<p>My daughter needs to decide this week whether to go to College of Charleston or James Madison University. We are Virginians, so JMU would be a 2 hour drive whereas Charleston is a 2-hour flight. She has high school friends going to JMU but would not know anyone in Charleston, although she likes the city of Charleston better than Harrisonburg. She also does not have a major yet. Cost is not a determining factor in our case.</p>
<p>Any thoughts or suggestions?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Well, in our house we are 3/3 on not even applying to JMU. No-one liked I-81 in the middle of it. 2/3 considered CofC. The first 2 went to colleges where they knew no-one. They are thriving in places they felt the 'fit'. Does you daughter feel the 'fit'? If for no other reason, pick Cof C cause it is (marginally) smaller.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. The JMU campus is nice, but Charleston has it all over Harrisonburg as a city and for things to do. I think she is leaning toward CofC but she's worried about not knowing anyone there and being so far from home. Not sure she feels the "fit" just yet.</p>
<p>My daughter is going to Clemson but she was accepted at both CofC and JMU. Out of those 2 she would have chosen CofC. Charleston has so much to offer as a city, and that school is just gorgeous. Housing costs might become a consideration.</p>
<p>So funny that you have those 2 - I graduated from JMU in the olden days and my daughter just wenr through this process with Cof C as one of her top 3 choices.
She would not even look at JMU because I went there ( LOL ) but some of her concerns with c of C ( in case they help you) were : high % of students living off campus, expensive airline flights for us, and no football team. Other tham that she loved it.
I have very fond memories of JMU. My only comment about JMU and Harrisonburg is that as a college student I really spent VERY little time off campus so it was not an issue. And back then H'burg was even smaller! Some of the pluses are :
Ski areas and great hiking very close by. Beautiful mountains around - as a college student we spent most of our off campus time in those areas so that was nice. Back then most students lived on or near campus and I liked that.
Some of the sports teams at JMU were very successful while I was there so that was a plus as well. </p>
<p>2 great schools - good luck making your decision!</p>
<p>Good points. I am favoring Charleston because it would make her learn how to be more "independent." I see the college experience as a lesson not just in learning but in life, and I think she can get more out of "life" in Charleston. Her biggest concern is not knowing anyone there while she has some friends attending JMU. Moreover, I think if she can't adjust to Charleston after the first year, it would be easier for her to transfer to JMU and be closer to home than vice versa.</p>
<p>Many thanks.</p>
<p>My daughter is just finishing her freshman year at CofC. We are from PA and she didn't know anyone there at all when she went, now she has a great circle of friends. I think she is kind of sad in a bittersweet way about coming home this summer. I know that over Christmas break she was anxious to get back to Charleston after the holiday activities were over. She's talking about staying down there next summer and just coming home for a couple of weeks. So, hopefully that addresses your point about not knowing anyone! She really loves Charleston.</p>
<p>Thanks for that. My daughter has now decided to go to Charleston!</p>
<p>Congratulations! and it is only the 27th!</p>
<p>Go check out Folly Beach when you go down. It looks like a cute little beach area.
And near campus, there is an outdoor market with-in walking distance and soooo many shops and restaurants. Really great college town . I would choose Cof C if I was 18 again!
I would also recommend the Holiday Inn in the historic area. It was really nice ( not a standard Holiday Inn ) and not too expensive.
Best of luck!</p>
<p>Hey I'm an uprising Senior at College of Charleston! I grew up in the area but only like 5 kids from my high school went to c of c i think most people wanted to go away from home. Anyways, i'm also in a sorority at the college, so first thing if your daughter doesn't know anyone there college of charleston is perhaps one of the friendliest colleges, also, tell her to go through rush it's a crazy experience, but i've been in my sorority for going on 4 years now and i've loved every moment of it! College of charleston is a great atmosphere, and housing isn't that bad, plus there are a bunch of apartments downtown and in the surrounding area for her to live in. The professors are great i've been a elementary ed major they were nice and i've switched to religious studies with a womans studies minor and i have to say my professors have never dissapointed me! I am so happy that i chose college of charleston i can't imagine anyone not liking the school! i think the kids are nice so your daughter should fit in fine , plus like i said have her go through rush being in a sorority gives you a home away from home, a group of girls that you go through college with!!!</p>
<p>Thanks to all for those suggestions. I have forwarded them all along to my daughter. It should help make her mental transition to the college easier!</p>
<p>CofC girl my daughter wants to major in elementary ed, possibly at C of C. Was there a reason you switched majors? Is it a good major there? Thanks</p>
<p>the education program is fantastic, did you know the school of ed was featured in i believe october's version of Seventeen magazine? I originally was majoring in elementary ed, with a minor in religious studies;however, i decided to major in religious studies, for a few reasons 1) i would have been a 5th year student if i had stayed a elementary ed major, because it is two year program by its self. Also, i feel stronger when it comes to religious studies, it's something i'd like to teach so i'm minoring in women's studies now, i have different options for grad school, i could go for teaching, religious studies ma, or a counseling masters degree. That's the main reason. The professors are very helpful and it's good she knows now that she wants to do education, because she basically gets her general education requirements out the first 2 years, and then it's all teaching classes .. Our max hour load at the college is 18 hours, so her first semester is 15, 18, 15, student teaching, that's how her last two years are. THe program's designed to make you take a million courses, but the courses aren't too challenging, in taking education classes i discovered they are different from other classes , basically you do lots of papers and little assignments that aren't graded tooooo toughly unless you get the wrong teacher. I don't know how much of a choice she will have in deciding her teachers at whatever college she goes to but <a href="http://www.ratemyprofessor.com%5B/url%5D">www.ratemyprofessor.com</a> is a great site to look up her professors to decide which one's she'd like to take, and if classes are full she can always email the professor directly and ask for an overwrite, some departments allow them some don't. </p>
<p>but i do think the education program is great there's a big emph. on diversity right now on teaching teachers to deal with it.. plus there's always the after college she can work in i believe teacher shortage areas, and districts that don't have high rankings and her student loans will be paid off... something like that.. anything else let me know</p>
<p>thanks! My daughter can't wait to see C of C this summer.</p>