<p>What does everyone think about East Carolina University. How does it compare with James Madison?</p>
<p>They have a great medical program, but I don't know much more beyond that. Try PMing JeepMOM-</a> she knows a lot about ECU and VA universities.</p>
<p>I'd take JMU in a heartbeat over East Carolina...</p>
<p>JMU is probably more selective in admissions and has a lot of students from Northern VA and points north. ECU is more of a regional school with the majority of the students being from NC. There is a fair number of students fromVA, PAand NJ areas. Besides the Medical school (which offers an automatic admission program to select students), ECU is known for it's Education, Art, Nursing, Business and recently Construction Mamagement majors. ECU has also added an Engineering major in the last 2 years. It is located in Greenville, a town of 65,000 in eastern NC, less than 2 hours from the beaches of NC. The town is very supportive of the University. During football season, Greenville is flooded with fans and alumni coming to Pirate football games. ECU is less selective than UNC-CH or NCSU but the students who attend love it. People will say it is a big party school but as a parent of a student at another big state u., I would say it's no more than any other large state univ. Partying goes on at every school. It's a matter of whether you chose to participate or not. Sorry I don't know much about JMU. I have read that most students really love it too.</p>
<p>I'm also looking at it, but I don't know much other than what it says on their website. Any information you pull up (particularly about their art program), post it here so I can see it too. ^_^</p>
<p>Silver_and-Jade, One way you can get an idea about things going on at the school is to read the student newspaper online. Do a web search for The East Carolinian.</p>
<p>Silver<em>and</em>Jade: East Carolina has an excellent musical theatre and dance program. Their visual art/studio art department also has an excellent reputation, with nationally known practicing artists who teach. They also put in a BFA/MFA program in the last few years in photography (the only BFA/MFA in photography in NC, to my knowledge), which is also very strong. A husband/wife team basically run that program (Gil and Jackie Leebrick), and they are both excellent photographers (and teachers) themselves. From what I can gather, they teach broadly--covering both the "old-fashioned" way of doing things, as well as the high-tech digital technology end of things. Don't know what you're interested in, but both the performing arts and the visual arts are strong there.</p>
<p>I read a story a year or so ago (Maybe in USNWR, can't remember) that ECU has a great "freshman 101" program that has increased the retention rate and general happiness of freshmen.</p>
<p>Lake Washington, I'm not positive but think that article was about Appalachian State University, also in the UNC system.</p>
<p>My daughter is interested in East Carolina. It sounds like it has a very good education department. But it is a bigger school than she would like. Are the classes very large? Any info on dorms? Are there alot of activities on the weekends or do alot of kids leave? We are out of state, so it is a concern.</p>
<p>candace, The largest classes at ECU (and probably just about any large state u.) will be the intro. science classes (Chem, Bio, etc) and maybe a few others. Those classes generally have 100 or more but the labs are small. For the most part, other classes will prob. be more of the regular size. While the numbers sound big, the campus itself is pretty easy to navigate.</p>
<p>The dorms at ECU range from very old dorms original to the school that have been updated and are in the central part of the campus to the high rise dorms that border downtown Greenville to the dorms on College Hill which is the other end of campus. I believe most dorms are coed. A new suite/apt. style type dorm was recently completed and will open this year I think. Some of the dorms are suite style and some are hall style. Most are air conditioned but there may still be a couple that are not. The ECU website has a section about campus living that will show you a map with pictures and descriptions of the dorms. </p>
<p>There is plenty to do. ECU is right in the middle of Greenville's original downtown area. So many things are within walking distance. ECU buses run to other parts of town for more shopping/entertainment. </p>
<p>ECU is not a school where everyone goes home for weekends. Of course some do but not the majority. While most students are from NC, you have to remember that ECU is in the eastern part of the state so some students, though North Carolinians, are still 3,4,or 5 hours from home so won't be going on an every week basis.</p>
<p>PackMom, great information. My D has ECU on her short list with USC-Columbia, and C of C. ECU would be OOS for her. She has sent in her merit application. Do you know if ECU waives OOS tuition for merit or is it mainly for atheletics?</p>
<p>thanks Packmom, the list of schools keeps growing. She wants to wait to see what her January SAT scores will be. Then we will know what schools will be within reach. She still wants to find more smaller schools, between 3,000 and 6,000. The bigger schools seem to have the better education departments. There are some exceptions of course, like Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Sorry, don't really know anything about oos waiver.</p>
<p>Thanks Anyway!</p>