Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 12:04     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Anonymous wrote:Mine currently has offers from all 3. We are full pay VA in-state and none offered merit. Cost of attendance is as follows:

VT: $42K
JMU: $33K
PSU: $56K


Where are you getting $42k for VT? Make sure you are comparing apples-to-apples vs the other schools. On the VT website, the current basic tuition, fees, housing, food is about $32K. They have IMO high estimates for everything else. Some colleges have an add on fee but even the highest (Business) just gets it up to $35k. Also, we've found housing costs significantly less once DD moves off campus, which almost everyone does after 1st year.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 11:53     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Pitt is lower rated than Vtech and OP never asked about Pitt, penn state is not in Pittsburgh.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 11:09     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I mean all of these schools have those things. JMU/Harrisonburg is considered pretty rural but there’s of course grocery stores, shops and a cute little downtown scene with lots of up and coming restaurants.

If she wants some more urban environment, she may want to consider something like Pitt or U South Carolina.


How did Pitt enter a conversation where the only Pennsylvania school mentioned was Penn State?

Have you been to Harrisonburg? it's rural, but the city has every chain restaurant known to man and every major chain store in the United States. It's also close to Shenandoah and Massanutten, so definitely a lovely area, and your kid will be comfortable there, and only about a 2.5 hour drive from DC to come home, however, in terms of academic strength, I would put Penn State the best, then Vtech, then JMU last. however if you are looking to save money and be in state especially for engineering vtech is probably the best option, however i will warn you its not been easy to get into any of these schools including jmu as there are too many kids going to college.


also Pittsburgh isnt' that more urban than Harrisonburg, everything shuts down after 12, if i was picking between UPItt (which isn't suggested) and the other 3 i would pick the va schools or pennstate.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 10:55     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I mean all of these schools have those things. JMU/Harrisonburg is considered pretty rural but there’s of course grocery stores, shops and a cute little downtown scene with lots of up and coming restaurants.

If she wants some more urban environment, she may want to consider something like Pitt or U South Carolina.


Have you been to Harrisonburg? it's rural, but the city has every chain restaurant known to man and every major chain store in the United States. It's also close to Shenandoah and Massanutten, so definitely a lovely area, and your kid will be comfortable there, and only about a 2.5 hour drive from DC to come home, however, in terms of academic strength, I would put Penn State the best, then Vtech, then JMU last. however if you are looking to save money and be in state especially for engineering vtech is probably the best option, however i will warn you its not been easy to get into any of these schools including jmu as there are too many kids going to college.


also Pittsburgh isnt' that more urban than Harrisonburg, everything shuts down after 12, if i was picking between UPItt (which isn't suggested) and the other 3 i would pick the va schools or pennstate.


Pitt campus is 100% urban. You walk out of your dorm onto city streets and it doesn't have a super defined campus.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 10:53     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Mine currently has offers from all 3. We are full pay VA in-state and none offered merit. Cost of attendance is as follows:

VT: $42K
JMU: $33K
PSU: $56K
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 10:51     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Um yeah, we can’t compare Pittsburgh and Harrisonburg. I love JMU but man oh man that is not something that is real!
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 10:50     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
The Greek life at VT is not dominant. It's certainly there, but the vast majority of students are NOT involved with it. There are hundreds of other clubs to join that offer social life. So if she has hobbies (a sport, an interest) she can find a club for that.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 10:50     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Harrisonburg has a nice downtown area with some great restaurants and cute shops. Lots to do beyond football and basketball. Tons of clubs an intramural sports. The surrounding area is beautiful. If your daughter likes hiking there are some great areas to explore. And Massanutten
(ski/tubing/snowboarding) is 15 minutes away.

Blacksburg is more remote but again, nice downtown area. Terrific campus. Great school spirit. Lots of clubs and other ways your kid to get involved. And good places to hike.

Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 10:49     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I mean all of these schools have those things. JMU/Harrisonburg is considered pretty rural but there’s of course grocery stores, shops and a cute little downtown scene with lots of up and coming restaurants.

If she wants some more urban environment, she may want to consider something like Pitt or U South Carolina.


