StudentsReview :: James Madison University - Extra Detail about the Comment
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James Madison University

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityB Faculty AccessibilityC-
Useful SchoolworkD+ Excess CompetitionD-
Academic SuccessC Creativity/ InnovationC
Individual ValueC University Resource UseC-
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyB+ FriendlinessB-
Campus MaintenanceB Social LifeB
Surrounding CityD- Extra CurricularsB-
SafetyC-
Describes the student body as:
Friendly, Arrogant, Closeminded

Describes the faculty as:
Friendly, Condescending, Self Absorbed

Female
ACT:27
id='quarter' class='snapshot' style='color: #970016; line-height:80px';float:left;
SAT1200
Quite Bright
Lowest Rating
Excess Competition
D-
Highest Rating
Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty
B+
She cares more about Excess Competition than the average student.
Date: Dec 16 2013
Major: Art & Design Department (This Major's Salary over time)
I went to this school expecting to leave—so maybe that was my first problem. Yet, I expected to go to this school to challenge myself, enjoy myself, and then have the CHOICE whether to leave or not the next year. By the end of my first week I filled out my transfer application. This is because JMU felt like high school all over again except I was NOT challenged like I had been at my IB high school, I was not part of a diverse culture like I had been at my high school, other high school, middle schools, elementary schools. In fact, my first high school had 150 people from preschool to high school (albeit it was an international school) was one million percent more diverse than JMU. In my year there I encountered one international student, and that was because he was an athlete and everyone knew him. I was disgusted with how segregated the student body was, to be frank I was in shock how little I interacted with anyone who was non-white. The campus is pretty but it's a trap because other than the frat houses and the apartment complexes Harrisonburg felt dead to me. I encountered people everyday who made me feel ashamed to go to this school, people could not write to save their lives, people never studied, drinking, drugs and sex were everyone's top priority. And, after all of this, residence life was the icing on the cake of incompetence. Whatever you do, never live in Eagle hall, and as soon as you get out of the dorms never look back. They are not helpful, and bureaucracy runs you in circles. I could point out all of the things that were written BY THEM on paper that they promised to do etc and they would shrug and say "sorry, we can't do anything". I also won't go into too much detail, but more than once I felt scared for my life in my dorm and they did little to change the situation until it threatened their reputation. My advisers did little to help me when I chose to go abroad, when I tried to transfer, and even when I had questions about my major; they love to refer you to someone else because they are not well versed in the things their advisees may need and it is more than obvious. You have to research, call, email, find, do and learn everything about this place on your own and people will get in your way about it. I may be the exception to a very enthusiastic student body, but if you want to go to a university that cares about student safety and happiness, and be surrounded by people who are there to learn and get out into the real world, not just drink and go to sorority formals all the time then please, please look elsewhere.
 
Responses
responseThank you for the informative review! I definitely want to attend a place that has a moderately studious or at least calm atmosphere. I am at VCU at the moment and around 80% of the time I see same-color grouping among all kinds of groups and it leaves me perplexed and disgusted. I guess its hard to find a college that really strikes a good balance regarding academics, staff, neighborhood, and students.
responseI never had to deal with the dorm experience, but I am in total agreement with everything else you have said about this school. The Art faculty that I've dealt with have been, at best, unhelpful and dismissive, at worst downright mean and abusive. The town and social atmosphere here reminds me of the "Porky's" movies from the 1980s. If you are into frat parties and loud trucks, and don't really care about your education experience, this is the school for you!
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