Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you share any real life current info about your kids' experiences at Virginia colleges, not UVA, W&M, VATech or JMU? Through the years I've just never gotten any sense of the other Virginia colleges and I'm curious to hear about them. With rising junior B/G twins, I know we'll be taking the tours this year. Thanks.

I would put JMU bellow GMU.

GMU 51.7% accepted
JMU 59.9% accepted

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/george-mason-university-3749
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/jmu-3721

OMG GMU is now better than Virginia tech!

Virginia Tech Admissions 67.0% accepted

Anonymous wrote:Can you share any real life current info about your kids' experiences at Virginia colleges, not UVA, W&M, VATech or JMU? Through the years I've just never gotten any sense of the other Virginia colleges and I'm curious to hear about them. With rising junior B/G twins, I know we'll be taking the tours this year. Thanks.

I would put JMU bellow GMU.

GMU 51.7% accepted
JMU 59.9% accepted

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/george-mason-university-3749
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/jmu-3721

Anonymous wrote:I do agree that many of the DCUM posters are in for a big surprise when their kids are in high school and applying to colleges.

+1000 A lot of people talk a really big game.

So far, one UMW grad has posted. Anyone else have recent experience with any Virginia college besides UVA, W&M and VT?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:generally speaking, if you think you might end up living and working somewhere else, I'd advise going to a shitty national type state school over a decent regional school. That means I prefer schools like WVU, NC State and Ole Miss over places like VCU, ODU and UMBC. If you apply in San Diego, at least they will have heard of where you went to school.

DW went to NC State, wonder what she'll think of this assessment.....

NC State is not a shitty national school? of course it is. just like FSU, WVU, Louisville, etc. no shame in that.

In terms of reputation sure, but you can get a good education at any of these if you want to.

NONE of these schools are shitty. There are some state schools that are but these particular schools aren't. You folks are crazy and probably have kids who haven't applied to college yet so you are all still living at Lake Wobegon.

I'm the PP; I went to WVU. I also got a great education and a full ride to UVA for grad school. They're not bad schools, it's simply the _perception_ that I was talking about, fair or not. So many people hang their hat on the "rankings" of the schools. I think the previous posters point was it's better to go to a school that people have heard of vs. a regional school, even if the general perception is that the better known school is "worse".

For the VAST majority of schools they are what you make of them, and your career will depend on the work you do vs. your degree.

I do agree that many of the DCUM posters are in for a big surprise when their kids are in high school and applying to colleges.

Anonymous wrote:I think Virginia students have a great choice of in-state options in VA, no matter what kind of student they are. If you aspire to move somewhere else in the country after obtaining a degree, the better-known schools might appeal to you more, but the reality of it is that after your first job or so, in most professions, where you obtained your degree doesn't really matter a great deal. I think there is too much worry about going to a school with a national reputation.

GMU, by the way, has made great strides in the past 10 years and is now becoming a very popular option, not only for VA students, but for those from MD.

I went to UMW (graduated in 05) and loved it. I'm not making 6 figures, but I chose an unmarketable major and made some not-great life choices after college. Out of my college friends, we're all pretty successful. Maybe not by DCUM standards (we're not BigLaw or anything), but one friend IS making 6 figures in the private sector, another is finishing up a PhD in molecular biology or something at UMD, another is a teacher running the GT program at a public VA high school. I keep in touch with people through Facebook, there are a few alumni in Boston and NYC making a decent living at interesting jobs, several overseas (UMW has one of the highest proportions of Peace Corps volunteers), there's one in DC that owns a restaurant. I lived in another state (not nearby) for several years and while UMW wasn't well-known, but a few people had heard of it. Job-wise, no one cared where my degree was from, just that I had one.

No one's making headlines, but people seem to be solid with decent, interesting careers. I haven't spoken with anyone who feels that UMW was a waste or who wished they went somewhere else. A few people did transfer out sophomore year, but UMW wasn't a good fit for them in various ways.

