<p>Both are the two colleges I want to get in, but I'm having difficulty deciding which.
Both are well-known for their diversity (big plus), but each has their own downside.
VCU isn't as safe considering it's in a very urban area with many homeless and some criminal activity, especially at night.
On the other hand, GMU is known to be quite dead on the weekends due to many students being commuters.</p>
<p>I would like to be in a college that offers great campus life and quality education. I also plan to major in Marketing.</p>
<p>Richmond isn’t a “very urban area,” and the location of a school in an urban area nearby homeless people doesn’t mean it’s not safe. Homeless people aren’t any more dangerous than people with homes. Check out VCU’s Clery Report for more information on criminal activity and violent crime near campus. FWIW, I attend a large university in a city much larger and more urban than VCU’s and have felt very safe.</p>
<p>In addition, a lower percentage of VCU’s students (22%) than GMU’s students (28%) live on-campus. So is the perception of GMU’s students as less devoted to campus just an illusion? Also remember that not living on campus doesn’t mean campus life isn’t active. Penn State only has 36% of undergraduates living on campus, but the majority that live “off-campus” live in privately owned apartments within a 10-mile radius of campus - many within walking distance. That means campus life is still pretty lively. On the other hand, my own LAC was pretty notorious for most juniors and seniors moving off campus; most, however, lived in the surrounding area and campus was still pretty lively during the week. It could get a little dead on the weekends, but that’s because our students hung out with each other at each others’ houses and threw house parties and such.</p>
<p>VCU kind of right in the middle of the bad part of Richmond. It isn’t exactly safe but it isn’t terribly bad either. While Mason is definitely more of a commuter school, with 30k students, there’s gonna be a decent amount on campus during the weekend. DC is right near by so you can head up there easily and everyone I know at Mason really likes it there. I have a cousin who stayed on campus 3 out of her 4 years and always had something to do. I would say Mason has the better marketing/business dept because Mason specializes in internships and you’re right in the heart of the action so close to DC</p>
<p>I have a son is currently a freshman at GMU. We are from NY. He lives on campus and he went down there not knowing a soul. He had no problems finding things to do on the weekends. Met many people and really loves it. Maybe too much.</p>