Anonymous
01/12/2025 00:42
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Anonymous wrote:OP, he can get admitted to a traditional vibe college, but I’m concerned about him staying there.
I’m in a mom’s group since my college freshman was a baby, and the women have been over-sharing since we talked about the color of the poop. A surprising (to me) number of the students really struggled at the larger schools. Including a reasonably high achiever who is now on academic probation at Illinois.
The students are not applying for their accommodations, making poor choices re: study habits, not going to office hours after failing a test. Lots of wishful thinking that somehow things are going to turn around followed by spending more energy planning Halloween costumes than academic rehab.
Now a couple of them are spiraling as they realize they have shut themselves out of: + 1 master’s programs, early research opportunities, etc. Meanwhile the moms are frustrated, because they tried to coach them in October/November when things were going off the rails.
I totally get the desire for a big football school or a name that will get positive feedback from your peers. They all want that validation. But while I could suggest Ohio U (not Ohio State), Mississippi State, Arizona State, I don’t know if that’s a successful path for him for the next 4.
I don't understand the point of this post - are you the OP? If not, why would you be "concerned" about OP's son attending a large school? Many/most kids do great at these schools and thrive on all of the opportunities available to them. The OP's son is clearly looking for a large, sporty, mainstream school. My son was looking for the same thing and has been extremely happy at his large state school.
Anonymous
01/12/2025 00:41
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Not VA but MD school that fits grade discussion and only two hours away from DC is Washington College. Beautiful campus and strong alumni network.
Also Goucher and McDaniel
I don’t think Goucher would fit OP’s criterion of not artsy/quirky.
Anonymous
01/12/2025 00:37
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Not underrated, but JMU is the obvious choice for this type of student.
A B student isn’t getting into JMU anymore.
Knew this was coming. Patently untrue.
Exactly. Every kid we know there was a B student.
+1
It may be a safety for higher stats kids but most kids are the B students.
DP. Not from our high school. They are well-rounded, A/B+ students.
Anonymous
01/12/2025 00:01
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hard pass on Liberty. They hid rapes on campus. Plus your resume will be thrown in the trash, as it should be.
Not true. Some of my kid's teachers in MS and HS had degrees from Liberty.
Take your bigotry elsewhere.
NP. Off the top of my head I can tell you two people I know in different fields with degrees from Liberty. I’m sure this poster also knows people with successful careers from Liberty. Most adults don’t go around talking about where they went to college so they don’t know.
Liberty absolutely hid rapes. They failed to disclose crime data and were sanctioned for that.
Anonymous
01/11/2025 23:58
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Anonymous wrote:Not VA but MD school that fits grade discussion and only two hours away from DC is Washington College. Beautiful campus and strong alumni network.
Also Goucher and McDaniel
Anonymous
01/11/2025 23:57
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Anonymous wrote:Most rational people do not respect Liberty
Many Christians don't either. A PP had recommended it if religious aspect was ok, but I would posit that this is too simplistic. Even us religious people have an issue with Liberty and its politicization and censorship (talk about cancel culture).
Anonymous
01/11/2025 23:43
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Cannot believe all these pages (maybe Liberty fills them) and no one mentioned an obvious choice
UVA Wise
UVA Wise
Anonymous
01/11/2025 23:37
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Not VA but MD school that fits grade discussion and only two hours away from DC is Washington College. Beautiful campus and strong alumni network.
Anonymous
01/11/2025 13:51
Subject: Re:Underrated gems in VA for B student
Following
Anonymous
01/11/2025 12:45
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Anonymous wrote:OP, he can get admitted to a traditional vibe college, but I’m concerned about him staying there.
I’m in a mom’s group since my college freshman was a baby, and the women have been over-sharing since we talked about the color of the poop. A surprising (to me) number of the students really struggled at the larger schools. Including a reasonably high achiever who is now on academic probation at Illinois.
The students are not applying for their accommodations, making poor choices re: study habits, not going to office hours after failing a test. Lots of wishful thinking that somehow things are going to turn around followed by spending more energy planning Halloween costumes than academic rehab.
Now a couple of them are spiraling as they realize they have shut themselves out of: + 1 master’s programs, early research opportunities, etc. Meanwhile the moms are frustrated, because they tried to coach them in October/November when things were going off the rails.
I totally get the desire for a big football school or a name that will get positive feedback from your peers. They all want that validation. But while I could suggest Ohio U (not Ohio State), Mississippi State, Arizona State, I don’t know if that’s a successful path for him for the next 4.