Of course, UMW attracts a different type of student than VT. There's no football or major sports, no Greek life, it's a small campus, the graduate school is separate and primarily commuter, etc. I loved not being one of 500 in a class, none of my classes were taught by grad students, I knew all of my professors and still keep in touch with a few. There also seemed to be a high proportion of military and state department kids, it was nice not being the only one who had lived and attended school overseas. I liked the small-community feel and the focus on academics (we partied, but everyone -in my circle at least- put classes and work first). I also really liked not graduating with 6 figures in loans.

It's not for everyone, I know other people want a big school with sports and the national recognition (my younger siblings did). I do think it's a decent choice though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:generally speaking, if you think you might end up living and working somewhere else, I'd advise going to a shitty national type state school over a decent regional school. That means I prefer schools like WVU, NC State and Ole Miss over places like VCU, ODU and UMBC. If you apply in San Diego, at least they will have heard of where you went to school.

DW went to NC State, wonder what she'll think of this assessment.....

NC State is not a shitty national school? of course it is. just like FSU, WVU, Louisville, etc. no shame in that.

In terms of reputation sure, but you can get a good education at any of these if you want to.

NONE of these schools are shitty. There are some state schools that are but these particular schools aren't. You folks are crazy and probably have kids who haven't applied to college yet so you are all still living at Lake Wobegon.

Um... I dunno. US News has N.C. State at #101; Ole Miss at #143; and West Virginia at #164. The latter two, in particular, don't look so hot to me.

Look, I stand by what I said. I am not saying the schools are top notch but here on DCUM everyone is talking like their kids are hot snot and like they have no need for any financial aid. Fact is A LOT of these posters kids are likely headed to some of these so-called "shitty" schools. I know so many parents who had these "brilliant" and "gifted" kids who were all Ivy bound--or at least UVa. They poo poo'd VT as filled with a bunch of farmers and hicks. JMU wasn't even mentioned. Well, when the time came to go to school, some suddenly had a new attitude. Suddenly, JMU was the same as UVa and Christopher Newport was such a great school. And suddenly little Johnny was going to WVU because it offered things that none of the VA schools offered (really--none?). Others got a lot of money to go out of state and that made it equal or even less than instate but those packages were typically to the NC States of the world (not UNC). Those kids were jumping at a chance to avoid attending Tech or UVA with a bunch of their high school classmates.

I am not saying that those schools are the best but I just think it is a bit over the top to call NC State or the like shitty. I recall an attorney at my first firm who went there and then to Harvard law and was a very successful lawyer and very proud of her NC State degree. I say parents should hope for the best for your kids but don't go trashing a bunch of places that might actually be your kids "reach" school rather than his safety and don't trash schools that might recruit a bright kid with a very attractive financial package. I know a Christopher Newport kid who got 100% financial aid and nothing from VT. Well, that kid is going to CNU even though objectively (based on US News rankings), you think he should go to VT. For his family, CNU is the best and obvious choice.

well, maybe. Sometimes you get what you pay for. A CNU degree doesn't cut much ice around here whereas a VT degree does. For him and the family it may have been the obvious choice, but maybe not the right choice. Of course, it's a moot point if they can't afford VT.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:generally speaking, if you think you might end up living and working somewhere else, I'd advise going to a shitty national type state school over a decent regional school. That means I prefer schools like WVU, NC State and Ole Miss over places like VCU, ODU and UMBC. If you apply in San Diego, at least they will have heard of where you went to school.

DW went to NC State, wonder what she'll think of this assessment.....

NC State is not a shitty national school? of course it is. just like FSU, WVU, Louisville, etc. no shame in that.

In terms of reputation sure, but you can get a good education at any of these if you want to.

NONE of these schools are shitty. There are some state schools that are but these particular schools aren't. You folks are crazy and probably have kids who haven't applied to college yet so you are all still living at Lake Wobegon.

Um... I dunno. US News has N.C. State at #101; Ole Miss at #143; and West Virginia at #164. The latter two, in particular, don't look so hot to me.

