George Mason v. VCU. v Christopher Newport?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi I live in NY, I'm a senior and one thing led to another and I couldn't afford the schools I got into, I only got into one of the two SUNY's I applied to, Geneseo, and that was for midyear so my plan is to do that but in the meantime I don't want to be behind on classes and don't want to stay home for those few months so I applied to some last minute schools with late deadlines in Virginia because my dad lives there any I can get in state.</p>

<p>Those schools were VCU, George Mason, and Christopher Newport. I know very little about these schools, like I said I applied to them at the eleventh hour and I just needed a school to go to from September-January.</p>

<p>So can someone tell be about these schools, which one has the best academics, reputation, type of location, etc. </p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>Christopher Newport doesn’t have a bad red. I’ve heard of George Mason before.</p>

<p>Can you afford all three?</p>

3

<p>That depends, what is your planned major?</p>

4

<p>All three are going to have completely different campus experiences. VCU is urban and has some great pre-health programs, GMU is suburban and still fighting the suitcase college image. Great academics, good basketball, campus life is not going to be a traditional experience as most commute. CNU is up and coming. Everyone I know there loves it. Beautiful campus, traditional experience, good honors college. It depends on what you’re looking for. If at all possible you need to take a weekend and visit all three.</p>

5

<p>as a native Virginian I would steer you towards GMU…it has been skyrocketing upwards in selectivity and the student body has become stronger as a result. It is now harder to gain admission to GMU vs. Virginia Tech. While much of the student body commutes a large number live on campus as well. You will have access to Dulles corridor internships if you so chose and the school has some pride with a solid basketball program. VCU is strong in the arts…aside from that it is the clear second choice unless you have a particular affinity for Richmond. CNU is viewed in the same light as Radford…not a good light, and is seen as a fallback school for those that don’t get into GMU, JMU, VCU, ODU etc…perhaps ODU is a peer…in any event read as much as you can to make an informed decision. </p>

<p>GMU is in NOVA which has a very different feel from the rest of the state of Virginia. Virginia is very much a border state in terms of Northern vs. Southern culture…two of those schools lie south of Fredericksburg which is where the unofficial line begins in my eyes. I say this as someone who currently goes to school in the deep south and loves certain aspects of it, just be aware of what you are stepping in to; the culture will be different from anything one encounters in NY.</p>

6

<p>–GMU has essentially shed the “commuter school” description because of all the new housing on campus. As for admissions, it’s no longer easily predictable. Excellent Economics and International Affairs majors.</p>

<p>–VCU is a very urban, downtown type of campus. Strong in the Life Sciences and Health</p>

<p>Investigate your choice of major at each school.</p>

<p>Are you quite certain about your eligibility for resident tuition from the State of Virginia? Double check the website for the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia (schev.edu). Being awarded resident tuition or a tuition waiver because a parent resides in Virginia may not be as simple as you believe.</p>

7

<p>CNU is not at all ethnically diverse - both VCU and Mason are off the charts in that respect.</p>

<p>Do you like urban energy? - VCU</p>

<p>Suburbia? - Mason</p>

<p>LAC? - CNU</p>

8

<p>Also Mason has the biggest out of state population.</p>

9

<p>

This is simply not true. </p>

<p>GMU
66% admit rate
CR 520-620
Math 530-630
% in top 10% of class: 21
Avg GPA: 3.66</p>

<p>VT
66% admit rate
CR 540-640
Math 570-670
% in top 10% of class: 43
Avg GPA: 3.92</p>

<p>GMU is a very good school that has long been academically underestimated. Arguably there are departments where it outshines VT. For students coming out of Northern Va, where VT is a difficult admit, GMU is absolutely not going to be harder. What is a mistake is to take a GMU admit for granted and skate on the application.</p>

<p>Lake Washington is correct to look carefully at your major at each.</p>

10

<p>It is kind of hard to tell you which is best unless we know your major. The schools all have their strengths and weaknesses. </p>

<p>Nationally a lot of people do not know what CNU is compared to Mason and VCU. CNU apparently has an amazing campus though. I also think that they have the 5 year MAT if you’re looking into education (secondary or elementary). VCU is more known for its health studies compared to CNU and Mason. </p>

<p>I have friends who go to all three and like all three of them!!</p>

11

<p>All i can tell you is that VCU is good at college B-ball and that GMU is brilliant for Economics</p>

12

<p>@blueiguana - blows my mind as well but GMU does in fact have a lower acceptance rate these days vs. VT</p>

<p>GMU - 52.8%
VT - 66.5%</p>

<p>source - usnews</p>

13

<p>Source, GMU common data set, 2012-13. </p>

<p><a href=“http://irr.gmu.edu/cds/cds_new/sec_action.cfm?year=2012-13&sec_id=A[/url]”>http://irr.gmu.edu/cds/cds_new/sec_action.cfm?year=2012-13&sec_id=A&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>VT common data set, 2012-13. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.ir.vt.edu/work_we_do/commonDataSet/CommonDataSetFiles/2012DataSetFreshmen.xlsx”>http://www.ir.vt.edu/work_we_do/commonDataSet/CommonDataSetFiles/2012DataSetFreshmen.xlsx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

14

<p>

</p>

<p>No, that is not true.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I will admit, I was also surprised by that.</p>

15

<p>“No, that is not true”</p>

<p>…Yes it is, that was the first thing I made sure of when I looked for these schools, and it was confirmed by my guidance counsellors when she called each of these schools. My sister lived here entire life in NY and she got in-state charges when she went to Mary Washington.</p>

<p>Anyway, I’m not positive on my major I’d probably go undeclared but I have been heavily leaning towards a school with a good business program, that’s what I was looking for when I originally applied to schools.</p>

16

<p>I really wanted to see where the discrepancy might be between USNews and the CDS as it is not a small amount. From USNews if you read under “Admittance” you will see the following:

So, they are listing the more favorable number where most people look in the ‘quick facts’ box at the top of the page, but taking into consideration early acceptance the overall acceptance rate is not 52.8%. The data they are using is from fall 2011. From GMU’s CDS there were 14,596 applicants, 9,263 were accepted, 63.46% overall.</p>

<p>[George</a> Mason University | Best College | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/george-mason-university-3749]George”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/george-mason-university-3749)</p>

<p>[George</a> Mason IRR- Common Data Set](<a href=“http://irr.gmu.edu/cds/cds_new/sec_action.cfm?year=2011-12&sec_id=C]George”>http://irr.gmu.edu/cds/cds_new/sec_action.cfm?year=2011-12&sec_id=C)</p>

17

<p>For the OP, I would visit if at all possible, however if you are leaning towards business I would strongly consider GMU. It’s on my youngest son’s list to apply next fall as an econ admit. As pointed out it’s got some very strong programs.</p>

18

<p>

</p>

<p>Well, what might have happened with your sister and what is supposed to happen are possibly two different things.</p>

<p>The laws within the Commonwealth (and most states) are pretty clear.</p>

<p>More power to ya. Or, as my mother used to say - Guy ga zinta heite.</p>

19

<p>I can’t speak for the OP but I do know that my nephew, who went to HS in Texas living with his father, was eligible for instate here in Va at several schools they checked as his mom is a Virginia resident. I don’t know if this is statewide or a decision each university makes, but there was nothing improper about it.</p>

20

<p>One costs-savings option for Out-of-state students who desire to study in the State of Virginia is the Academic Common Market. But that includes only students from other southern states and only a defined set of majors.</p>

<p>Otherwise, getting a tuition waiver certainly may be possible; just check all of the requirements for your designated target school.</p>