I agree with this. Please don’t rule out the smaller schools which may actually be a better fit.
I honestly think you should look at Shenandoah
Anonymous
01/11/2025 11:34
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Can we please stop discussing Liberty? It's completely out of the question for DC.
So far, thank you for the helpful responses. We are going to look at:
Longwood
CNU
WVU
Are there any others that would be a good fit for a sporty mainstream child that are akin to JMU/Penn State/VT but more for a B profile student?
OP, I haven't read every post but have you checked out Delaware? My kid sounds a lot like yours and loved it. He has older friends who are very happy there. Also, loved Pitt. And I second the rec for Loyola Maryland. It is smaller but very friendly and sporty feeling and has D1 basketball.
Also, for what it's worth, I know that it can feel a little alienating to have your target schools be other NOVA kids' safeties, but you are doing the right thing looking for a good fit for your kid. And there are benefits that I hadn't expected. My oldest daughter got into more selective schools but her process was very stressful. My son's application process has been fairly painless and he has gotten in everywhere so far.
Anonymous
01/11/2025 11:19
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Not underrated, but JMU is the obvious choice for this type of student.
A B student isn’t getting into JMU anymore.
Knew this was coming. Patently untrue.
Exactly. Every kid we know there was a B student.
+1
It may be a safety for higher stats kids but most kids are the B students.
Anonymous
01/11/2025 11:05
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
OP, he can get admitted to a traditional vibe college, but I’m concerned about him staying there.
I’m in a mom’s group since my college freshman was a baby, and the women have been over-sharing since we talked about the color of the poop. A surprising (to me) number of the students really struggled at the larger schools. Including a reasonably high achiever who is now on academic probation at Illinois.
The students are not applying for their accommodations, making poor choices re: study habits, not going to office hours after failing a test. Lots of wishful thinking that somehow things are going to turn around followed by spending more energy planning Halloween costumes than academic rehab.
Now a couple of them are spiraling as they realize they have shut themselves out of: + 1 master’s programs, early research opportunities, etc. Meanwhile the moms are frustrated, because they tried to coach them in October/November when things were going off the rails.
I totally get the desire for a big football school or a name that will get positive feedback from your peers. They all want that validation. But while I could suggest Ohio U (not Ohio State), Mississippi State, Arizona State, I don’t know if that’s a successful path for him for the next 4.
I’m in a mom’s group since my college freshman was a baby, and the women have been over-sharing since we talked about the color of the poop. A surprising (to me) number of the students really struggled at the larger schools. Including a reasonably high achiever who is now on academic probation at Illinois.
The students are not applying for their accommodations, making poor choices re: study habits, not going to office hours after failing a test. Lots of wishful thinking that somehow things are going to turn around followed by spending more energy planning Halloween costumes than academic rehab.
Now a couple of them are spiraling as they realize they have shut themselves out of: + 1 master’s programs, early research opportunities, etc. Meanwhile the moms are frustrated, because they tried to coach them in October/November when things were going off the rails.
I totally get the desire for a big football school or a name that will get positive feedback from your peers. They all want that validation. But while I could suggest Ohio U (not Ohio State), Mississippi State, Arizona State, I don’t know if that’s a successful path for him for the next 4.
Anonymous
01/11/2025 10:54
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hard pass on Liberty. They hid rapes on campus. Plus your resume will be thrown in the trash, as it should be.
Not true. Some of my kid's teachers in MS and HS had degrees from Liberty.
Take your bigotry elsewhere.
NP. Off the top of my head I can tell you two people I know in different fields with degrees from Liberty. I’m sure this poster also knows people with successful careers from Liberty. Most adults don’t go around talking about where they went to college so they don’t know.
Anonymous
01/11/2025 10:44
Subject: Underrated gems in VA for B student
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Can we please stop discussing Liberty? It's completely out of the question for DC.
So far, thank you for the helpful responses. We are going to look at:
Longwood
CNU
WVU
Are there any others that would be a good fit for a sporty mainstream child that are akin to JMU/Penn State/VT but more for a B profile student?
OP, definitely go visit CNU. It sounds like it will be an excellent fit. We toured there knowing very little about the school and were so impressed by the gorgeous campus, the deep and varied resources offered and the kind students we encountered. The school really pushes the values of service, honor and leadership. It may sound like just sound bites that the school wants to use for its brochures, but it really is evident when you step onto campus that the school fully embraces those values. Students are bought in as well. MY DD has applied.