Look, I stand by what I said. I am not saying the schools are top notch but here on DCUM everyone is talking like their kids are hot snot and like they have no need for any financial aid. Fact is A LOT of these posters kids are likely headed to some of these so-called "shitty" schools. I know so many parents who had these "brilliant" and "gifted" kids who were all Ivy bound--or at least UVa. They poo poo'd VT as filled with a bunch of farmers and hicks. JMU wasn't even mentioned. Well, when the time came to go to school, some suddenly had a new attitude. Suddenly, JMU was the same as UVa and Christopher Newport was such a great school. And suddenly little Johnny was going to WVU because it offered things that none of the VA schools offered (really--none?). Others got a lot of money to go out of state and that made it equal or even less than instate but those packages were typically to the NC States of the world (not UNC). Those kids were jumping at a chance to avoid attending Tech or UVA with a bunch of their high school classmates.

I am not saying that those schools are the best but I just think it is a bit over the top to call NC State or the like shitty. I recall an attorney at my first firm who went there and then to Harvard law and was a very successful lawyer and very proud of her NC State degree. I say parents should hope for the best for your kids but don't go trashing a bunch of places that might actually be your kids "reach" school rather than his safety and don't trash schools that might recruit a bright kid with a very attractive financial package. I know a Christopher Newport kid who got 100% financial aid and nothing from VT. Well, that kid is going to CNU even though objectively (based on US News rankings), you think he should go to VT. For his family, CNU is the best and obvious choice.

Gmu is rated higher and harder to get into than jmu

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:generally speaking, if you think you might end up living and working somewhere else, I'd advise going to a shitty national type state school over a decent regional school. That means I prefer schools like WVU, NC State and Ole Miss over places like VCU, ODU and UMBC. If you apply in San Diego, at least they will have heard of where you went to school.

DW went to NC State, wonder what she'll think of this assessment.....

NC State is not a shitty national school? of course it is. just like FSU, WVU, Louisville, etc. no shame in that.

In terms of reputation sure, but you can get a good education at any of these if you want to.

NONE of these schools are shitty. There are some state schools that are but these particular schools aren't. You folks are crazy and probably have kids who haven't applied to college yet so you are all still living at Lake Wobegon.

Um... I dunno. US News has N.C. State at #101; Ole Miss at #143; and West Virginia at #164. The latter two, in particular, don't look so hot to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:generally speaking, if you think you might end up living and working somewhere else, I'd advise going to a shitty national type state school over a decent regional school. That means I prefer schools like WVU, NC State and Ole Miss over places like VCU, ODU and UMBC. If you apply in San Diego, at least they will have heard of where you went to school.

DW went to NC State, wonder what she'll think of this assessment.....

NC State is not a shitty national school? of course it is. just like FSU, WVU, Louisville, etc. no shame in that.

In terms of reputation sure, but you can get a good education at any of these if you want to.

NONE of these schools are shitty. There are some state schools that are but these particular schools aren't. You folks are crazy and probably have kids who haven't applied to college yet so you are all still living at Lake Wobegon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:generally speaking, if you think you might end up living and working somewhere else, I'd advise going to a shitty national type state school over a decent regional school. That means I prefer schools like WVU, NC State and Ole Miss over places like VCU, ODU and UMBC. If you apply in San Diego, at least they will have heard of where you went to school.

DW went to NC State, wonder what she'll think of this assessment.....

NC State is not a shitty national school? of course it is. just like FSU, WVU, Louisville, etc. no shame in that.

In terms of reputation sure, but you can get a good education at any of these if you want to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:generally speaking, if you think you might end up living and working somewhere else, I'd advise going to a shitty national type state school over a decent regional school. That means I prefer schools like WVU, NC State and Ole Miss over places like VCU, ODU and UMBC. If you apply in San Diego, at least they will have heard of where you went to school.

DW went to NC State, wonder what she'll think of this assessment.....

NC State is not a shitty national school? of course it is. just like FSU, WVU, Louisville, etc. no shame in that.

Anonymous wrote:generally speaking, if you think you might end up living and working somewhere else, I'd advise going to a shitty national type state school over a decent regional school. That means I prefer schools like WVU, NC State and Ole Miss over places like VCU, ODU and UMBC. If you apply in San Diego, at least they will have heard of where you went to school.

DW went to NC State, wonder what she'll think of this assessment.....