The University of Mary Washington

SOCIAL LIFE?
When you first get to UMW, you might be negative toward the social scene because of the school's diminutive size. But just get out there, and join a team or club, and all those worries will soon evaporate. And because the school is actually really small, you meet people quickly and you start to see familiar faces all over campus.

But to help this process move a little faster, I really, really suggest either joining a club, a team, or getting to know people within your major, (you're likely to have a lot of classes together).Just try and stay positive and be weary of stupid Freshman who try and be cliquey and exclude others. At a school as small as this, being openminded is key.

1st Year Male -- Class 2013

Faculty Accessibility: A+, Social Life: B-

I'll be honest; I am in the process of transferring out of this place so that influences my views. The school is good for some and bad for others. The academics are good, but incredibly limited in variety and availability. Some programs here are good, particularly history, historic preservation, and English to name a few departments. The courses, however, quickly fill up and there is not a lot of variety in what is offered in individual departments. While the academics are good if you are looking for a liberal arts education, I would not recommend this school to pursue other academic endeavors-namely research and internships.

If you want a school that encourages undergraduate research or you are an academically ambitious individual, do not come to Mary Washington. The school fails to foster such endeavors and undergraduate research projects are extremely hard to get and in some cases non-existent. Internships are also difficult to get. While the school prides itself on the "hands-on, open approach to teaching," I have found academic advising to be woefully lacking. You pretty much are on your own and get little to no guidance from advisors which makes me wonder whether the school needs to spend money on academic advisors. The school is also lacking in other areas-particularly in social life and extracurriculars.

Don't come here if you are a mega-partier or if you want a balance between work and play. There is hardly any social life on-campus; it consists of house parties that are frequently broken up by the cops. Many times there is nothing to do on or around campus. Additionally, the city of Fredericksburg is incredibly boring so your best bet is to travel to DC which is around an hour away. Extracurriculars are very 'cliquish' so if you are new to the college, you might find it to be similar to your high school where a few set of individuals make it awkward and uncomfortable to get involved. In other words, the extracurriculars could be considered "exclusive" for the select few. Personally, I believe the negatives outweigh the positives of this school which is why I am transferring. Come here if all you want is a liberal arts education and a beautiful campus. Otherwise go elsewhere if you are either academically ambitious, are a mega-partier, or are an open-minded individual.

1st Year Male -- Class 2008

Campus Aesthetics: A, Social Life: D+

University of Mary Washington is a public university located in Fredericksburg, Virginia that boasts a strong Liberal Arts core. The school overall is quite impressive but being that this institution does things differently compared to other Virginia learning institutions may draw some away. Read on to find out why.

(Cost) Easily a top factor in looking at universities. UMW is not horribly expensive at all, in fact, if one were to count out living space (assuming you’re not already living at home in Fredericksburg), the total tuition cost would not even exceed $7,500. A school such as UMW is one of the reasons why Virginia institutions are cheaper in comparison to other states.

(Academics) The very reason why anyone goes to a higher institution of learning. UMW has academically challenging classes which involve a lot of studying and reading, which can be a big problem for hands-on learners however. While one can learn so much from the exceptionally knowledgeable professors, those who lead busy lives are going to have a hard time going to school full time while attempting 12 plus credits worth of classes. A issue some have take is with the fact that UMW fuses the Arts and the Sciences together; at most universities, those attempting a Bachelors of Science at one university may be shocked to learn that foreign language is a REQUIREMENT at this school regardless of one’s major. Even if one transferred from James Madison, while attempting a BS, to UMW and never took foreign language classes in college, that individual is STILL going to have to complete the 200 level of whatever language. UMW is VERY picky with credit transfers as well. Even if it seems that your classes will transfer, one should very much get in contact with an academic advisor to make sure of it. There are people who came from other universities whom have more than a semesters worth of credits taken away so be cautious. Another issue some will take is the fact that UMW does not offer minors. Even though the school is considering allowing minor programs, though no agreement has been reached yet, it should be known that if a minor is desired, another school may be more beneficial. Despite unusual academic expectations, UMW offers strong curriculums.

(Social Life) To be honest, I commute so I cannot say for sure how the social life is at UMW but it seems quite involved. Walking around campus, one can notice a slew of fliers for campus events so it would seem like the social life at UMW is sufficient enough.

(Structure) How one gets their bureaucratic chores done on campus is different from other universities as well. At UMW, the vast majority of academic and financial issues are usually completed by the student alone via the internet. It is also important to note (for commuters at least) parking on campus is quite specific in the sense that ones car has to be in a specific park of the parking garage at specific days of the week (i.e. commuter with red stickers HAVE TO park on the second floor of the parking garage). If one knows how to take care of themselves to a degree, then getting school based chores completed should not be too difficult.

(Surrounding Town) Fredericksburg is a quaint yet small town that is surrounded by current urban growth. The town itself is quite peaceful with a decent bar scene as well as some interesting places to hang out around town (Castilgias, Carl’s, Goolricks, etc). If one is looking for a larger scene, then they are going to be sorely disappointed. There is a mall minutes away from campus as well as a large series of shopping centers, known as Central Park, where there are a ton of stores and restaurants (eateries making up more than half of CP). (Grade is 4 out of 5)

(Overall) Mary Washington is a fine institution that is often not well known in the state of Virginia but small differences to other universities (i.e. George Mason, Virginia Tech, James Madison and UVA) may throw some people off. The best advice given is not to assume this school is like other schools, the best tactic is to visit in person and talk to office administrators. (Grade is 3 out of 5)

4th Year Male -- Class 2010

Scholastic Success: A, Useful Schoolwork: D