PP here ^^ Sorry - meant to respond to the PP before you who claimed "you don't know what top is." My mistake.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it because GMU does not signal intelligence in the same way UVA, WandM, UMD, etc. do?

How does a university "signal intelligence"? The faculty at GMU are top notch. Is it the sweatshirt color?

I don't think you know what "top" means.

PHDs from Oxford, MIT, Princeton, Harvard, U of Chicago, even gasp, UVA..

DP. I have no connection to GMU, but your snotty post made me curious. A cursory glance at the GMU faculty bios shows multiple PhDs from many schools, to include:

Cambridge, Oxford, Sorbonne, MIT, Princeton, Harvard, UChicago, Columbia, Yale, Cornell, Brown, Stanford, MIT, UPenn, UCLA, WUSTL, Michigan, UNC-CH, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, Yale, Notre Dame, Duke, USC, Berkeley, CalTech, UW-Madison, Iowa (writing), Northwestern, Rice, Georgia Tech, GW, BU, BC, UW, UF, NYU, Purdue, LSE, and of course, PhDs from Virginia Tech, UVA, UMD, George Mason, and W&M.

Many, many more schools were listed, but these stood out in response to your silly list, above.

https://catalog.gmu.edu/about-mason/faculty/#text

SAT with Percent not-TO:
UVA: 1470 (59%)
W/M: 1470 (59%)
UMD: 1450 (48%)
VTech: 1360 (48%)

GMU: 1240 (38%)

Acceptance rates:
UVA: 17%
W/M: 33%
UMD: 45%
VTech: 57%

GMU: 89%

Graduation rates:
UVA: 94%
W/M: 92%
UMD: 86%
VTech: 86%

GMU: 70%

GMU attracts different students than do other schools in the DMV. Size doesn't matter. UMD has more students than GMU as does Virginia Tech.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it crazy that my Fairfax kid prefers GMU over William and Mary,?

Not at all. W&M has a college feel at 6,500 students. GMU has a university feel at 27,000 undergrads. GMU offers programs no other university in the Commonwealth does. My DS went there (loved it -lived in the dorms all four years) for its Game Design major. The hot cyber security major is only offered only at GMU. (The legislature does this on purpose). GMU's computer science, engineering and econ departmebts are impressive. Interesting GMU's law school is ranked around 28; W&M's is in the 60s

+1
GMU sounds like a much more interesting place than W&M, to be honest. And I have no connection to either school.
DP

+1 dp.. my kid from oos is interested in GMU Forensic Science program. Top notch program near the FBI.

They aren't interested in football games, and want a more urban/suburban setting with shops and restaurants close by. I would be thrilled for DC to attend GMU FS program.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids away for college. It's the biggest gift you can give them. GMU is a lame option for NoVa kids. Let them fly!!

Agreed. A lot of parents limiting their children’s potential.

Potential doesn't mean paying for them to move far away and party for four years.

Sending your kids away to college is for the privileged few. Most people can't afford out of state.

Here’s a direct example. It can’t be that your kids are getting a good education that isn’t available at GMU either great networking opportunities in a new place. No, they’re just “party[ing] for four years.” This is the mindset of abusers who are jealous of their kids.

No one said that you can't get a good education at another school, just that having them go to GMU doesn't limit their potential.

BTW, my kids don't even go to GMU. But, what you are stating is ridiculous. Kids can reach their potential whether 10 or 100 miles from home. Living far away from home isn't what makes them reach their potential.

I'm not jealous of my children. I want great things for my kids, but going to school 100 miles away doesn't mean it helps them reach their potential.

You're weird.

Living far from home does help kids grow in a way that kids who stay home don't. It isn't quantifiable by an internship or a job but it certainly makes a person more interesting as an individual if they ventured out of their comfort zone/home area. That't indisputable.

I disagree.
The idea of someone living some place far away you've never been may sound interesting to YOU, but it doesn't make the individual per se more interesting. And people can "venture out of their comfort zone" in many ways, not just by leaving their home town. Those types of stepping out, imo, actually do make a person more interesting.

Yes, living far from home does make kids grow differently than if they stay home - mostly faster; mainly developing (hopefully) more independence sooner; sometimes becoming more confident and/or adventurous; maybe more social - maybe not. The more I think about it, the less I agree with you even on this point. I'd say "potentially grow differently."

I agree with that PP.

