in the Virginia state school pecking order has dropped fairly dramatically over the last 20 years. It used to be a solid number 3 in admissions standards - after UVA and William & Mary. Now it's nowhere close to that.

Which VA schools moved up in admissions standards in the past 20 years to displace it?

I'm not sure what standards PP has in mind. UMW has dropped, but it's been considered below UVA, W&M, and VT for far longer than 20 years. Now it's considered below JMU and possibly GMU and CNU as well - probably on par with VCU.

That's too bad. I never kept up with the bigger VA state schools but I went to UMW and it was lovely. Small-ish, small classes, nice students, not overwhelming social life with something for everyone as far as I could tell, and still had sports and clubs and groups...just not centered around greek life.

My education was robust. And we had a babysitter recently who graduated from UMW in the past 5 years. She was sharp and a student athlete, and I have to imagine if she did well there it is still a place for good, smart kids.

I'd consider it for my child for sure.

[Anonymous]

The pecking order thing is ridiculous. All the state schools are very different in size, culture, focus, etc. I wouldn't suggest anyone apply to any of them blind, and that includes UVA. No more than the Ivies or Big 10 are all equivalent!

[Anonymous]

Traffic management in and around Fredericksburg is such a nightmare, I know this sounds strange, but I'd prefer go elsewhere. Even fly elsewhere.

Otherwise it's a sold choice depending on major

[Anonymous]

UMW fits that niche of students who want a smaller LAC-type school but aren't competitive for W&M. Some of those smaller/mid-size-preferring students now prefer CNU so I think that has taken some students from UMW and thus has lowered it's profile a bit. My DD wants to go to W&M but is having a really awful DL 10th grade. It's probably going to take her GPA out of being in range for W&M. She'll also apply to UMW as an affordable option along with a range of LACs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Traffic management in and around Fredericksburg is such a nightmare, I know this sounds strange, but I'd prefer go elsewhere. Even fly elsewhere.

Otherwise it's a sold choice depending on major

Traffic is terrible, but accessibility via the VRE is a plus in my book.

[Anonymous]

I worked with a recent grad. One of the smartest most thoughtful young people I ever worked with. He really enjoyed his time at UMW and he was a terrific colleague.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMW's place in the Virginia state school pecking order has dropped fairly dramatically over the last 20 years. It used to be a solid number 3 in admissions standards - after UVA and William & Mary. Now it's nowhere close to that.

Which VA schools moved up in admissions standards in the past 20 years to displace it?

JMU, Tech and possibly GMU and CNU

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMW's place in the Virginia state school pecking order has dropped fairly dramatically over the last 20 years. It used to be a solid number 3 in admissions standards - after UVA and William & Mary. Now it's nowhere close to that.

Which VA schools moved up in admissions standards in the past 20 years to displace it?

I'm not sure what standards PP has in mind. UMW has dropped, but it's been considered below UVA, W&M, and VT for far longer than 20 years. Now it's considered below JMU and possibly GMU and CNU as well - probably on par with VCU.

That's too bad. I never kept up with the bigger VA state schools but I went to UMW and it was lovely. Small-ish, small classes, nice students, not overwhelming social life with something for everyone as far as I could tell, and still had sports and clubs and groups...just not centered around greek life.

My education was robust. And we had a babysitter recently who graduated from UMW in the past 5 years. She was sharp and a student athlete, and I have to imagine if she did well there it is still a place for good, smart kids.

I'd consider it for my child for sure.

+1
I also graduated from MWC (back when it was called Mary Washington College, which I vastly prefer). It was exactly the right college for me, for all the reasons you mentioned. Best four years of my life.