re: High School (Junior) Son looking at Universities - Tell me about the following in VA & NC

Of those JMU.

W&L’s football team sucks, but their Econ department is top notch… if that’s the major your son wants to pursue, and he isn’t attempting to make a go of an NFL career, go W&L

quote:

---

1. William and Mary 41 national
2. Washington Lee 11 n LA
3. Richmond 18 LA
4. Davidson 15 LA
5. JMU 151 nation
6. Elon 89 national

---

I would make a couple of changes just on academic presitge:

1 W&M
2 W&L
3 Davidson
4 Richmond
5 Elon
6 JMU


All of them are good academic schools the first 4 are very good to excellent and they are all Liberal Arts colleges/universities. In general LA colleges produce very well-rounded graduates because of the emphasis put on a wide range of subjects outside one's major. Over the years I have hired attorneys that went to what I listed as my top for for undergrad and went on to T-14 law schools. In general, they have all been very well educated across the board. I have never worked with a Richmond grad but one of my best friends and partners went to JMU and then to Georgetown Law.

The only one of those campuses I have been to was William and Mary. I was very impressed by it.

They used to play Tulane in football years ago. I used to tease my Tulane friends that they left William at home and just won the game with Mary.

Let me add that you need to visit Washington and Lee. It sits right next to VMI and it is a stark contrast to see them. W&L is the red brick and green lawns campus and liberal arts. VMI looks like a fort with parade grounds and is known for their engineering school. It’s odd to see them side by side.

Elon has catered to rich kids of late, with a beautiful campus and lots of amenities. But it is still not a very good academic institution.

Richmond, JMU and W&M are very good academic schools and the better for football. They are well respected, academically, in the Virginia-D.C.-Maryland region but not very well known outside it. Your child is more likely to get a job and stay in that region after graduation.

Davidson and W&L are the best academic schools on your list, but very small and insular. A visit to them is essential. For the right person, either is an amazing school. W&L has the best alumni connections, especially in banking, real estate, finance and law. And with the old money crowd. W&L has very active alumni groups in New Olreans and Baton Rouge, and in every major Southern city.

The only two schools in your list that I have been to are JMU and William and Mary.
JMU is in my dad's hometown, Harrisonburg. The town is nice and in a scenic area. JMU is a good school but it isn't in the same class as William and Mary.
William and Mary is considered a public ivy and it has a great reputation. It is located adjacent to colonial Williamsburg. I highly recommend visiting colonial Williamsburg if you get a chance.

JMU is cool. Richmond is a ghetto. W&L is very nice but very expensive. Also, you don’t have a football offer there because it is Dlll. If they are giving you money, take it. Very good school. Lexington kind of sucks though but it is beautiful.

Davidson is cool, very pretty but the area is super busy and growing too fast.

Don’t know about Elon and W&M.

That drive on 81 is beautiful. If you have time, take the Blueridge Parkway.

Washington & Lee is the answer.