I got accepted into my top school (IU), but I can’t afford it. Then, I was placed on the waitlist for my second top school (JMU), so the only option I have is GMU. I really don’t want to go there because, number one, GMU was my safety school, and number two, I’ve lived in northern Virginia my whole life, I don’t want to attend a college that’s 20 minutes from my house, even if I do stay on campus. So can someone please tell me why GMU is worth attending, and why I shouldn’t feel bad about attending a college that’s 20 minutes from my house?
If you lived 20 minutes from Harvard would that be a problem ? Most students go to college within a short distance of their home town.
We live OOS and went to visit GMU. Nice campus, nice staff and profs. We liked the school quite a bit. Son did not attend since he did end going to school closer to home.
What’s your major?
GMU students are very studious and depending on your major the classes are very rigorous. The faculty is very focused on undergraduate teaching and there are numerous opportunities for different learning experiences.
Try it out for a year and do well in your classes so that if you choose to you can apply for a transfer. There are lots of internship opportunities in the area which will allow you to gain valuable work experience.
If money is an issue commute to school since it’s only 20 minutes away. If you still don’t want to attend consider community college.
By chance if you are interested in economics that is a very rigorous major at GMU.
I didn’t go to GMU but live right near it and knew plenty of people who did. NOVA native as well. Anyway, I get the sentiment, lots of NOVA kids don’t want to go to GMU because they wanted to get away from the area, and I will give you that the middle of the suburbs in Fairfax is not exactly a college town. It’s definitely a good school, I’ve been impressed with a lot of the graduates that I met. If you live on campus, it really shouldn’t matter that your parents live close by, at least you can go there once in a while to get something / do laundry / get a break from your roommate. A lot of people spend a year there and transfer to another VA state school, so if you do well you can definitely take another shot at JMU anyway. I promise you once you start there and meet people and start having fun you won’t feel as badly at all. Your college experience is mostly up to you.
Having friends attending and actually being a student there are two different experiences. If your primary goal is to get a good education so that you are employed after graduation then go with a positive attitude. Attend with the intention of working your hardest to do well and take advantage of the opportunities offered. Those who are serious about their education will succeed and get into excellent grad programs after graduation. It is easy for those that don’t attend to bad mouth a school. Actually call admissions and ask to meet students that do attend and are enrolled in the program you are interested in.
I feel the same way about GMU it seems like student life is so dry. I heard the campus police have an ego problem. I’m a philosophy major, working two full time jobs to afford to live in the DMV where I grew up. I want a school that has a good department and a active student life to make me ready for the future as well as to make my life a little easier and distract me when I need it. GMU just seems like a dry representation of everything wrong with the DMV but GMU is so convenient for my jobs. It’s so close to both. Smh I wanted to go to Howard or JMU I would love to go to VCU if it wasn’t an hour away I’m trying to go to UCLA for grad school a fun school on the beach, with everything I’m looking for. Great department with talent and fun in the sun none of this campus life that reminds me of the Christian liberty university lol.
Never pick a safety school you wouldn’t want to attend.