Have you been to Harrisonburg? it's rural, but the city has every chain restaurant known to man and every major chain store in the United States. It's also close to Shenandoah and Massanutten, so definitely a lovely area, and your kid will be comfortable there, and only about a 2.5 hour drive from DC to come home, however, in terms of academic strength, I would put Penn State the best, then Vtech, then JMU last. however if you are looking to save money and be in state especially for engineering vtech is probably the best option, however i will warn you its not been easy to get into any of these schools including jmu as there are too many kids going to college.


also Pittsburgh isnt' that more urban than Harrisonburg, everything shuts down after 12, if i was picking between UPItt (which isn't suggested) and the other 3 i would pick the va schools or pennstate.


???
Isn’t more urban?
Do you want to compare museums between the two cities? The performing arts scene? The major concerts that come through? The architecture? The density of downtown? How about the major league sports teams??

Re: closing down after 12 in Pittsburgh. Nope. Bars open. Clubs open. Plenty of options to go eat after a bar or frat party - easily until 2:30am, and El Jefe’s until 4am.

Pitt is not right for everyone, but saying it isn’t much more urban than Harrisonburg is so incorrect, it’s almost rage-baiting.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 10:47     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Anonymous wrote:Does she understand that there are tons of student groups/clubs and that they have activities? Many have house parties. Club sports.


+1 my son is a senior at VT. He doesn't go to frat parties and only occasionally to football games. He hangs out with friends, is on a rec sports team (soccer and volleyball), is in a fantasy football group and watching pro football is big in his friend group. They've also recently been getting into going bowling. Hiking is popular when the weather is nice.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 10:40     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I mean all of these schools have those things. JMU/Harrisonburg is considered pretty rural but there’s of course grocery stores, shops and a cute little downtown scene with lots of up and coming restaurants.

If she wants some more urban environment, she may want to consider something like Pitt or U South Carolina.


Have you been to Harrisonburg? it's rural, but the city has every chain restaurant known to man and every major chain store in the United States. It's also close to Shenandoah and Massanutten, so definitely a lovely area, and your kid will be comfortable there, and only about a 2.5 hour drive from DC to come home, however, in terms of academic strength, I would put Penn State the best, then Vtech, then JMU last. however if you are looking to save money and be in state especially for engineering vtech is probably the best option, however i will warn you its not been easy to get into any of these schools including jmu as there are too many kids going to college.


also Pittsburgh isnt' that more urban than Harrisonburg, everything shuts down after 12, if i was picking between UPItt (which isn't suggested) and the other 3 i would pick the va schools or pennstate.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 10:39     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Anonymous wrote:I mean all of these schools have those things. JMU/Harrisonburg is considered pretty rural but there’s of course grocery stores, shops and a cute little downtown scene with lots of up and coming restaurants.

If she wants some more urban environment, she may want to consider something like Pitt or U South Carolina.


Have you been to Harrisonburg? it's rural, but the city has every chain restaurant known to man and every major chain store in the United States. It's also close to Shenandoah and Massanutten, so definitely a lovely area, and your kid will be comfortable there, and only about a 2.5 hour drive from DC to come home, however, in terms of academic strength, I would put Penn State the best, then Vtech, then JMU last. however if you are looking to save money and be in state especially for engineering vtech is probably the best option, however i will warn you its not been easy to get into any of these schools including jmu as there are too many kids going to college.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 10:36     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
Does she understand that there are tons of student groups/clubs and that they have activities? Many have house parties. Club sports.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 09:31     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
I mean all of these schools have those things. JMU/Harrisonburg is considered pretty rural but there’s of course grocery stores, shops and a cute little downtown scene with lots of up and coming restaurants.

If she wants some more urban environment, she may want to consider something like Pitt or U South Carolina.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 08:53     Subject: VA Tech, JMU, Penn State
We'll be visiting these colleges soon but my daughter has this perception that there's not much to do outside of frat parties and football games, though she definitely wants these things. Which of these colleges have a great college town where there are plenty of restaurants, bars, shops, gyms, salons, and nearby grocery stores?