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The choices
Virginia Tech, James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University
The field(s)
business, music (not performance, but everything else including the business and engineering of), environmental science, math, political science
The student
looks like an MBA but thinks like a hippie, Governor's School smart but not the most hard-working, extra-curriculars = theater/indie cover band/skateboarding
The goal
a complete education including interesting culture where he is (not interested in Radford or Longwood, too remote & small-town) so he can deepen and broaden his interests
On the theater/music side it seems like JMU is the right pick but ... party school & Harrisonburg=meh.
If he goes in the math/science direction VT seems like a no-brainer and they're currently building a performance/arts center so there will be some growth on that side of things but ... Blacksburg=smallish town (but with indie theater and ethnic food etc.). Tech seems like the best option to have on his resume too.
If he picks overall culture and "broadening horizons" then VCU is a great fit but the academics aren't as great.
Since he is all over the map with regard to majors, it's hard to know which will be the right school when he's ready to declare. What else to consider? How to choose? (He has been to all three and we know the rankings on paper.)
i would just go to tech since he isn't sure about his major. he will probably change his mind a million more times lol (he is 18 after all), so he might as well be at the better institution. apply to all three, though, and see what sort of financial aid and scholarship offers he gets. financial aid would probably be about the same at all three, but if he's a strong student he might get some scholarship offers at vcu. i know they are trying to improve their academic reputation right now so i'm willing to bet they'd offer something to a great student.
just a personal anecdote, but i went to hs in va (class of 2005). just about everyone i know who went to tech is working at a "real" job right now while just about everyone i know who went to vcu is waiting tables. still, if it comes to a full ride at vcu vs sticker price at tech then i'd lean toward vcu.
JMU for this student. Decent Business school and liberal arts. What's wrong with Harrisonburg?
The problem with JMU and a lot of Virginia public universities is that they are very regional in nature. VT is a very large land grant institution that is known nationally. It is like a Big 10 or SEC college like Tennessee or Michigan St.
JMU is a regional state school like a East Tennessee State or Northern Illinois University that just doesn't draw a lot of employers from outside of the region, nor do they have extensive alumni networks or name recognition.
I think it is a big step down in terms of reputation, particularly if you want to live in larger cities in the region like DC, Charlotte, Philadelphia, or Atlanta. VT's rep and alumni network will work better for jobs.
If you are going to a smaller city in western VA or Richmond, JMU will probably be fine.
VT has a unique culture that is built upon its founding as an agriculture and engineering school, so you'll have to balance that culture with the obvious advantages in terms of jobs and alumni. If he's going to be miserable there, then there's no point in going.
Why not UVa? I didn't know about it when I was younger, but what a kick-ass school to have gone to!
Of those, I think Virginia Tech is clearly the better school. In fact, in some departments, the local train of thought is that VT is actually more applied and practical than is UVa.
What's up with picking now? Apply to all, see what the financial aid shakes out and then decide. Ranking wise it's UVA, VT and then James Madison. I know kids that have been happy at all three. In fact, my one sister in law graduated from both VT (Engineering) and James Madison (Education). Unless the OP is an excellent student, it's not a done deal that you'll get into to all three. I found that the order of what was the favorite college changed between applying in the fall and decision time in early Spring. No need to rush. The accepted students events can be really helpful too.
UVA isn't on his list because it's a much more conservative culture than he's interested in.
Thanks all.
You're welcome. I could see your UVa observation. I, too, think I would have loved the idea of being a graduate of that institution, but wouldn't have bonded that well with the school because of the Southern aristocracy factor. Good luck to your kid.
Last edited by robertpolyglot; 10-15-2012 at 03:12 PM..
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