The University of Mary Washington

Having spent a semester at ODU myself and being very familiar with other schools (GWU, Georgetown, American, UVA, etc.) where friends have gone, I would say I have a decent perspective of where UMW falls in terms of student life and academics, relative to other nearby colleges.

UMW is not a difficult school to get accepted to, but oddly still seems to attract above average students who made the honor roll in high school and the coursework load coincides with this. Classes tend to be fast paced and challenging, so do not be deceived by the high acceptance rate.

My professors have all been great! Very passionate about their field of study and very accessible *if you take the initiative*. Expectations are high and in general, late submission isn't a thing and if it is then the point penalties are severe.

I've found that UMW has great faculty (both academic and administrative) and various resources, readily accessible, but only for those who take initiative and take it upon themselves to utilize them. It's easy to get on a first name basis with anyone here, but it's equally as easy to fly under the radar.

In terms of the student body - the school is small and can be "clicky." UMW will be a good fit if you fall into one of the following categories: 1) you're a social butterfly and don't mind putting yourself out there, 2) you're an introvert and don't need many friends, or 3) you play a sport. You either need to be extroverted enough to go out and make friends or be on an athletic team, in which case you basically inherit a team of "friends." Otherwise, students are friendly and polite, but tend to stick to their preexisting group of friends.

UMW is NOT for anyone who wishes to have a party life on weekends! Seriously, do not attend UMW if keg parties and wandering from house party to house party is part of the "college life" you're envisioning. We don't have it and Fredericksburg doesn't offer very much nightlife to make up for it.

I will also say that UMW is pretty accepting of various races, sexual orientations, and so on, but it is NOT a diverse school. If you're comfortable and secure with your own race or sexuality (etc.) UMW will generally embrace you with open arms and you'll enjoy your experience here, but if you're still in the process of "finding yourself" then this likely isn't the place where you're going to do it. Overall, there are plenty of complaints many students have about UMW, but in most cases, that's more about them not choosing the right school than it is about the school itself. UMW has a lot to offer and provides an excellent education for far less than what a lot of schools charge in tuition, but it simply is not for everyone.