I remember when I first met my DH, he described one sister as "stupid" and one as "selfish." He pointed out that the stupid one grew up in FFX, like he did, but that she has literally never left. Graduated from hs, moved out of her mother's house in FFX city to a house in FFX county. After two kids and a divorce went to college at George Mason. Has been working here the rest of her life. Her brand of stupid (there are, of course, different types of stupid), could have been controlled for a bit if she'd seen a bit more of the world. Or even a bit more of the US. Or even a bit more of Virginia. Her provincial attitudes are pretty ugly (racist, classist, and even a bit hick-ish). After being a dem for most of her life she voted for Trump to "keep those people out -- they are taking our jobs." I think having gone away, even just for college, would have been a counterweight here. Not a heavy one, maybe. But it would have helped.

This reads kinda funny because the FFX area and GMU in particular are very diverse and have the types of growth opportunities the other PP mentions. One of the reasons DS chose to go to GMU from OOS is because it is so diverse. The PP's provincial SIL was so doltish, notwithstanding having lived in FFX all her life, to not realize this? Or perhaps lacked the drive to go somewhere more like-minded for her? This does not sound like a FFX or GMU problem.

Fairfax, VA is "so diverse" in a very particular kind of way. As is GMU. Perhaps if you were not OOS, you would understand this.

Dude, I'm from the DMV, before it was even called the DMV. FFX is diverse, ethnically and socio-economically. DS wanted to come back to the FFX area specifically because it is diverse. If you are trying to insinuate that there is a preferred way to be "diverse," then that's definitely a you problem, and sounds like you and the PP doltish SIL may have some things in common.

+100

Anonymous wrote:Is it because GMU does not signal intelligence in the same way UVA, WandM, UMD, etc. do?

Snort. OMG. Case in point ^^

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most GMU faculty have degrees from schools that DCUMers worship so I find it interesting that they shun the school due to the acceptance rate. The area is lucky to have a school with these resources that is accessible to more students.

Threads by GMU are always shockingly civil and restrained. Way worse things are said about UVA and William and Mary than GMU on this page.

That's because the obnoxious W&M and UVA boosters always come along and ruin those threads with their bizarre bragging.
DP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it crazy that my Fairfax kid prefers GMU over William and Mary,?

Not at all. W&M has a college feel at 6,500 students. GMU has a university feel at 27,000 undergrads. GMU offers programs no other university in the Commonwealth does. My DS went there (loved it -lived in the dorms all four years) for its Game Design major. The hot cyber security major is only offered only at GMU. (The legislature does this on purpose). GMU's computer science, engineering and econ departmebts are impressive. Interesting GMU's law school is ranked around 28; W&M's is in the 60s

+1
GMU sounds like a much more interesting place than W&M, to be honest. And I have no connection to either school.
DP

^+1

I was fortunate enough to grow up an hour away from a top research university. After freshman year, I never went home again. Had internships and jobs in the summers and subletting for 2 months wasn't worth it. It felt a world away from my family.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids away for college. It's the biggest gift you can give them. GMU is a lame option for NoVa kids. Let them fly!!

Agreed. A lot of parents limiting their children’s potential.

Potential doesn't mean paying for them to move far away and party for four years.

Sending your kids away to college is for the privileged few. Most people can't afford out of state.

Here’s a direct example. It can’t be that your kids are getting a good education that isn’t available at GMU either great networking opportunities in a new place. No, they’re just “party[ing] for four years.” This is the mindset of abusers who are jealous of their kids.

No one said that you can't get a good education at another school, just that having them go to GMU doesn't limit their potential.

BTW, my kids don't even go to GMU. But, what you are stating is ridiculous. Kids can reach their potential whether 10 or 100 miles from home. Living far away from home isn't what makes them reach their potential.

I'm not jealous of my children. I want great things for my kids, but going to school 100 miles away doesn't mean it helps them reach their potential.

You're weird.

Living far from home does help kids grow in a way that kids who stay home don't. It isn't quantifiable by an internship or a job but it certainly makes a person more interesting as an individual if they ventured out of their comfort zone/home area. That't indisputable.

I disagree.
The idea of someone living some place far away you've never been may sound interesting to YOU, but it doesn't make the individual per se more interesting. And people can "venture out of their comfort zone" in many ways, not just by leaving their home town. Those types of stepping out, imo, actually do make a person more interesting.


