<p>I don't think you should judge this school based on the (very) few comments on this blog. I'm not discounting the negative experiences people have mentioned, but this is a very small (and skewed?) picture of the school as a whole. I think if you talk to students on your visit you will find that the honor system does make a big difference here (again not perfect...) My d has said that it makes a noticeable impact on relationships between students and students/professors. She absolutely loves this school and has a large group of friends who love it...and a couple more that are trying to tranfer there....even with all of the above mentioned problems it has from time to time. Best of luck with your decision and enjoy your visit.</p>
<p>So true! The prospective students must see the place, talk to the people, and determine if the school is a fit. D is staying because in spite of the problems, she still thinks it's the right place for her. The positives overcome the negatives each time I've had her consider her options. Lots of students love it. </p>
<p>Since I've been so negative, I would like to state what I DO like about it: the campus is beautiful. Not just in a regular way, but really pretty. The classes for the most part have been interesting for D. She has taken a totally new direction with her major and is loving the challenge. The location is good, not only because it is fairly close to home. The mountains, the beach, and DC are all within a couple of hours drive. D has taken the train to DC and found it to be easy and cheap. Fredericksburg is big enough to have everything you may have forgotten. Having taken other children to school in small towns, it is nice to be able to run out and get the random surge protector at Staples or storage containers at Target. </p>
<p>I support D's decision to remain at UMW and I will continue to pay full price for it. Cheerfully. I promise!</p>
<p>After reading the negative comments we were so disappointed, but also thought the same thing...you can't judge by a few comments. Thanks for giving us some positives. As I said before, you often hear only the positives through the school PR and even the guides who escort on tours. It is good to hear about real life situations and will help make a decision. Called last week and they said we should have our financial pkg tomorrow and will have a better idea from there. Down to the final three...last visits Easter week to all 3 then decision time!</p>
<p>vahevala--I would like to comment on the honor code. D takes it very seriously. I think it is stressed for academics more than anything else but they spend enough time on it during orientation that it is clearly understood. She has not seen any cheating of any sort. Many of her professors have given out large homework assignments and there has never been any of her classmates (openly) divvying up the work and sharing results.</p>
<p>And mice...if D saw one she would NOT be happy. Dorms are a great place for pests due to the habits of the occupants. D's dorm has not even had a bug problem that she's noticed.</p>
<p>My D was accepted early honors and we've already been to visit ... actually she's now been 3 times and will probably go back once more before making her decision (we live 1 hour away). </p>
<p>She was fortunate enough to spend a night on campus to get a feel for the place. She knows 2 RA's and stayed with one of them. They took her under their wing, told her the do's / don't, ate in the dining hall, went to late night, walked into town and they even brought her to class on Friday afternoon ... this is where she was pretty impressed...this class was about 13 kids, the professor involved everyone in the discussion including my D and since this class was of great interest to my D, she just loved it. Fast forward - the following day I meet her, we go on this special tour, she runs into this same professor who says hello to her by name, they stand and chat / debate about politics for 45 minutes - not kidding, she just loved it!</p>
<p>I will add that on a random Saturday, unannounced, D went onto campus about 2pm ... She reported the campus was empty, she saw only a small handful of students around and became discouraged, thinking the rumors were true about it being a suitcase school. I asked her if she went into the gym, dining hall, library etc and she said no. Where the students were I haven't a clue, but this concerns her a lot.</p>
<p>As her mother, my point of view is that academically I strongly believe given her intended major, she would receive a great education here given the professors / class size etc. On the flip side, I do want her to have a social life and like her, I'm now a bit concerned. I will tell you, this is the first place D has said she feels like she 'fits in' and isn't viewed as a nerd...interesting though because the other day she said people like her are frustrating (lol, I agree) and she might need more of a diverse population. She really needs to get back there and check things out closer!</p>
<p>^^^
They might have just been waking up! College students tend not to go to bed until the wee hours on weekends.</p>
<p>I don't think it's a suitcase campus at all. D has come home a lot more than anyone else she knows, and she has averaged probably less than 2 weekends/month.</p>
<p>After some early disappointment D has managed to get all the classes she wanted for next semester. She will have a different dorm, different roommates, a major she is really excited about, and classes she can't wait to take. Life is good.</p>
<p>That's great zoeydoggie...it makes it so much easier when they are happy :)</p>
<p>I visited my daughter this week and asked her about the subjects on this thread. She still loves the school and is glad she is there. She has great housing, but knows many kids who are unahppy about potential hotel placement (see the school newspaper article in the Bullet: The</a> Bullet
This has been going on for a long time, though, because as a student in the 1980s I was originally told I would placed temporarily in the then called Thomas Jefferson Hotel, but it never happened. I spent my all years on campus with the same roommate and loved it. Daughter number two loves UMW as well, but doesn't want to go there because it does not have her major. We visited a lot of other VA schools this year, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Most are having problems with too many students/too few rooms. CNU is the only school we visited that seems to have outstanding and plentiful housing. All said, UMW is still in my opinion one of the best values and educational experiences in the state. If your child loves it, you cannot go wrong. Her housing situation will improve each year as she earns more credits.</p>
<p>Couple of Qs:</p>
<p>If they had housed students in a hotel, would they have provided regular transportation back and forth throughout the day?</p>
<p>For current incoming freshmen, does anyone know how many semesters of foreign language are required to meet the gen. ed. requirements?</p>
<p>If the student doesn’t come in with AP credit in a language then he would have to take a placement test.</p>
<p>zoeydoggie, yes I understand, but if a student were electing to begin to study a new language, that they did not study in hs, how many semesters are required? Assume that they were not going to transfer AP foreign language credit.</p>
<p>from the UMW site:</p>
<pre><code>Foreign Language Competence: Each student must demonstrate foreign language (ancient or modern) competence by successfully completing college course work through the 202 intermediate level of the foreign language (or by successfully completing an advanced-level foreign language course taught in the language). To qualify for an exemption, you must have one of the following:
* present an official score of at least 620 on an SAT subject test in a foreign language
* submit pertinent documents which verify the student has been educated through high school in a language other than English or the student has lived extensively in and become fluent in the language of a non-English speaking country; demonstrating intermediate college-level (202) competency and successfully completing Writing Workshop (ENGL 101) or obtaining an exemption there from
* achieve the required exemption score on the University's foreign language competency test
</code></pre>
<p>In case the last reply wasn’t clear, it’s four semesters if you are starting from scratch. Yes, it’s more than some colleges require. Some students who are not language learners avoid UMW for that reason.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. I heard this requirement last year, but I thought it would be prudent to double check.</p>
<p>My daughter was able to demonstrate foreign language profiency at registration, but I believe you can also take languages during the summers at community colleges closer to home and transfer the credits. Not an ideal situation, but if frees up those hours during the regular school year for other necessary courses.</p>
<p>Does anyone know when to expect a decision letter from UMW? I applied Nov. 11 and live in North VA. I’m anxious but this is starting to seem like a school that might not be a good place…</p>
<p>I applied early too on Nov. 14th and I haven’t heard back yet either, but a few of my friends have received their letters already. I am from Central VA, at the latest we are suppose to hear back by the end of the month.</p>