<p>"I am curious how the other univerisities in the commonwealth are perceived.
Is Virginia Tech still considered second behind Charlottesville..."</p>
<p>besides the fact that tech never was considered 2nd behind UVa, the point is that Tech is perceived as pretty much a lot less prestigious than UVa. And my proof to that is that UVa's "mediocre" engineering program is better than Virginia techs engineering program - and that engineering is tech's best program.</p>
<p>............when i care enough about wildlife, fisheries, ecology, and conservation studies, i'll take note............</p>
<p>Definitely not a tree hugger are you JAGS.........but............... and doesn't really sound like the smartest people go into it.................... sure sounds a bit snobbish doesn't it.</p>
<p>Some VERY intelligent folks are in this field - may be not up to your standards but at least they will be the ones who save our planet from certain ozone and demolition on our fair planet. This field - and programs - are bigger than you care to think.</p>
<p>OK, here is the straight scoop so listen up. </p>
<p>William and Mary/UVA (tied for 1st EVERYONE knows this, no discussion)
Washington and Lee
Virginia Tech
University of Richmond
University of Mary Washington
James Madison University</p>
<p>The other's are debatable, but this is pretty much how it goes in Virginia. George Mason would even be behind Christopher Newport..................but the close proximity to DC and the diversity of the student body makes it more appealing to some students.</p>
<p>One of the Nobel winners (Buchanan) was at UVA when he did much of the work, was at GMU when he won the prize. The other (Smith) was at University of Arizona for the work, joined GMU a year before winning the Nobel.</p>
<p>Your opinion about George Mason University is misleading.</p>
<p>For undergraduate studies, Economics, History, English, Government, Public Policy are very strong at GMU. As a matter of fact, the GMU econ faculty is more renowned than their UVA counterparts. For graduate work, it's hard to find a better Biotech program (such as bio-defense, not surprisingly) in the state. Moreover, the GMU law school is excellent and giving UVA and W&L a run for their money.</p>
<p>Maybe this discussion would be more useful if we broke it down a bit?</p>
<p>Here are both my rankings and my reasoning:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Washington & Lee: Overall, the students there are more academically adept than at any other Virginia college. The classes tend to be small, which promotes useful discussion. I don't believe there is any debate over the research that demonstrates deeper learning the more engaged the learner. The faculty is not as well-published as the faculty at the large schools, but is probably more focused on teaching which, theoretically (and in the absence of real evidence) should lead to a better classroom and learning experience.</p></li>
<li><p>William and Mary: By all accounts (and I have never attended there), W&M is more intellectually focused than UVA, so I put it slightly ahead. IMO, schools where the students work harder tend to produce better classroom experiences.</p></li>
<li><p>UVA: The most distinguished faculty, overall, in Virginia. It also has an enviable reputation as both a major research university and one that still takes undergrad education seriously. That reputation has suffered a bit as the school has grown, but that's to be expected. The students are about on par with those at W&M.</p></li>
<li><p>Richmond: Really, after W&L, I consider the next three to be very close. Richmond's students, IIRC, are about on par with those at UVA and W&M. I put it #4 because it's a bit large to be a LAC and a bit small to have an accomplished faculty. It's a "tweener" school and has elements of both worlds, but isn't strong enough either way to rank it above W&M and UVA.</p></li>
<li><p>Mary Washington: Roughly LAC size. Good student body. Dedicated teachers.</p></li>
<li><p>Virginia Tech: Great engineering school. Great agricultural school. Student body about on par with mid-level flagship university. Relatively large class size, though, and (reputedly) a lecture culture in the classroom. </p></li>
<li><p>James Madison: Has improved tremendously over the years. A great back-up school for Virginians.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Note that this is only overall. Each school has strengths that would send it to the top of individual lists.</p>
<p>With all due respect, The University of Richmond's students are NOT on par with the caliber of students accepted at William and Mary and UVA. Look at the stats, the incoming freshman's average GPA's. Sorry, I just think that you are wrong on this one. Washington and Lee..................great school, no doubt, but still behind William and Mary and UVA, no question. And yes, it has a low acceptance rate because uhhhhhhhhh there are only a small number of students at that school. A girl from our high school had a 1430 on her SAT's, was waitlisted at UVA and William and Mary, was a legacy at UVA and did get into Washington and Lee. Her GPA was a bit low at 3.7. And you know William and Mary and UVA don't charge the big bucks that Richmond (insane) and W&L do. Lot's of drinking, preppy, rich, and legacies at both of those schools. Virginia Tech is even a better school in most regards than Richmond. The hidden gem is University of Mary Washington. It makes JMU seem like a big joke for quality LAC education. JUst my college sophomore opinion though. And I think Christopher Newport is coming right up as well. I almost think ODU is on the same level as George Mason.</p>
<p>I notice that there seems to be a negative connotation any time Christopher Newport is mentioned in the forums. Can I assume that it is the college of last resort of Virginians or would that be UVA --Wise?</p>
<p>Tarhunt............come on, you know that SAT scores are only part of the process of college admission. To discount GPA and class ranking is not the least bit useful. Class ranking is useful in determining how a student stacks up to their peers. GPA is a very important factor as most reputable colleges know without a doubt how each high school factors GPA's. It is listed on the transcript with the school report. You should know this. SAT scores are often an indicator of a students lack of initiative particularly if they are high and the GPA does not correspond. Yahoo lists the average freshman GPA for University of Richmond as 3.4. Another lists it as 3.6 which is lower or at least on par with JMU, Tech and Mary Washington. Richmond does have a beautiful campus, I will give it that. But to say it is anywhere in the leage of William and Mary or UVA is totally incorrect and every Virginian knows this. </p>
<p>No Christopher Newport is NOT the last resort for Virginia students. That would be Radford, Longwood, ODU and George Mason, VCU. University of Virginia/Wise is not even on the charts. That would be the very last resort. IMO.</p>
<p>In terms of Nobel Prizes, Virginia Commonwealth and George Mason are the top two. They both have either professors or graduates that have won Nobels. They each have two. The University of Virginia and College of William and Mary, for all their prestige, don't have any currently.</p>
<p>Pedsox, once again you, or the people you talk to, are off the mark. U of Virginia-Wise has sent its graduates to top law schools such as UVA and Washington and Lee University School of Law. So at least in a few smart folks opinion, UVA-Wise is not "a last resort."</p>