Yes, living far from home does make kids grow differently than if they stay home - mostly faster; mainly developing (hopefully) more independence sooner; sometimes becoming more confident and/or adventurous; maybe more social - maybe not. The more I think about it, the less I agree with you even on this point. I'd say "potentially grow differently."

I agree with that PP.

I remember when I first met my DH, he described one sister as "stupid" and one as "selfish." He pointed out that the stupid one grew up in FFX, like he did, but that she has literally never left. Graduated from hs, moved out of her mother's house in FFX city to a house in FFX county. After two kids and a divorce went to college at George Mason. Has been working here the rest of her life. Her brand of stupid (there are, of course, different types of stupid), could have been controlled for a bit if she'd seen a bit more of the world. Or even a bit more of the US. Or even a bit more of Virginia. Her provincial attitudes are pretty ugly (racist, classist, and even a bit hick-ish). After being a dem for most of her life she voted for Trump to "keep those people out -- they are taking our jobs." I think having gone away, even just for college, would have been a counterweight here. Not a heavy one, maybe. But it would have helped.

This reads kinda funny because the FFX area and GMU in particular are very diverse and have the types of growth opportunities the other PP mentions. One of the reasons DS chose to go to GMU from OOS is because it is so diverse. The PP's provincial SIL was so doltish, notwithstanding having lived in FFX all her life, to not realize this? Or perhaps lacked the drive to go somewhere more like-minded for her? This does not sound like a FFX or GMU problem.

+1 moving away to an area that is less diverse and metropolitan just to say that you left your hometown doesnt really add much value. You can learn how to do you day to day adulting anywhere but meeting others with different viewpoints is what provides growth and there are plenty of opportunities to do this in the DC area. We have visited a few OOS publics in the Midwest and NE and there is a pretty stark difference in things like performing arts, museums, global cuisine restaurants and diverse populations.

+1 This area is one of the most diverse in the country, with a vast array of job opportunities, arts, and museums.

I suppose going to a very white rural area for college would open DC's eyes to how some parts of the country are not very diverse. That would certainly be eye opening since my kids have only lived in a very diverse area with so many different nationalities and ethnicities. But, going to a different state for college doesn't mean it will help them reach their potential.

Also, going to school closer to home doesn't mean that they come home often and lean on parents. We hardly see DC who goes to college like 20mi away. But, move in/out is sure easy. They have learned to take care of themselves. They have learned to cook interesting meals, and even cooked for us during the winter break. I've visited their apt, and it's pretty clean. They joined clubs, and got an internship on their own that will pay them $40/hour this coming summer. IMO, they are doing well reaching their potential even as they go to school 20mi from us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids away for college. It's the biggest gift you can give them. GMU is a lame option for NoVa kids. Let them fly!!

Agreed. A lot of parents limiting their children’s potential.

Potential doesn't mean paying for them to move far away and party for four years.

Sending your kids away to college is for the privileged few. Most people can't afford out of state.

Here’s a direct example. It can’t be that your kids are getting a good education that isn’t available at GMU either great networking opportunities in a new place. No, they’re just “party[ing] for four years.” This is the mindset of abusers who are jealous of their kids.

No one said that you can't get a good education at another school, just that having them go to GMU doesn't limit their potential.

BTW, my kids don't even go to GMU. But, what you are stating is ridiculous. Kids can reach their potential whether 10 or 100 miles from home. Living far away from home isn't what makes them reach their potential.

I'm not jealous of my children. I want great things for my kids, but going to school 100 miles away doesn't mean it helps them reach their potential.

You're weird.

Living far from home does help kids grow in a way that kids who stay home don't. It isn't quantifiable by an internship or a job but it certainly makes a person more interesting as an individual if they ventured out of their comfort zone/home area. That't indisputable.

I disagree.
The idea of someone living some place far away you've never been may sound interesting to YOU, but it doesn't make the individual per se more interesting. And people can "venture out of their comfort zone" in many ways, not just by leaving their home town. Those types of stepping out, imo, actually do make a person more interesting.

Yes, living far from home does make kids grow differently than if they stay home - mostly faster; mainly developing (hopefully) more independence sooner; sometimes becoming more confident and/or adventurous; maybe more social - maybe not. The more I think about it, the less I agree with you even on this point. I'd say "potentially grow differently."

I agree with that PP.

