Anonymous wrote:Lone time N Arlington resident. I would go JMU over VCU. I’ve never met or even heard of a VCU student going on to success. Lots of drugs.

I was really offended when I read this until I realized that my daughter's BFF who went there.. ended up on drugs and still does a ton of drugs! I am sure this isn't the norm though...

Anonymous wrote:VCU for anything artsy.

VCU has a lot more than arts.

These campuses are very different. That alone should be enough to make a determination.

Anonymous wrote:At JMU the offf campus apartments are ALL students. It is basically llike another set of dorms with more private bathrooms. some are walkable, all are on the bus lines. this is really a non issue and it is quite likely your child would want to move off, even after sophomore year if she stays two years on campus.

parties are not greek focused. though you can be in the greek scene if you want. greek life is an extra, not a central part of JMU.

This. The off campus apartments and houses are all students. I moved off campus for my sophomore year and loved it. I lived in an apartment complex for two years and a huge Victorian house senior year. Campus was walkable from both options. SO MUCH BETTER than living on campus.

VCU for anything artsy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VCU Arts has a national reputation, and Richmond is a great city for artists. If your daughter not only likes making art herself but also gravitates toward arty friends, I would strongly consider VCU.

The poster indicated their child is looking at social sciences. I'd go with JMU.

Thank you!

You're welcome!
I have yet to meet an unhappy JMU alum. Their school spirit seems to never fade and they get so excited when JMU is mentioned.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VCU Arts has a national reputation, and Richmond is a great city for artists. If your daughter not only likes making art herself but also gravitates toward arty friends, I would strongly consider VCU.

The poster indicated their child is looking at social sciences. I'd go with JMU.

Thank you!

Anonymous wrote:VCU Arts has a national reputation, and Richmond is a great city for artists. If your daughter not only likes making art herself but also gravitates toward arty friends, I would strongly consider VCU.

The poster indicated their child is looking at social sciences. I'd go with JMU.

^^ not a partier

My son is at JMU and stayed on campus for 2 years in the Bluestone dorm area. They have a number of upperclassmen dorms. She can easily stay on campus, but she would have to decide by the beginning of October of her freshman year. They open the on campus living contracts then, and you have to sign a binding contract within the first week of opening to be guaranteed a spot. He then switched to living in the Arcadia, which is an easy walk/bike to campus through the Arboretum trail.

He plays a club sport and other intramural sports and has joined several clubs. He is not a partner, and he seems satisfied with his social life.

VCU Arts has a national reputation, and Richmond is a great city for artists. If your daughter not only likes making art herself but also gravitates toward arty friends, I would strongly consider VCU.

Anonymous wrote:Any advice for a student wanting to major in a social science that's having a hard time deciding between JMU and VCU?

I think it’s mostly going with gut and campus feel at this point.

My daughter has had an amazing freshman year at VCU, and she happy she chose it over JMU, but I’m sure there are many that would say the same thing at JMU.

I’d go to VCU.

My daughter lives in Richmond near VCU and has some friends there. They all seem to love living there. There is lots to do in Richmond and, depending on where you live, much is walkable. I've not heard of any of her friends concerned with safety issues, but it is a city.

One commonality (I think?) is that both have campuses that are split in two!

Anonymous wrote:In the olden times of the 1990s, my friends and I lived in Ashby Crossing (off campus apartments at JMU) and we walked/biked everywhere on campus.....

I lived in Trasby too! 92-94. It was actually the nice new one back then.