Anonymous wrote:Is it worth transferring from CNU to JMU for prestige?

LOL that's it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If in Engineering, then much better off at CNU.

Otherwise, pick the best fit for the student.

uh, not really. The only traditional engineering offered by CNU is Electrical. The engineering offered by JMU is a bit of a hybrid but is mainly Mechanical. Neither school offers comprehensive engineering options.

At least CNU's degree is specifically in EE. JMU's degree is in general Engineering, by contrast. If JMU would offer an actual Mech E degree, that would be an improvement.

Anonymous wrote:I will be the first to say that CNU would do well to at least officially change the name to CNU.

Christopher Newport University sounds like a for profit school if you don’t know it.

Why is “Christopher” in the name? Anyone know?

It is named after Christopher Newport, captain of one of the ships which carried settlers of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one outside this area has heard of CNU. People outside this area have heard of JMU. If that matters.

My son will likely be attending JMU next fall. It is a fine enough school. But it does not have national recognition. I work with people across the country and when I mention JMU, no one has heard of it.

Just as there are thousands of very good regional schools across the country that we've never heard of either, but are highly regarded in their geographical region. At any rate JMU has alumni chapters all over the country, as well as in London.

https://www.alumni.jmu.edu/s/1591/18/interior.aspx?sid=1591&gid=3&pgid=7560

Anonymous wrote:I will be the first to say that CNU would do well to at least officially change the name to CNU.

Christopher Newport University sounds like a for profit school if you don’t know it.

Why is “Christopher” in the name? Anyone know?

You cannot be this stupid... can you?

Left the word here out of the Poster 16:31:

Poster 16:31: I went to the JMU site to read about the R-2 classification and undergrad research opportunities were mentioned. Our kid was offered a research opportunity in their first year but didn't take it because they wanted to stay on top of their grades to get into their chosen program.
But starting last year, they have been working on research for a capstone project which will publish in the spring.

As a parent of a happy JMU senior and someone who also knows a number of happy CNU students, I agree with it not being worth your kid upending their life over transferring.

OP: is your kid unhappy at CNU? With their major, socially, etc.? They are really different schools, size-wise (4700 for CNU, closer to 20,000 undergrads at JMU), climate-wise - mountains versus closer to coastal, etc.
They both have great things going for them but I wouldn't say prestige is one of them.

Separately, the USNWR shift of JMU from regional to a national institution is the result of a Carnegie reclassification of JMU from a "masters" level university to an R-2 doctoral university with a high level of research. I think it is based on how many doctoral candidates and/or grads. But it is definitely not based on national recognition.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one outside this area has heard of CNU. People outside this area have heard of JMU. If that matters.

My son will likely be attending JMU next fall. It is a fine enough school. But it does not have national recognition. I work with people across the country and when I mention JMU, no one has heard of it.

I think JMU is more well known in VA than places like Brandeis, Wake, and Tulane, though. And if you plan to stay in VA who cares about what people in Oregon or something think.

Anonymous wrote:No one outside this area has heard of CNU. People outside this area have heard of JMU. If that matters.

My son will likely be attending JMU next fall. It is a fine enough school. But it does not have national recognition. I work with people across the country and when I mention JMU, no one has heard of it.

I had never heard of CNU until I moved to this area. I have worked with graduates of both CNU and JMU. The CNU grads have been on top of things, bright, responsible, innovative. I have seen more of a mixed bag with JMU grads. Obviously, this is anecdotal, but it has been my experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow JMU gets so much hate from some on this board, like it can’t possibly be counted as a “good school”. JMU has more national notoriety than CNU which could be helpful, assuming it’s a good fit otherwise.

Notoriety is a negative quality... I don't think you mean that.

You are correct, I didn’t mean it negatively, and appreciate another poster for clarifying on my behalf. I was using a more general definition to say it was more well-known. Poor word choice but still correct. Transfer if this is one small piece of the personal equation, and still WOW on the JMU hate from some (CNU too for that matter).

Agree! This area is so full of snobs.