I remember when I first met my DH, he described one sister as "stupid" and one as "selfish." He pointed out that the stupid one grew up in FFX, like he did, but that she has literally never left. Graduated from hs, moved out of her mother's house in FFX city to a house in FFX county. After two kids and a divorce went to college at George Mason. Has been working here the rest of her life. Her brand of stupid (there are, of course, different types of stupid), could have been controlled for a bit if she'd seen a bit more of the world. Or even a bit more of the US. Or even a bit more of Virginia. Her provincial attitudes are pretty ugly (racist, classist, and even a bit hick-ish). After being a dem for most of her life she voted for Trump to "keep those people out -- they are taking our jobs." I think having gone away, even just for college, would have been a counterweight here. Not a heavy one, maybe. But it would have helped.

This reads kinda funny because the FFX area and GMU in particular are very diverse and have the types of growth opportunities the other PP mentions. One of the reasons DS chose to go to GMU from OOS is because it is so diverse. The PP's provincial SIL was so doltish, notwithstanding having lived in FFX all her life, to not realize this? Or perhaps lacked the drive to go somewhere more like-minded for her? This does not sound like a FFX or GMU problem.

Agreed.
People are who they are. If she had those attitudes growing up in FFX Co, VA, she surely wasn't going to change her mind at a less diverse school in a less diverse part of the state or country.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids away for college. It's the biggest gift you can give them. GMU is a lame option for NoVa kids. Let them fly!!

Agreed. A lot of parents limiting their children’s potential.

Potential doesn't mean paying for them to move far away and party for four years.

Sending your kids away to college is for the privileged few. Most people can't afford out of state.

Here’s a direct example. It can’t be that your kids are getting a good education that isn’t available at GMU either great networking opportunities in a new place. No, they’re just “party[ing] for four years.” This is the mindset of abusers who are jealous of their kids.

No one said that you can't get a good education at another school, just that having them go to GMU doesn't limit their potential.

BTW, my kids don't even go to GMU. But, what you are stating is ridiculous. Kids can reach their potential whether 10 or 100 miles from home. Living far away from home isn't what makes them reach their potential.

I'm not jealous of my children. I want great things for my kids, but going to school 100 miles away doesn't mean it helps them reach their potential.

You're weird.

Living far from home does help kids grow in a way that kids who stay home don't. It isn't quantifiable by an internship or a job but it certainly makes a person more interesting as an individual if they ventured out of their comfort zone/home area. That't indisputable.

I disagree.
The idea of someone living some place far away you've never been may sound interesting to YOU, but it doesn't make the individual per se more interesting. And people can "venture out of their comfort zone" in many ways, not just by leaving their home town. Those types of stepping out, imo, actually do make a person more interesting.


Yes, living far from home does make kids grow differently than if they stay home - mostly faster; mainly developing (hopefully) more independence sooner; sometimes becoming more confident and/or adventurous; maybe more social - maybe not. The more I think about it, the less I agree with you even on this point. I'd say "potentially grow differently."

I agree with that PP.

I remember when I first met my DH, he described one sister as "stupid" and one as "selfish." He pointed out that the stupid one grew up in FFX, like he did, but that she has literally never left. Graduated from hs, moved out of her mother's house in FFX city to a house in FFX county. After two kids and a divorce went to college at George Mason. Has been working here the rest of her life. Her brand of stupid (there are, of course, different types of stupid), could have been controlled for a bit if she'd seen a bit more of the world. Or even a bit more of the US. Or even a bit more of Virginia. Her provincial attitudes are pretty ugly (racist, classist, and even a bit hick-ish). After being a dem for most of her life she voted for Trump to "keep those people out -- they are taking our jobs." I think having gone away, even just for college, would have been a counterweight here. Not a heavy one, maybe. But it would have helped.

This reads kinda funny because the FFX area and GMU in particular are very diverse and have the types of growth opportunities the other PP mentions. One of the reasons DS chose to go to GMU from OOS is because it is so diverse. The PP's provincial SIL was so doltish, notwithstanding having lived in FFX all her life, to not realize this? Or perhaps lacked the drive to go somewhere more like-minded for her? This does not sound like a FFX or GMU problem.

+1 moving away to an area that is less diverse and metropolitan just to say that you left your hometown doesnt really add much value. You can learn how to do you day to day adulting anywhere but meeting others with different viewpoints is what provides growth and there are plenty of opportunities to do this in the DC area. We have visited a few OOS publics in the Midwest and NE and there is a pretty stark difference in things like performing arts, museums, global cuisine restaurants and diverse populations.

