Anonymous wrote:My DD is a first year at a UMW. She loves it, and we were very impressed with her classes this semester.

How is the class registration process at UMW? Did she have any troubles getting classes/sections she wanted?

Don't know about the other two, but St. Mary's MD is a beautiful campus and looked wonderful when we visited. It was on our son's list. And we loved the in state tuition.

Anonymous wrote:Geneseo is well regarded in NY. Lots of smart, artsy kids end up there. The town is adorable and friendly too. The area definitely has more of a midwestern vibe than one might think.

Agreed. This is the only school I know well of the three that you named. It has a great reputation in NYS. (Like I said yesterday re: Binghamton, it's a very strong school within a very strong system.)

Anonymous wrote:Geneseo and St Mary’s are considered the state’s Honors Colleges. Not sure about Mary Washington.

I’ve heard Geneseo is similar to William & Mary.

What does state's Honors Colleges actually mean? Don't all the state publics have an Honors college?

Geneseo and St Mary’s are considered the state’s Honors Colleges. Not sure about Mary Washington.

I’ve heard Geneseo is similar to William & Mary.

Agree that the location/setting/commute are the biggest differentiators for UMW and SMCM (I’m not familiar with Geneseo although I’ve heard good things). DC was also unimpressed with the SMCM food but liked UMW’s well enough. And of course if you’re in state for one of these schools, cost would be a factor.

DC really likes both UMW and SMCM but the commute and the cost (we are in VA) put UMW firmly above SMCM in DC’s personal rankings.

My DD is a first year at a UMW. She loves it, and we were very impressed with her classes this semester.

You can practically get to UMW on the (VRE) Virginia Railway Express train. People commute to Fredericksburg to/from DC. More women than men. There are some other Virginia colleges not too far away for added social life.

Geneseo is well regarded in NY. Lots of smart, artsy kids end up there. The town is adorable and friendly too. The area definitely has more of a midwestern vibe than one might think.

This is an excerpt from what U.S. News had to say after visiting SUNY–Geneseo:

"Walking on Main Street in Geneseo is like stepping into a vintage postcard. The 19th-century architecture of the storefronts, in an area designated a National Historic Landmark Village, seems to meld into the 220-acre campus of SUNY–Geneseo . . . ."

Chocolate ice cream vs vanilla ice cream vs strawberry ice cream. You’re getting fat any way you go.

I think SMCM and UMW are very comparable in terms of education and value, as well as the types of students they attract. Have had family members attend both. They are solid public colleges for a good price point. SMCM smaller and more rural while UMW has more going on in the surrounding area and larger student body.

My sophomore is very happy at St. Mary’s. Large high school wanted to try smaller college—serving her well.

St. Mary’s Maryland is coastal but remote and rural.

Mary Washington is near a historic town with revitalization.

I don’t know Geneseo.

I would bet they are all comparable academically.

I'd appreciate any perspective on the main differences between these three public liberal arts colleges. All would be out of state for us but probably still affordable. Are they roughly equivalent in terms of academic quality?