[Jotun]

Ok guys....I've come to the point in my life where I need to make a major decision....Sometime in the next few months, I must decide where I'll be going to college. Obviously I can't take it lightly, and I know many people who dont like where they are going, and I dont want that to happen to me. If any of you go to these colleges, went to these colleges, know anyone who goes there, please let me know what you think. I'm not asking you to make the decision for me, I'm just asking for facts, such as: music scene, education, transportation, community, etc. Of course I asked these questions when I visisted these colleges (I visited them all) but of course the college is going to give you a bias answer. Be honest.

Here are my choices, I applied to them, and got into all of them.

James Madison University
+ I loved the campus.
+ I loved the surrounding community and environment.
+ Their education looks promising, and I know a few people who go there and they love it.
+a brand new chemistry building, and a nice bio building
- 5 hours away
- no public transportation home

Marist College
+ Nice campus
+ On Hudson River (nice atmosphere)
+ really nice buildings (especially their library)
+ Only 2 hours away, with a lot of transportation
+ Good education, and a well known name
- Poughkeepsie NY is a slum, or so im told
- Its mainly a liberal arts school, im going into biology

I also got into Marywood University and Binghamton University, but those are safeties. I havent recieved a response from American Univesity, but I'm fairly confident in the response. Thats up there with JMU and Marist.

I applied to UPenn, and they called for an interview...So thats a good sign I guess. They are at least considering me. I dont want to go there though.

[Coleman]

i dont' know anything about Marist College, but my guess is that it's a lot smaller than JMU. No? If so, I'd suggest JMU...the whole bullshit about how "you get a better education at a small school due to the personal contact." At any larger school, you can do the same. Some classes can have only 10 people in them at Big 10 schools for example. You can also get to know your prof and TA's...you won't be just a number on a piece of paper. I love being at a large school. I couldn't see myself going to a school with only 6,000 peiople.

[bukdez]

you come here for help on major life decisions?...

[c312]

JMU!

You can get a bus ride to Northern Virginia which would make it less of a car ride home. THey have buses every weekend that go to Vienna in NoVA for like $28 (one way)

The only thing about JMU that I don't like is sometimes it smells bad when it rains because there are dog food factories and chicken farms in the valley that waft over campus whenever it rains for some reason or another. It's not intolerable, but it's just kinda weird. We do have a new science building that is supposed to be pretty nice, I haven't had any sciences yet so I couldn't tell you what the classes are like. I can tell you that everyone here is very nice and there is a huge party scene if you are into that. Sometimes the party scene gets annoying because everyone is always out and it seems like there are only a few people who don't feel it necessary to go out every weekend.

People don't give JMU as much credit as they deserve academically. It has become a lot harder to get into JMU so it's become much more competitive and it's a much better school than a lot of people think. It's no UVA, but it's not VCU either...

[Jotun]

Originally Posted by c312

JMU!

You can get a bus ride to Northern Virginia which would make it less of a car ride home. THey have buses every weekend that go to Vienna in NoVA for like $28 (one way)

The only thing about JMU that I don't like is sometimes it smells bad when it rains because there are dog food factories and chicken farms in the valley that waft over campus whenever it rains for some reason or another. It's not intolerable, but it's just kinda weird. We do have a new science building that is supposed to be pretty nice, I haven't had any sciences yet so I couldn't tell you what the classes are like. I can tell you that everyone here is very nice and there is a huge party scene if you are into that. Sometimes the party scene gets annoying because everyone is always out and it seems like there are only a few people who don't feel it necessary to go out every weekend.

People don't give JMU as much credit as they deserve academically. It has become a lot harder to get into JMU so it's become much more competitive and it's a much better school than a lot of people think. It's no UVA, but it's not VCU either...

Marist is around 16,000 students, coleman....i think.

as for JMU, its my #1 choice so far. I really loved the campus. I went in mid-August and the weather was beautiful. It looks like someplace I can see myself at for the next 4 years. I'm coming to visit again on Feb 20th if you wanna meet up c312. I think its a day for all the people who were accepted on early action.

Another thing I forgot is tuition. JMU is significantly cheaper than Marist. Marist is $35,000 a year (but I got a $6,000 a year scholarship from them if I go) and JMU is only $21,000 a year, and I think I'll get scholarships.

[[DAS REICH] Blitz]

I'd go JMU, but if u were to get into UPenn, why not?

[Nyck]

Originally Posted by bukdez

you come here for help on major life decisions?...

[Jotun]

Originally Posted by Nyck

to both of you, no im not asking for any of you to make a decision for me, im asking for any info on these schools to help ME make the decision.

[Madmartagen]

what are you majoring in? you should make your decision on that. go to a college that offers a variety of courses in your field.

[Nyck]

Originally Posted by Jotun

to both of you, no im not asking for any of you to make a decision for me, im asking for any info on these schools to help ME make the decision.

but don't you think that YOU or friends and family around you would make a better decsion. I mean...maybe I'm just speaking for myself, but I dont know jack shit about either of those colleges. Not enough to offer advice on them

if I could offer anything, don't get hyped up in names. My friend went to school 6 hours away rather than to Eastern Michigan with me, because his brother went to U of Michigan and kept ragging on him saying Eastern is the worst school ever, etc.

Smaller schools can be terrific

[Jotun]

Originally Posted by Madmartagen

what are you majoring in? you should make your decision on that. go to a college that offers a variety of courses in your field.

Biology

I really wish I had the grades to get into Johns Hopkins. One of my best friends applied early decision to Johns Hopkins for Biomedical Engineering, and was accepted. It was the happiest day of his life, and he really deserves it too. He's a genius.

[bukdez]

Originally Posted by Jotun

to both of you, no im not asking for any of you to make a decision for me, im asking for any info on these schools to help ME make the decision.

simply a joke bro...

[Short Hand]

come to york uni up here with me in canada.

[Pyro]

York is gay.

[Sniper101]

I know a number of people at marist and they love it there, and its also quite good academically.