The University of Mary Washington

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+

I'll be blunt: I hate this place, and can't wait to transfer somewhere else. It doesn't really have what I want to study (Asian Studies), and the social scene dies down at that critical time--the weekend--with many students going home and returning Sunday night. Fredericksburg definitely isn't a college town, though there is a gargantuan shopping centre a few bus stops away, and a few bands will drift through town on occasion. Civil war/American history buffs, however, will find plenty to grab their attention downtown.

I made the mistake of signing up for the FYE (First Year Experience). Basically, a bunch of freshmen live together in the same dorm and take certain classes together, as well as attend certain seminars on making the transition to college life. It sounded really neat on paper, but the consensus amongst many of us in the program is that we feel isolated from the rest of the Freshmen, stuck in a somewhat run-down little dorm at the far end of campus. It's a bit depressing. Also, many of the seminars end up being inane bore-fests. Maybe if I didn't sign up for FYE, I'd have a better impression of life at Mary Wash....

Personal problems aside, people can get a good education here. The daunting general education requirements will make you quite well-rounded, and there's a lot of focus on honing students' writing and speaking skills. The range of programs offered is pretty limited, but there are a few really, really great ones, especially historic preservation, psychology, and English. You might find exactly what you want here, or it might repulse you like it did me. Just don't sign up for FYE!

1st Year Male -- Class 2007

Perceived Campus Safety: 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