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Bonkerz4Redskins

By Bonkerz4Redskins
in The Tailgate

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Corcaigh

Corcaigh

Posted
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Hey all, I've been outta the loop for awhile, and my little brother is going to be applying to college in 2 years. Just wondering, how do the universities in Virginia stack up? Detailed explanations would be helpful. Thanks a bunch.

Stack up against what is the most important question?

What majors are of interest? What GPA/SAT is realistic? Public or private? How important is partying, big sports etc?

EDIT: is size of college a factor?

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Forehead

Forehead

Posted
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Hey all, I've been outta the loop for awhile, and my little brother is going to be applying to college in 2 years. Just wondering, how do the universities in Virginia stack up? Detailed explanations would be helpful. Thanks a bunch.

Well, I don't know how detailed I can be, but here goes:

Academic: (Note, I don't know for a fact, this is just general reputation)

1. William and Mary/UVA

2. Virginia Tech/Mary Washington/JMU

3. George Mason/Longwood/Radford

4. Everyone else...Christopher Newport...Hampton...etc.

Athletic:

1. Virginia Tech

2. Everyone else

Chick to Guy Ratio:

*. Sweet Briar/Randolph Macon

1. Longwood/Radford/Mary Washington

2. Most other schools

3. Virginia Tech (they're ranked here just in case he's an engineer)

4. Hampden-Sydney

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Bonkerz4Redskins

Bonkerz4Redskins

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Stack up against what is the most important question?

What majors are of interest? What GPA/SAT is realistic? Public or private? How important is partying, big sports etc?

EDIT: is size of college a factor?

He's a well, rounded bright kid and I'm assuming he can get into almost any college of his desire. Kid was taking Algebra II in the 8th grade! He's considering anyone right now; big,small,party,big sports,etc. Preferably in VA though. Thanks for the prompt reply.

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Burgundy Burner

Burgundy Burner

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Welcome to the forum.

Forehead has a good list to get you started.

Obviously, I'm partial to Virginia. However, UVA and William & Mary can be tough as far as getting admitted. The grades must be at or near the top and extra-curricular activities add to the admission considerations as well.

Start prepping for the SATs asap. Use any and all alumni/political connections that are at your disposal - it never hurts to know someone who can get your foot in the door.

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Corcaigh

Corcaigh

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He's a well, rounded bright kid and I'm assuming he can get into almost any college of his desire. Kid was taking Algebra II in the 8th grade! He's considering anyone right now; big,small,party,big sports,etc. Preferably in VA though. Thanks for the prompt reply.

My daughter is at William & Mary - loves it for the smaller size and the strongly academic/nerdy culture. Didn't like the atmosphere at UVa although she knows many people there and thought Tech was too big.

If you think the academics are strong enough and there's no strong preference I'd suggest a tour of William & Mary, UVa and Tech. There are reasons why other colleges would come into the mix based on particular subject interest but in terms of prestige and resources, those three would be where I'd start.

We're fortunate in Virginia that we have many great in-state options.

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TheGoodBits

TheGoodBits

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Well, I don't know how detailed I can be, but here goes:

Academic: (Note, I don't know for a fact, this is just general reputation)

1. William and Mary/UVA

2. Virginia Tech/Mary Washington/JMU

3. George Mason/Longwood/Radford

4. Everyone else...Christopher Newport...Hampton...etc.

Athletic:

1. Virginia Tech

2. Everyone else

Chick to Guy Ratio:

*. Sweet Briar/Randolph Macon

1. Longwood/Radford/Mary Washington

2. Most other schools

3. Virginia Tech (they're ranked here just in case he's an engineer)

4. Hampden-Sydney

Decent list to start off with. I would suggest moving a few things around though. I would say that VT is a step above MW and JMU in terms of academics. Same with Mason being a (significant) step above Longwood and Radford. Christopher Newport is another up-and-coming university that is taking academics very seriously.

I would say

1. UVA and W&M

2. VT

3. JMU

3a. Mason/UMW/CNU

4. Longwood, Radford, etc

Chick to guy ratio, the only thing I would add is that you HAVE to include JMU specifically in that discussion. That ratio is over 60/40 female to male.

