OP, I suspect her choice of words may have something to do with the urban nature of the school and the racial make-up of Richmond, but I assume that she was talking about VCU's selectivity. It isn't hard to get in. An awful lot of people are overly focused on their perception of the prestige of a school and, other than for specific programs in the arts, VCU doesn't have the kind of prestige that Virginia Tech has for engineering or William and Mary has for a liberal arts education or UVA has overall. But that does not mean that it isn't a very good school with a lot to offer. I am not from Virginia originally so I am extra aware that this state is incredibly lucky to have so many strong state school options. Don't get hung up on someone else's limitations.

Anonymous wrote:I was born and raised in Richmond and lived in the Fan (next to VCU). VCU is very well respected and has an excellent career placement record (which is super important). The city of Richmond is a fun and vibrant place to live, especially for young people.

I have VCU on my list for my teens to consider. I would be very happy if either of the attended.

Why OP, who’s in Nebraska, would be worried about what her snobby and racist fake liberal friend in Nebraska thinks about VCU is beyond me. Who GAF about that person’s opinion? Also if you already visited VCU but still don’t understand how your kid will get home, I’m confused. How did you visit? How did you get home? Did you fly out of the Richmond airport, did you teleport?

This OP isn’t making sense.

Nebraska PP, welcome to VA. Be prepared to explain that the entire state isn't just cows and cornfields to people who are so sure of themselves yet still wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, sorry I forgot to address the "ghetto" comment. I don't consider any school "ghetto," but some are definitely near rough neighborhoods (ie Temple, UPenn, Duke, GW, Marquette, UChicago, Fordham) which I usually split into people struggling in public assisted living vs working class vs homeless people with mental health issue. However, my DC at UVA learned there's plenty of crime in Charlottesville and her friend at VT had their laptop and backpack stolen from the library and reports quite a few situations with roofies. A friend at Dartmouth had her Canada Goose jacket stolen at a frat party. So safety is relative and crime is everywhere. OP, your child's perspective will be shaped by their level of awareness and experience in different surroundings.

While there are homeless people around GW, as a grad I am unaware of any sketchy neighborhoods in the vicinity. They simply don’t exist.

There are no longer homeless people around GWU, the State Dept, or the Kennedy Center that is one great thing that occurred in the last year. It’s all cleaned up. No more tents. Gone.

Where did they go

Arlington

I know it's in the city of Richmond, which I don't love, and I know a target checker whose daughter went there, so my perception is...not great.

We live in the suburbs of Richmond. VCU is a good school in Richmond. It is not in the”ghetto”. It is an urban school.

It used to be known as an art school. They have expanded over the. Last few decades and both medical and engineering programs are well regarded.
Visit the school and form your own opinion.

Anonymous wrote:I was born and raised in Richmond and lived in the Fan (next to VCU). VCU is very well respected and has an excellent career placement record (which is super important). The city of Richmond is a fun and vibrant place to live, especially for young people.

I have VCU on my list for my teens to consider. I would be very happy if either of the attended.

Why OP, who’s in Nebraska, would be worried about what her snobby and racist fake liberal friend in Nebraska thinks about VCU is beyond me. Who GAF about that person’s opinion? Also if you already visited VCU but still don’t understand how your kid will get home, I’m confused. How did you visit? How did you get home? Did you fly out of the Richmond airport, did you teleport?

This OP isn’t making sense.

Nebraska is the not the OP

VCU is on our list of colleges to visit. It’s an in state option and close to home. DD wants a school in city and we have heard positive things about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, sorry I forgot to address the "ghetto" comment. I don't consider any school "ghetto," but some are definitely near rough neighborhoods (ie Temple, UPenn, Duke, GW, Marquette, UChicago, Fordham) which I usually split into people struggling in public assisted living vs working class vs homeless people with mental health issue. However, my DC at UVA learned there's plenty of crime in Charlottesville and her friend at VT had their laptop and backpack stolen from the library and reports quite a few situations with roofies. A friend at Dartmouth had her Canada Goose jacket stolen at a frat party. So safety is relative and crime is everywhere. OP, your child's perspective will be shaped by their level of awareness and experience in different surroundings.

