<p>I never really considered it until I was rejected from my number one choice UMD: college park a few weeks ago, but I don't know why I would want to go to JMU (And please I don't mean to sound like a stuck up brat). I wanted to go to UMD because it was a school known for its academics, sports, school spirit, diversity, and not to mention the AMAZINNNNNG CAMPUS, and over the years it has become extremely competitive. So for me, getting in would have been a huge win, coming from a school full of 5.0 GPA's and IVY acceptances. But as I I have been looking into JMU, it doesn't seem to be on the same level as schools like UMD or UDEL. The name is practically anonymous, like when I say "I am considering JMU" people go "Oh I have never heard of that school". When I visited campus, I it was beautiful and the strangers you bumped into were always smiling and happy. But, they dont seem to have ANY SCHOOL SPIRIT WHATSOEVER!!!!</p>
<p>I know these are not realistic reasons why not to go to JMU, but can someone tell me some nice things about JMU, preferably relating to the sports or education?</p>
<p>Relatively small class sizes, undergraduate focused university with LOTS of opportunities for undergraduate research. Lots of school spirit (they don’t say that JMU students and alums “bleed purple” for nothing!).</p>
<p>As an alum and the parent of a perspective member of the class of 2017, I don’t think you can go wrong at Madison. I have seen its reputation grow from an up-and-coming regional school to a recognized university with a solid reputation for producing well rounded students. When I chose Madison in 1984, not many people had ever heard of it up here in the land of Penn State and Villanova. Today when I say my D is thinking of going there, I get nothing but positive responses—no one ever has anything negative to say. Madison is a tight community in a small town—a total different animal than UMD which is in an urban location. What kind of location do you want? Any college is what you make of it. Sure schools like UMD and Penn State are more well known—that’s because they have huge pools of alums living on the East Coast—but those schools are too big, IMHO. You will always be a number there. Because JMU is half their size, you have a greater opportunity to take advantage of what it has to offer. As far as sports, etc., Madison has great school spirit. The football stadium is fairly new and you always see a sea of purple at games. The Godwin area is full of alums every football weekend tailgating. </p>
<p>I would never slight JMU or say it is subpar to Delaware or Maryland. For quite a few people—including me—it was the perfect place to spend four years of your life!</p>