I’m not trying to spam so I’ll do my best to answer all your questions in one post:
Why I don’t think I’ll enjoy JMU: From what I have gathered so far JMU will be a very similar experience to my Northern Virginia High school social experience, with a lot of similar people going to attend. In high school I feel like I have been categorized and “been put into a box”(especially since my high school student body is all kids I grew up with) and college is the one chance for me to finally be who I am (boisterous, loud, and outgoing). During my HS experience I actually left to try out boarding school in southern virginia, and from a social standpoint it was the best experience as I finally broke out of the standards I was held to at my public school.
I don’t know if this is just a personal issue but I do feel like it is important when I am making my decision.
Fitting in: I’m not completely sure about becoming a member of a Fraternity… I’m just not that type of person. Drinking and other stuff is not necessarily my cup of tea. With that being said I do love to socialize and I enjoy going to parties that aren’t too hardcore. I would describe myself as someone who likes to have fun but also needs engaging and, as pretentious as this may sound, intellectual conversation. I don’t know if JMU is the best place to find that balance that I need.
Other Choices: I got into VCU (which seems to be better from a diversity perspective) but the COA is a little higher at 28,361 and George Mason: 28,288. I do not know how VCU compares academically, especially for the programs I am interested in, with these other schools but I really did like the campus when I toured last spring. George Mason is a little too close to home (right down the street) and I only applied as a super-safety just in case.