Just for the record, a lot of people have 'never heard' of lots of schools that upper middle class Ivy educated people assume are household names. Ask the average person if they have ever heard of Bowdoin, MacAlester, etc. As somebody pointed out, most people know schools that have big sports programs.

I'm the poster who has been called not very smart and oblivious. I thought my lack of knowledge would be useful to OP, to confirm it is not well known by me at least. I do not live in VA but DC so it's not a public option here. Moreover my kids are young and I love in a neighborhood with mostly young kids and retirees. I know very few people with high school or college age kids. So it is not on my radar screen. I don't think that makes me oblivious. Outside of kid stuff, my work is mostly in international affairs so I have never run across a JMU grad. I think I must be different if you live in VA since your tax dollars are supporting this university and it is a cheap in- state option for kids.

University of Maine fans and students have heard of JMU.

I certainly hope the purpose of college is to get the piece of paper. Otherwise, these are extremely expensve football tickets.

Anonymous wrote:

It is as if their purpose of attending is simply to get a piece of paper to get a job.

The horror! Why would a young adult want to graduate and get a job??!

I'm not seeing the problem with going to school to get a degree and getting on with life, with or without research and journal articles. Writing a journal article as an undergrad is probably not a reliable predictor of future happiness and success in life.

And, if research/journal publication IS important to your future success, the main priority should be to go where you can be in the top of the class, not the middle. My kids love ASAP Science videos and this one does a great job of laying some of the research on publication success vs. competitiveness of the college vs. student's place in the class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow1-uj0ToVY Basically, if your SAT score would put you in the middle at one school but at the top in another, you will be better off going where you will be in the top group.

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Anonymous wrote:No. I wouldn't pay to send my kids to JMU or CNU.

Nor would I. Neither provide a high quality education.

You people are unbelievable. And I'm so glad you won't be sending your kids to these schools. Though it'll be fun to see where you actually do wind up sending them. Karma, you know.

Seriously. These posters must have young kids. My oldest is in 9th grade and suddenly parents are singing a different tune. Nothing like finding out that your "gifted" 3rd grade kid couldn't hack 8th grade Algebra 1 Intensified to make you reassess state schools. I'm finding the backtracking hilarious...

I am not sure what is not to be believed. I have spent the better part of two decades in academia, teaching at universities up and down the East Coast, and approving MSCHE accreditations. The majority of students at schools like JMU and CNU do not get involved in research, grant proposals or contribution to journals. It is as if their purpose of attending is simply to get a piece of paper to get a job.

I went to an Ivy and I don't recall working on grant proposals for professors or original research. It is as if you believe the purpose of college students is to help itinerant professors and academics write journal articles and travel up and down the East Coast.

PP I think it's hilarious that you are outraged that for many students the purpose of college is to get a job.
As I parent watching money disappear into the 529 every month, let me assure you that "getting a job" is EXACTLY what I want my kid to be thinking about. I say this as a bookish nerd that loved school, loved college research, reading, and writing.

It is as if their purpose of attending is simply to get a piece of paper to get a job.

The horror! Why would a young adult want to graduate and get a job??!

I'm not seeing the problem with going to school to get a degree and getting on with life, with or without research and journal articles. Writing a journal article as an undergrad is probably not a reliable predictor of future happiness and success in life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The majority of students at schools like JMU and CNU do not get involved in research, grant proposals or contribution to journals. It is as if their purpose of attending is simply to get a piece of paper to get a job.

How many undergrads at ANY school get involved in research, grant proposals, or journals???

As an Ivy undergrad I was able to get involved (minorly) in two projects. And then more substantially in grad school. There were a few other opportunities in my field and several of my peers contributed as well. Probably 10-15% of the class. It's there if you want it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The majority of students at schools like JMU and CNU do not get involved in research, grant proposals or contribution to journals. It is as if their purpose of attending is simply to get a piece of paper to get a job.

How many undergrads at ANY school get involved in research, grant proposals, or journals???

+1 And, a student who is competitive for an Ivy-type school but instead opts for an Honors Program at JMU (or another strong regional state university) will likely have access to a lot more opportunities to be involved in research than if he/she were a middle-of-the-pack student at the Ivy.

I didn't hear of JMU until I moved to the DC area but I attended a very strong west coast "regional" school. Sure, not many people in DC heard of it but my experience there got me a great job out of college which set a strong foundation for the rest of my career. After you first job, who cares about where you went to school anyway?

As a parent, that's exactly the goal for my children: to get a diploma and job.

Anonymous wrote: The majority of students at schools like JMU and CNU do not get involved in research, grant proposals or contribution to journals. It is as if their purpose of attending is simply to get a piece of paper to get a job.

How many undergrads at ANY school get involved in research, grant proposals, or journals???

I grew up in Australia and everyone there loves JMU and CNU. I think half of my class applied to one or the other. The smart half even. Great schools. The BEST!

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Anonymous wrote:No. I wouldn't pay to send my kids to JMU or CNU.

Nor would I. Neither provide a high quality education.

You people are unbelievable. And I'm so glad you won't be sending your kids to these schools. Though it'll be fun to see where you actually do wind up sending them. Karma, you know.

Seriously. These posters must have young kids. My oldest is in 9th grade and suddenly parents are singing a different tune. Nothing like finding out that your "gifted" 3rd grade kid couldn't hack 8th grade Algebra 1 Intensified to make you reassess state schools. I'm finding the backtracking hilarious...

I am not sure what is not to be believed. I have spent the better part of two decades in academia, teaching at universities up and down the East Coast, and approving MSCHE accreditations. The majority of students at schools like JMU and CNU do not get involved in research, grant proposals or contribution to journals. It is as if their purpose of attending is simply to get a piece of paper to get a job.

I went to an Ivy and I don't recall working on grant proposals for professors or original research. It is as if you believe the purpose of college students is to help itinerant professors and academics write journal articles and travel up and down the East Coast.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or Christopher Newport University?

Have not heard of the other one but James Madison is a fairly well-known school in my home state of Ohio, and along with VT is viewed as being the two best-know backups for UVa or William and Mary.

JMU was viewed as sort of a Miami U-type school - preppy but small, regional. VT was viewed as sort of an Ohio State-type school And we really don't have the equivalents of UVa and W&M - one of the reasons I am thinking of moving to VA from NWDC....

+1 JMU and VT were known at my HS in Delaware as alternatives to UD.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. I wouldn't pay to send my kids to JMU or CNU.

Nor would I. Neither provide a high quality education.

You people are unbelievable. And I'm so glad you won't be sending your kids to these schools. Though it'll be fun to see where you actually do wind up sending them. Karma, you know.

Seriously. These posters must have young kids. My oldest is in 9th grade and suddenly parents are singing a different tune. Nothing like finding out that your "gifted" 3rd grade kid couldn't hack 8th grade Algebra 1 Intensified to make you reassess state schools. I'm finding the backtracking hilarious...

I am not sure what is not to be believed. I have spent the better part of two decades in academia, teaching at universities up and down the East Coast, and approving MSCHE accreditations. The majority of students at schools like JMU and CNU do not get involved in research, grant proposals or contribution to journals. It is as if their purpose of attending is simply to get a piece of paper to get a job.