@vamominvabeach BThanks, oh I am not trying to force anything, but just gather information from those who know. I know W& M chances are slim and am hoping she will love where she is or do well enough to apply for a transfer at several schools. I’m an info person, I really want to know and learn about these schools.
@cloudysmom - from what you’ve described, I don’t see JMU being a great fit for your daughter. It’s not particularly close to DC either at ~ 2.5 hrs. GMU doesn’t have a lot of interesting buildings on campus so I wonder if your daughter would be turned off by that. It’s a suburban school in an area that’s been developed for years. Some of the homes in the surrounding area do have a Williamsburg’ish feel. GMU does have really good connections to DC for internships across majors. And it’s an extremely diverse school, fair number and variety of international students which might be nice to have in the history field. Not a heavy concentration on athletics, no football team makes a big difference in that aspect. UMW is an hour+ from downtown DC outside of rush hour.
Guess what my problem comes down to as a VA resident is I just don’t see the value in paying $26k out of state tuition to UMW, I’m not able to get past that. IMO at this point in time it’s not strong enough academically to justify that. I understand that you are thinking it will be a fit for her in many ways but from a value perspective I just don’t see it over staying home for a College of Charleston or something like that. It’s not a bad school and it’s doing things to move up but it’s not there yet. I don’t mean to bash the school at all, this is more a value trade off to me. YMMV of course!
I have to agree with JustGraduate.
@JustGraduate & @LMHLAW3 I agree, after all this info gathering I don’t see JMU as a great fit either. She can’t have everything & has to decide between DC and other areas. Can u take the train to D.C. from GMU, how far is it? I understand that it seems odd to pay OOS tuition to you, I think the same thing when I hear of OOS kids going to these SC schools, but I guess it’s a true interest in the beautiful state, the ,ountains, change of seasons, closeness to D.C… and UMW has kids from each state and many international kids so I guess it’s all perspective. We are hoping to qualify for some need or merit aide that brings it near in state cost. Ashe applied to Marymount near DC and they offered her so much aide that it’s now $1,000 cheaper than going in state. She doesn’t want to go there, now that we’ve researched, but good to know.
For GMU to downtown DC take a campus bus to Vienna metro station (10-15 minutes) then straight shot in on Metro to Smithsonian stop (35-45 minutes). Or change metro lines once in DC to get to other areas. Easy to get in. Best option from UMW into DC is drive. There’s a commuter rail train that goes into DC Monday-Friday but it’s limited times going and coming, based around rush hour (see VRE - Virginia Railway Express). Not sure where rail station is vs campus or if there’s transportation to it. Realize that driving in from either campus means a lot of traffic, and finding parking once in town (not cheap). Quicker drive from GMU but if during rush hour, all bets are off from either place 
Realize also that VA is like a lot of states in that political inclinations are more balanced in the higher population areas - Northern VA, Richmond, Newport News/VA Beach/Tidewater - than the rest of the state which is rather conservative. Fredericksburg is outside NoVa in this regard and aligns more with the rural areas of the state in this.
@cloudysmom "still love getting opinions esp on UMW, Roanoke, anywhere near DC? "
I used to live in DC, but moved away many years ago, but here is my two cents’ worth. Your daughter should be admitted to GW, GMU, American U, Catholic U and U MD and all should be fine for a history major. All are convenient to the Metro so she can get around DC easily. I’m not up to speed on the financial side of these schools, but she may be able to get some merit money from Catholic U.
@JustGraduate & @londondad Thank you both for your responses, I know you must be busy with the upcoming holidays but this is such a prevailing issue in our family. She won’t have a car do needs to rely on trains if she wants to spend a day in DC. She has a beloved uncle in DC so that helps. Londondad I wish she could get into GW but not so sure. And even though they’re private, they say they do NOT meet 100% aide. We are looking into AU more, still time for ED2 which has a 75% admittance rate as opposed to 29% RD.
From what I’ve heard, GWU is stingy with aid. I have also heard recently that they have forced at least some kids to live on campus when they didn’t want to because they needed the money. That is second hand, but reliable. I have a master’s from Mason, so have spent a lot of time on campus, although as a graduate student. My nephew is a current sophomore and he loves it. It’s very very diverse, I would think quite different than what she may be used to, and that may be a positive as she seems like the kind of girl who is interested in different cultures and people. Mason used to have a kind of safety school reputation “back in the day” but that has changed over the years and it has earned quite a good reputation of late. It may be a good option for her…especially since we already know she is going to have to compromise on some things…she is just going to have to decide which things to compromise on.
@kkmabo Thanks, yes, GW I have heard isn’t great with aide & is by far the most $ school. I think it’s pretty much out. GM is a real possibility and certainly seems to hold it’s on these days with reputation, which Insuspect will only improve. I hope she is able to get into several schools and we can weigh aide. We are waiting to hear from Roanoke, wasn’t really a contender but have met a few who loved it, quite pretty but not a choice if she decides to go near D.C., obviously.