Moving anywhere that is different will "add value." Moving to Roanoke from NoVA will do that. You don't need "performing arts, museums, global cuisine restaurants and diverse populations" to learn that people live differently than you have. In fact, if you come from a relatively cosmopolitan place, you might learn more about other people in "the Midwest."

I dont think Roanoke would have saved PPs SIL from herself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it because GMU does not signal intelligence in the same way UVA, WandM, UMD, etc. do?

How does a university "signal intelligence"? The faculty at GMU are top notch. Is it the sweatshirt color?

I don't think you know what "top" means.

PHDs from Oxford, MIT, Princeton, Harvard, U of Chicago, even gasp, UVA..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kids away for college. It's the biggest gift you can give them. GMU is a lame option for NoVa kids. Let them fly!!

Agreed. A lot of parents limiting their children’s potential.

Potential doesn't mean paying for them to move far away and party for four years.

Sending your kids away to college is for the privileged few. Most people can't afford out of state.

Here’s a direct example. It can’t be that your kids are getting a good education that isn’t available at GMU either great networking opportunities in a new place. No, they’re just “party[ing] for four years.” This is the mindset of abusers who are jealous of their kids.

No one said that you can't get a good education at another school, just that having them go to GMU doesn't limit their potential.

BTW, my kids don't even go to GMU. But, what you are stating is ridiculous. Kids can reach their potential whether 10 or 100 miles from home. Living far away from home isn't what makes them reach their potential.

I'm not jealous of my children. I want great things for my kids, but going to school 100 miles away doesn't mean it helps them reach their potential.

You're weird.

Living far from home does help kids grow in a way that kids who stay home don't. It isn't quantifiable by an internship or a job but it certainly makes a person more interesting as an individual if they ventured out of their comfort zone/home area. That't indisputable.

I disagree.
The idea of someone living some place far away you've never been may sound interesting to YOU, but it doesn't make the individual per se more interesting. And people can "venture out of their comfort zone" in many ways, not just by leaving their home town. Those types of stepping out, imo, actually do make a person more interesting.

Yes, living far from home does make kids grow differently than if they stay home - mostly faster; mainly developing (hopefully) more independence sooner; sometimes becoming more confident and/or adventurous; maybe more social - maybe not. The more I think about it, the less I agree with you even on this point. I'd say "potentially grow differently."

I agree with that PP.

I remember when I first met my DH, he described one sister as "stupid" and one as "selfish." He pointed out that the stupid one grew up in FFX, like he did, but that she has literally never left. Graduated from hs, moved out of her mother's house in FFX city to a house in FFX county. After two kids and a divorce went to college at George Mason. Has been working here the rest of her life. Her brand of stupid (there are, of course, different types of stupid), could have been controlled for a bit if she'd seen a bit more of the world. Or even a bit more of the US. Or even a bit more of Virginia. Her provincial attitudes are pretty ugly (racist, classist, and even a bit hick-ish). After being a dem for most of her life she voted for Trump to "keep those people out -- they are taking our jobs." I think having gone away, even just for college, would have been a counterweight here. Not a heavy one, maybe. But it would have helped.

This reads kinda funny because the FFX area and GMU in particular are very diverse and have the types of growth opportunities the other PP mentions. One of the reasons DS chose to go to GMU from OOS is because it is so diverse. The PP's provincial SIL was so doltish, notwithstanding having lived in FFX all her life, to not realize this? Or perhaps lacked the drive to go somewhere more like-minded for her? This does not sound like a FFX or GMU problem.

Fairfax, VA is "so diverse" in a very particular kind of way. As is GMU. Perhaps if you were not OOS, you would understand this.

Dude, I'm from the DMV, before it was even called the DMV. FFX is diverse, ethnically and socio-economically. DS wanted to come back to the FFX area specifically because it is diverse. If you are trying to insinuate that there is a preferred way to be "diverse," then that's definitely a you problem, and sounds like you and the PP doltish SIL may have some things in common.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it because GMU does not signal intelligence in the same way UVA, WandM, UMD, etc. do?

Because today, GMU has a commuter school reputation and feel.

Maybe 20 years from now it'll be ranked like Northeastern which overcame that label.

Doubtful. Fairfax VA will always be Fairfax VA. Northeastern has the benefit of being in Boston, which creates certain appeal.