Athletics, VT is #1 obviously.

Then probably a toss-up between JMU and UVA for #2 (depends on what sports you like).

After that, Mason and VCU both have very solid basketball programs if you're into that sport. Very fun atmosphere for games. Just don't go to VCU, it sucks.:D

Edit: Just wanted to add, no matter where your brother decides to go, he doesn't have to look outside VA. Best state schools in the country in my opinion. You really can't lose.

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Forehead

Forehead

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Decent list to start off with. I would suggest moving a few things around though.

Before I respond to this, keep in mind it's an off the top of my head list and probably not entirely accurate, but his the three major points...academics, athletics, girls, in some order.

I would say that VT is a step above MW and JMU in terms of academics. Same with Mason being a (significant) step above Longwood and Radford. Christopher Newport is another up-and-coming university that is taking academics very seriously.

I would say

1. UVA and W&M

2. VT

3. JMU

3a. Mason/UMW/CNU

4. Longwood, Radford, etc

Alright, lets start here. Keep in mind this is maybe 10 years old, but I went to community college for a year and then transferred. I had an SAT score of 1290 (old scoring system) and a 3.2 in CC. High school GPA was a bit lower, hence the year of CC.

I didn't bother applying to UVA/W&M, I wouldn't have gotten in without a higher GPA and or 2 years of CC under my belt.

Tech waitlisted me; they wanted me to do another year but were willing to give me a spot on the waitlist. I didn't apply to Mary Washington or JMU but I understood their academics to be pretty on par with VT.

George Mason accepted me straight out, along with Longwood, Radford, and a few other schools. That's why they got grouped where they did. And I'm not sure where Christopher Newport suddenly got an academic reputation from, they were pretty low on the totem pole ten years ago. Kudos to them if they're doing it.

I'm also not sure why I skipped over places like VCU and URI, but there are a lot of options in Virginia.

Chick to guy ratio, the only thing I would add is that you HAVE to include JMU specifically in that discussion. That ratio is over 60/40 female to male.

They would be slotted in Group 2. The * group goes to the all-female schools, of course. Longwood was damn near 70% when I was there, Radford not far behind, and Mary Washington even higher, closer to 75%. In case this is really important to him, the school I'm currently attending to get my MBA, Marymount, is something like 80% women on main campus. And they're Catholic.

Athletics, VT is #1 obviously.

Then probably a toss-up between JMU and UVA for #2 (depends on what sports you like).

After that, Mason and VCU both have very solid basketball programs if you're into that sport. Very fun atmosphere for games. Just don't go to VCU, it sucks.

While this is true, let's be honest, this state is VT #1, and then everyone else. UVA pretty much has to be #2 because they're D-1, JMU loses points for being 1-AA in football. Everyone else is either mid-major or division 2. Not a lot of options here if you want a taste of the big time.

Edit: Just wanted to add, no matter where your brother decides to go, he doesn't have to look outside VA. Best state schools in the country in my opinion. You really can't lose.

Absolutely agree. High school students in Virginia are very lucky to have so many quality choices. Hell, even Longwood, obviously weaker academically than some of the other schools on this list, has a fantastic regional reputation for putting out good teachers. That's what is was originally, a teacher's college, and that's what it is best known for.

Your nephew can pretty much find whatever he needs in this state.

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Mr. S

Mr. S

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VA in-state schools are good, no sense paying more money to go elsewhere. UVA, W&M, W&L, JMU, VT, all solid schools. Mason, CNU, Radford, and Longwood are all decent too.

However, it jus tmatters what you or your brother likes. As going to grad school is more than likely at this point, just go wherever you like for undergrad, get a degree, and apply for a good grad school.

Hence why I say stay in-state as there is no sense taking loans and paying for an out-of-state school or a private school.

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Predicto

Predicto

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Hence why I say stay in-state as there is no sense taking loans and paying for an out-of-state school or a private school.

Well, it depends on who you are. If you are very academic and have a shot at the Ivy League or pseudo-Ivy schools, they are still worth the price of admission, IMO.

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