The University of Mary Washington

If you're considering attending UMW (which, since you're reading this, you most likely are), please think twice (maybe even more) before enrolling. Not saying you should go or not; but, this school is SO NOT for everybody, and you don't want to end up worrying about transferring colleges like I am now.

The academics at UMW are the ONLY thing the college has going for them. Professors are smart and classes can be really interesting. Classes can be challenging, but that's how it'll be anywhere.

To me, the students seemed very... blah. Just vapid and boring. Everyone's kinda-sorta the same (or at least they act like it). If you're an really eccentric, quirky person who usually stands from a crowd, don't go to UMW.

Diversity, diversity, diversity.... man oh man. The school tries. They try so hard, but there really is none. And to be honest, as a minority student, it DID affect my time at UMW and not in a great way. It's ironic, because I came from a high school that was mostly white, and that wasn't a big deal, but... it's just weird at UMW. I can't explain it, but it felt very cliquish and uncomfortable for me.

The school tries to sell you this notion that there's always something to do.... at the end of the day, Fredericksburg is not a college town. Also, campus is unbelievably dead on the weekends (you just might see a barrel of hay blow across campus walk one of these days), and students are bored a lot.

Don't even get me on parties... Mary Wash is not a party school. Just no. There are off campus frats and sororities, but from what I heard, those aren't really a thing. You really have to know someone who knows someone in order to find anything. I'm not a party person, so this didn't bother me, but a lot of my peers came to UMW expecting parties and were unpleasantly surprised.

School spirit is lacking as well... students rarely seem proud of their choice to attend UMW. It's like they wish they were at the school they really wanted to be.

I could go on, but to keep everything short and sweet, UMW, in my opinion, is a great school, but a terrible college, if that makes any sense. These are my opinions and reflections from my time at UMW. If you are really curious about the school, I'd say give a visit. Tour guides are transparent -- don't listen to them. Just feel out the school for yourself and ask yourself, "Is this where I see myself thriving as a student AND as a person for the next four years of my life?" Just understand that UMW isn't your typical college.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2016

Faculty Accessibility: A, Social Life: D

There is a culture of being alone at this school and its very normal to just sit in your dorm room or go home on the weekend. The culture defeats most kids here and they succomb to it. This doesnt help its students professionally as students here regress socially (and example mentioned below at HS reunion). Don't trick yourself into thinking you are an exception, you arent anything special and social conformity is real given and extended period of time surrounded by this.

There is an abnormally large transfer rate at this school. It simply lacks in school spirit, no greek, no parties (they are very rare; dont listne to the BS "if you ask around/wanna find one, you will" this is a lie and usually said by the people who dont party), douch-ey sports teams, over priced dorms (given their horrible quality), negative culture, etc. There is overall just a negative atmosphere here. For the average student thinking of applying to UMW I'd say its is like that scene from the Lion King where simba asks his father "whats that over there" as they stand over the cliff face and his father responds " thats the ...you must never go there simba." It is my theory, and this is just a theory, that the school purposely pushes to have the intro level classes to be so difficult so students have trouble with them and cannot get the grades needed to transfer out. Call me crazy but the school really does everything in its power to keep kids from leaving. This is a money decision on the part of the school which bars kids from leaving and force them to stay or give up. Most freshman aren't smart enough to do well (1) they were dumb enough to come here and drink the kool aid 2) most are not mature or ready to adjust to the college life...compounded together is a mix that results in poor grades. The majority of freshmen and newly transfers I noticed are extremely disappointed when they get to this school and realize they were 'lied to' by the people who talked up the school with exaggerations and overglorifications. Most of the "normal" students will transfer out and not drink the mary washington kool-aid. Many will give up and get used to UMW after realizing they cant get out.

2nd Year Female -- Class 2018

Innovation: C-, Useful Schoolwork: F