While there are homeless people around GW, as a grad I am unaware of any sketchy neighborhoods in the vicinity. They simply don’t exist.

There are no longer homeless people around GWU, the State Dept, or the Kennedy Center that is one great thing that occurred in the last year. It’s all cleaned up. No more tents. Gone.

Where did they go

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't call it ghetto but the neighborhood outside of it has a homeless population that might scare some people.

You find homeless people scary? Weird.

I was born and raised in Richmond and lived in the Fan (next to VCU). VCU is very well respected and has an excellent career placement record (which is super important). The city of Richmond is a fun and vibrant place to live, especially for young people.

I have VCU on my list for my teens to consider. I would be very happy if either of the attended.

Why OP, who’s in Nebraska, would be worried about what her snobby and racist fake liberal friend in Nebraska thinks about VCU is beyond me. Who GAF about that person’s opinion? Also if you already visited VCU but still don’t understand how your kid will get home, I’m confused. How did you visit? How did you get home? Did you fly out of the Richmond airport, did you teleport?

This OP isn’t making sense.

Anonymous wrote:PP, sorry I forgot to address the "ghetto" comment. I don't consider any school "ghetto," but some are definitely near rough neighborhoods (ie Temple, UPenn, Duke, GW, Marquette, UChicago, Fordham) which I usually split into people struggling in public assisted living vs working class vs homeless people with mental health issue. However, my DC at UVA learned there's plenty of crime in Charlottesville and her friend at VT had their laptop and backpack stolen from the library and reports quite a few situations with roofies. A friend at Dartmouth had her Canada Goose jacket stolen at a frat party. So safety is relative and crime is everywhere. OP, your child's perspective will be shaped by their level of awareness and experience in different surroundings.

DP. GW neighborhood is fine. You might want to leave your exurban cul-de-sac for a change and go see a show at Trump Kennedy Center
Now, VCU is another story, we did visit with DC and the vibe was.. tense. It, probably, didn't help that we had to go into a local Walmart to pick up something last minute, and I'll be honest with you, we just couldn't wait to get out of that parking lot. Coming from a city person like myself, that's saying something.
Just my 2 cents.

Next time someone uses the word "ghetto" to describe a school why not ask them what they mean instead of crow sourcing dcum?

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't call it ghetto but the neighborhood outside of it has a homeless population that might scare some people.

I live in Richmond and have to laugh. VCU borders the most expensive real estate in the city. It’s about as scary as Georgetown.

My DD attends VCUArts and has enjoyed her experience in Richmond. It is a vibrant city and there is a lot to do. The campus is in the middle of the city and feels urban; the unpleasantries of urban life are present like homelessness, crime, etc. but have not impacted my child who takes precautions but has never felt unsafe. Safety on campus is a priority and VCU police have full authority and work closely with Richmond police. There may be more theft, break ins etc. than smaller town schools but I feel like violent crime rarely a factor and often just reported because it’s adjacent to campus. There have been some serious traffic injuries and fatalities and they are always reminding kids to not jaywalk or zone out on their phones.

Aside from the arts, my understanding is that health and medicine disciplines and criminal Justice areas are strong. I have less direct knowledge but just following VCU news over the past four years it seems like they have been investing a lot of resources into engineering so I would definitely give it a closer look if they are offering scholarship money.

Anonymous wrote:PP, sorry I forgot to address the "ghetto" comment. I don't consider any school "ghetto," but some are definitely near rough neighborhoods (ie Temple, UPenn, Duke, GW, Marquette, UChicago, Fordham) which I usually split into people struggling in public assisted living vs working class vs homeless people with mental health issue. However, my DC at UVA learned there's plenty of crime in Charlottesville and her friend at VT had their laptop and backpack stolen from the library and reports quite a few situations with roofies. A friend at Dartmouth had her Canada Goose jacket stolen at a frat party. So safety is relative and crime is everywhere. OP, your child's perspective will be shaped by their level of awareness and experience in different surroundings.

There are no such thing as “rough neighborhoods.”

Crime is a social construct.