<p>Hi guys!
We'll I was surprised to find out that I got off the waitlist at JMU. So I'm not sure which college to choose! :0 My major is poly sci/international affairs (I know your probably thinking I should go to AU but I'm not sure...ah!) and the price for the colleges might be the same I'll have to call and ask. The only major reason why I am considering JMU is that living on campus might be an option...oppose to AU where I might have to live off campus depending on how everything works out this summer. Anyways they are to very different colleges...I'm not sure what to do! Any opinions or ideas would be appreciated!</p>
<p>Get your two aid packages, and run the numbers here: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Award Letter Requirements - Finaid)</p>
<p>If there isn’t a clear winner, pick up the phone and call AU and try to get the housing issue sorted out.</p>
<p>Then, if there still isn’t a clear winner, flip a coin.</p>
<p>Do you have time to pay a visit to either/both of these? That might not hurt either.</p>
<p>Have you been to JMU? The quality of life there definitely seems higher than that at American.</p>
<p>RE: Living on campus might be an option.</p>
<p>Details?</p>
<p>AFAIK, housing at JMU is guaranteed for first year only.</p>
<p>*typingon a padis suchaPITA</p>
<p>American has a much better reputation on the National Level, FYI</p>
<p>Lots of kids at AU rent/share apartments very near campus in DC. In fact, some of the AU “on campus” housing (at Tenley Circle) is further from campus than the off-campus Massachusetts Ave. apartment buildings that AU students typically live in.</p>
<p>AU is in very good neighborhood is NW DC, “AU Park.” In fact, you won’t find an urban private university in a better neighborhood.</p>
<p>Fairfax, VA isn’t a good place to be for college. I’m not certain anyone outside of the DC area has ever heard of James Madison.</p>
<p>JMU does have a pretty good poli sci/IR program, but AU is in the location that you need to be for this kind of major. </p>
<p>And I think rhg3rd is confused with GMU, as JMU is nowhere near Fairfax (A minor mistake, but just wanted to make sure you didn’t get them mixed up, two very different schools). JMU is much more rural…</p>
<p>American is in one of the nicest neighborhoods of northwest DC and easy access to the Metro for internships in DC. They are also a member of the prestigious Patriot League for sports which includes the Naval Academy and West Point.</p>
<p>^^^Whoops! I mixed up JMU with GMU. Zebra’s correct.</p>
<p>Are you in state for JMU? Can’t go wrong with either, but the state tuition would be the “decider” perhaps. Even though AU is better know for IA/poly sci I know people that have had really good career outcomes from both colleges with that major and career path.</p>
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<p>:confused:</p>
<p>James Madison isn’t in Fairfax. It’s in Harrisonburg … 115 miles away.</p>
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<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>Well, at least we can see the credibility of the source.</p>
<p>James Madison is a great school, and of course people outside of the DC area have heard of it - I’ve never lived in DC and I know it.</p>
<p>But if the cost is about the same, American is a great school. Nationally known and in a really great location for international affairs and political science. Think of the term-time internships you can get in DC!</p>
<p>What kind of experience are you looking for? AU is not a big-state-college kind of experience. </p>
<p>I have two sons who recently graduated from AU–and they loved the experience. There is always a lot going on on the campus, and there is hanging in the quad and all of that–and then there is the extra dimension of being in DC and being able to take advantage of all that it offers.</p>