Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like JMU alot. My kid currently goes there and absolutely loves it. My other kid is in High School and has visited many times and probably will end up there....but I just cannot get past railroad tracks and an interstate going right through the middle of the campus. I feel like that would irritate the crap out of me. Makes everything more difficult to get to.

Neither of those are a 'thing' at all.

I wrote that post. My kid hasn't complained about the train ONCE and he lives in the Village, which, if you don't know, is right along the train tracks at a railroad crossing. So I didn't say the railroad and interstate was hated by the students, as I haven't heard any complaints from my kid or any of his friends. All I'm saying is that I feel like it would bother ME if I went there. ... but I don't so my opinion doesn't matter. : )

Our kids mulled it, but in the end, they didn't feel like they would quite fit in, socially. Our kids are very bright, but artsy and more introverted, individualistic types, definitely not Greek system material. Our kids have ended up at schools where they could blend in seamlessly without a second glance. Where they can streak and dye their hair on occasion and nobody will notice or care, wear quirky thrift store finds instead of Lululemon and American Eagle Outfitters, or whatever. In the end, it's all about fit. Every kid has to go on feel and pick the school where they walk on to the campus and say: this is me, this is my vibe. We all thought the gym was very nice, though!

for nursing, teaching and business?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the 90s people called it “Just Missed Uva” lots of people from my high school in Fairfax county went there. Lots of people from NJ too.

Why has it declined so much.

Schools have increased capacity so much. Look at the numbers above. Many schools like JMU can’t stay as selective as they used to be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the 90s people called it “Just Missed Uva” lots of people from my high school in Fairfax county went there. Lots of people from NJ too.

Why has it declined so much.

It hasn't. Its still the choice along with VT for in state kids who Just Missed UVA. Where else?

Football team and coach/x-coaches in national spotlight. Brings more eyes to the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes popular VA instate back up to UVA, VT, and W&M.

That was my point earlier that other posters didn't get. No one was "striving" to get to JMU. It's a fantastic school, but it was not popular in the early 00's. It was a back up plan.

Really?

Anonymous wrote:In the 90s people called it “Just Missed Uva” lots of people from my high school in Fairfax county went there. Lots of people from NJ too.

Why has it declined so much.

In the 90s people called it “Just Missed Uva” lots of people from my high school in Fairfax county went there. Lots of people from NJ too.

Anonymous wrote:Yes popular VA instate back up to UVA, VT, and W&M.

That was my point earlier that other posters didn't get. No one was "striving" to get to JMU. It's a fantastic school, but it was not popular in the early 00's. It was a back up plan.

Yes popular VA instate back up to UVA, VT, and W&M.

Our NJ public has 5 seniors who have committed to JMU so far, compared to 11 who have committed to ANY NJ public (only 2 of those are committed to Rutgers).

JMU has definitely increased in popularity with NJ (and probably other OOS) students. But also going to school in-state is just unpopular in NJ.

I hate driving on 81 more than almost any other roads around here. If I had to do it regularly, or my college aged student was, I'd lose it.

JMU actually had a lower acceptance rate in the past because it was a much smaller institution. When my FCPS classmates enrolled in 1996, JMU had around 11,000 undergraduates and now it has 21,000 so it’s doubled in size!

JMU has grown exponentially, as have the application numbers, but they actually take more students than 20-30 years ago so the acceptance rate hasn’t necessarily historically declined in trajectory.

Great culture at JMU. People take pride in being kind and considerate of others. It's a welcome change from the typical DMV attitude.