If she was turned off by CNU’s campus/buildings there’s a good chance she won’t be impressed by GMU campus as well.
So has this come down to finding a school in VA or grudgingly staying home in SC? Rigor of school is taking a far backseat? It’s ok if that’s the case, it will change some of the advice you’re being given.
If it helps at all, I recently got accepted into Mary Washington. She should write about extracurriculars or experiences that truly matter to her. I had a 1280 SAT and still got into the Honors Program. I believe your daughter’s chances are high for UMW if she is within the ranges and shows that she cares about her activities. It’s a great school.
@JustGraduate. She is applying to a variety, a couple of teach schools, a few in her range & a few easier for back ups and 1 innstate. She would prefer academic rigor but not sure she can get in. Seems smartest to apply at a variety & see where she gets in & of those, weigh financial offers. Think that makes the most sense, right, being open to options? She just got into Roanoke yesterday w/ a $19,250/yr merit scholarship & still waiting to hear about their FASFA decision. Applying to mainly VA, probably D.C., MD & maybe PA.
@brainscistudent Congratsulations! Did you apply ED as I think RD we don’t hear back till the end of march? I think she missed the honors program deadline however, and her SAT might be too low at 1230, her ACT was better at 29. This school seems the best option in many ways. I heard there was a train near it that runs directly into D.C., do you know? It seems very pretty, very historic!
@cloudysmom Thank you!! I applied Early Action and I also got an interview, which I think was very helpful as the interviewer directly recommended me for the Honors Program. Her SAT isn’t too low, nor is her ACT. Yes, there is a train that runs directly to D.C. It’s a great school, and they offer a lot of scholarship money. If there’s any left (I’m not sure, I think they gave out a lot during Early Decision and Early Action) your daughter could receive up to $4,000 in-state or $9,000 out of state for her ACT score! Apply by February 1 for Regular Decision.
Yes, it’s a great school. It’s beautiful; I visited last April and was captivated by the campus and the student community there. It’s my second choice. I’d definitely recommend it!
@brainscistudent. She is most definitely applying & it looks like a strong contender for her. I keep hearing that the kids who go there really love it. If she gets into a few places we’re hoping we can visit them in the spring. I appreciate your thoughts on it. Have you visited W&M? Curious about the feel of the 2 schools, I heard there is a quaint little shopping area right near the school like W&M has, walking distance, is that right?
@cloudysmom Yes, I have visited W&M. I love it. It’s my top choice. There are shops, but they are often packed with tourists on the weekends.
@brainscistudent Did u apply to W&M? it was my D’s dream school but she didn’t get in, considering UMW then try to transfer. I meant shops walking distance from UMW or did u mean that? When u said packed with tourists I assume u meant W&M, lol.
I would not be deterred by the GW price tag - D1 is a student there now, has many friends who received generous scholarships and knows some who got full rides. I suspect the level of aid is commensurate with the student - and given your daughter’s high GPA, academic rigor, geographic location, she may well receive a nice package even if others have not (I also think they are a school you CAN negotiate with). Re the housing, GW now requires freshman-juniors to live on campus (not unlike some other schools) and built a new dorm to accommodate them. IDK if your daughter decided to do ED2 at UR, but I think she has a good shot at that given her stats, I think she would surely get into AU, GWU, Catholic, etc. so it seems like the ED would be best used at a greater reach like UR, and it seems she is not as passionate about any other school to warrant using an ED and committing to it.
@Spring16. Thank you, I am surprised to read u think she has a shot at GW & AU, she gat a 29 on her ACT due to math pulling her way down. Do u think she should not report the scores when she applies as I know those schools are score optional. Her EC’s are average. I keep thinking she didn’t get into W& M so she won’t at those schools (GWor AU). I know they don’t have the 65% in state rule but the lower ACT concerns me. I would really appreciate your input as she definitely will apply, just isn’t feeling very hopeful. Yes, I think using the ED2 at UR makes the most sense but AU admittance rate goes from 29%RD to 80% ED so a huge jump. I think she’d rather go to GW, however but hard to get into. I am encouraged by what u said about aid, makes me feel a bit better. We struggle whether to submit scores to GW or AU, I read that at AU they only accept 25% of kids who don’t submit scores. Also, and sorry for all the questions, but is there much of a campus at GW? I know there are 2, but are there places just for the GW kids to hang out, etc? Worried it’s so urban. Thank you! These deadlines are fast approaching so we have to make some hard decisions. The holidays & all the 5 AP projects her teachers assigned over break have been a real distraction.
@Spring16 Also, in case I wasn’t clear, UR is still her top choice just a real long shot. I think GW would be 2nd.