<p>I go to VT currently and although its a big state school, I hate that it is in the middle of nowhere. I also disliked how VT has handled some roommate situations I've had this year. Lets say that I've had 3 roommates in one semester and im a freshman (one got kicked out for mental problems, another they just threw into my room after I had the place to myself for a month without even alerting me about it). VT really does not communicate with the students well when problems like the ones I had arise. But enough about my problems, I was thinking about transfering to James Madison next year (it was originally my second choice) and I was wondering if any of you can share your impressions of the school. I am familiar with the Harrisonburg area and I really like that it is only an hour and thirty minutes away from home.</p>
<p>Its also "in the middle of nowhere." Everyone is nice until the fangs come out a night. AKA party weekends. That's when you have the meatheads, guidos, and racist that love to get into fights and start nonsense. Nice campus with a great layout. The social scence is heavy on drinking so if you aren't down to party, prepare to stay inside and adhere to juvenile delinquents that are loud until 3AM in the morning.</p>
<p>Overall, if you like that kind of atmosphere, good place to transfer but the resemblance to V. Tech is uncanny with the exception of a less regarded football team.</p>
<p>HH, are you (or a family member) attending the same school my son and several of his friends attend? (Or it <em>IS</em> the same school, in a parallel universe with the ghost of John Belushi as provost?) :) Maybe my kid lucked out and is in a slightly saner dorm and a slightly saner fraternity and social circle? And from what I've heard, it would be hard to find a college anywhere without some level of heavy drinking on weekends.</p>
<p>All kidding aside, Harrisonburg is a larger city than Blacksburg, and JMU is a bit smaller, so JMU does not totally dominate the landscape the way Tech does. There seems to be a lot more civilization within walking distance and an excellent bus system. My son didn't care for Tech when we visited and is very happy at JMU. (I'll get an update in a week after finals are over and he's back for a few weeks.) His friends who wanted Tech (early decision) are happy there. To each their own. Logistically, both schools are in the middle of nowhere if you want to go someplace distant. You have to depend on friends with cars or very limited weekend bus systems (there is a Friday/Sunday bus from JMU to the Vienna Metro station near DC). </p>
<p>If Tech isn't working out for you, and JMU offers similar strengths in your major, certainly take a look. If you can manage it, spend a weekend on campus to get an idea of what it is like. If you are from NoVA in particular, I'd expect you have many classmates at both schools and have people you know who can fill you in on both the education and social aspects.</p>
<p>Being closer to home may be an advantage, but as you get more into school, you may find less and less reason to visit. Another thing to consider is your major. JMU seems to be very strong in business and education. Tech is known for engineering and I've heard they are strong in forestry and pre-vet medicine. JMU's IS&T major looks promising but is brand-new so grad schools and employers may not know what to make of it yet. Tech is stronger in Div 1 sports than JMU, that may be fun now (unless you play), but will be of lesser importance educationally. </p>
<p>If your only issue is with housing and dorms, see what you can work out. Be aware that housing is extremely tight at JMU and only freshmen are guaranteed dorm rooms. A lot of the students are scrambling NOW to line up roomates and space for 2009-10. Good luck.</p>
<p>Yeh I might give a go at JMU (I got in before and am hopefull I can get in again). The party scene doesn't concern me, I'm quite aware of it, and I like to have fun as most kids do. But I wasn't aware that there was a housing issue. Hopefully they would have available housing atleast one year for a transfer student. I don't have any issues with Tech really, just a series of isolated, freak incidents that were put in my lap by no fault of my own makes me want to start fresh somewhere else.</p>
<p>HereWeGo2, I don't attend there but some of my close buddies do so I am down there quite often. Yes drinking is prevelant at all colleges, but JMU and Radford are usually on a level of their own. Cops allow underage drinking unless you start fights or act in an absurd behavior. I'm assuming your kid is a freshmen so he probly hasn't encountered the "whole JMU" aside from driving by, while being confined to his dormitory. The Belushi Syndrome is very prevelant,haha.</p>
<p>And I would like to offer a correction to JMU being good on business. They are good in bus. man./admin. Their accounting program and finance courses lack compared to UVA,Tech, and GMU. They are also great in broadcasting. Since you reside in NOVA i'm assuming, you've seen that blonde hair girl on channel 4 news broadcasting the sports? JMU alumni.</p>
<p>On-campus housing is rather bleak, but off-campus is where it's at. Most of the apts. are located West of campus, but the bus shuttle that is free permits you to get their in a timely manner. Apts. generally run around $400 with your roomies splitting the util./elect. The new housing being built is gonna run approx. $550 though. Hope that helps.</p>