A kid with the stats to get into VT, W&M or JMU isn't going to settle for GMU or CNU.

Mary Washington is a great suggestion if the student wants a quieter, smaller campus vibe and doesn't get into W&M.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jmu has a great honors program.

GMU also has a great honors program and preference for Scalia Law, which ranks 32 in the nation.

32nd in US News rankings only, not in terms of its real reputation nationwide. Try leaving the DMV with that degree. For that matter, try getting a Biglaw job IN the DMV. Ain't happening.

Scalia Law school has a toilet tier reputation amongst elite attorneys.

Anonymous wrote:Mary Washington?

Agree. VT isn’t strong on social sciences or humanities. And the personality type you described might be a better fit at a smaller school like Mary Washington. Also second looking at CNU.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT has been wild on admissions this year… definitely not a safety school.
Kid had above 1500 SAT and was waitlisted.

what major? does Tech care more about grades than scores?

DP. According to VT’s CDS, scores are ranked as “considered” while gpa & rigor are ranked ans “very important”. Even the essay carries more weight than test scores.

https://aie.vt.edu/content/dam/aie_vt_edu/common-data-set/25-26/2025-2026-CDS.xlsx

Anonymous wrote:JMU is a great school too. Don't let anyone tell you it's just a "party school" without serious academics. Two of my kids went there, had a wonderful four years, and are both well-employed. We're so lucky to have these schools in our state.

OP here, thanks and thanks to the other parent that shared their kids' successes there. I completely agree that JMU is a great school that could offer DC a lot of opportunities to learn and grow. It is, in all honesty, my preferred choice for DC because sometimes a parents know! Our parental plan is to keep dropping info about JMU and work on DC's unfair, elitist impression that DC has gained from peer groups. It is infuriating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't know enough about VT but wanted to throw out CNU. Christopher Newport University has a core curriculum that sounds like it would align with your child's interests and also an Honor's Program that also sounds right her their ally. It's a bit of an unknown gem in the humanities world from what I've read.

CNU is light years behind both VT and JMU. I'd send a kid to GMU or VCU over it as well.

OP here. DC toured CNU, and I had really hoped DC would like it. It has a lot of the elements DC desires in a school, but the campus feel and tour guides' "vibe" felt "off" to DC. Unfortunately, for better or worse from a parent's view, this closed the door for consideration for DC. How I wish this wasn't the case because affordability and the various honors tracks PP mentioned were really attractive and could fast track kid to graduate school, meaning DC with all the AP credits could finish in 3 years and begin major coursework earlier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not like VT isn't a party school for many of its students. So's UVA for that matter.

JMU and VT are on par when it comes to partying. They're on the fun side of the ledger. If you don't want to have any fun, go to W&M, Mary Washington, or CNU.

Just had to get a dig in still.

I'm not wrong.

Anonymous wrote:VT has been wild on admissions this year… definitely not a safety school.
Kid had above 1500 SAT and was waitlisted.

what major? does Tech care more about grades than scores?

Anonymous wrote:It's not like VT isn't a party school for many of its students. So's UVA for that matter.

JMU and VT are on par when it comes to partying. They're on the fun side of the ledger. If you don't want to have any fun, go to W&M, Mary Washington, or CNU.

Just had to get a dig in still.

It's not like VT isn't a party school for many of its students. So's UVA for that matter.

JMU and VT are on par when it comes to partying. They're on the fun side of the ledger. If you don't want to have any fun, go to W&M, Mary Washington, or CNU.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jmu has a great honors program.

GMU also has a great honors program and preference for Scalia Law, which ranks 32 in the nation.

32nd in US News rankings only, not in terms of its real reputation nationwide. Try leaving the DMV with that degree. For that matter, try getting a Biglaw job IN the DMV. Ain't happening.

Anonymous wrote:Don't know enough about VT but wanted to throw out CNU. Christopher Newport University has a core curriculum that sounds like it would align with your child's interests and also an Honor's Program that also sounds right her their ally. It's a bit of an unknown gem in the humanities world from what I've read.

CNU is light years behind both VT and JMU. I'd send a kid to GMU or VCU over it as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't know enough about VT but wanted to throw out CNU. Christopher Newport University has a core curriculum that sounds like it would align with your child's interests and also an Honor's Program that also sounds right her their ally. It's a bit of an unknown gem in the humanities world from what I've read.

Where have you read this?

Since you asked!

https://www.goacta.org/initiatives/oases-of-excellence/

Anonymous wrote:Don't know enough about VT but wanted to throw out CNU. Christopher Newport University has a core curriculum that sounds like it would align with your child's interests and also an Honor's Program that also sounds right her their ally. It's a bit of an unknown gem in the humanities world from what I've read.

Where have you read this?

JMU is a great school too. Don't let anyone tell you it's just a "party school" without serious academics. Two of my kids went there, had a wonderful four years, and are both well-employed. We're so lucky to have these schools in our state.