After hearing so many positive comments about Providence College from our clients, I just had to drive the 1.5 hours from Marblehead to see it. I was assigned a private tour guide, Ryan, who showed us academic buildings, several dining areas, the extensive athletic center, and several dorms. I also saw the new Business School building that is opening second semester. There is a very positive vibe about the academics (the two year requires Western Civilizations course is a mainstay to PC academic life) and the sports teams at PC. The day I was there, the soccer team was playing at home for the first round of the NCAA tournament and most students planned to attend. And they all rally around the basketball and hockey teams in the winter, according to Ryan. I ventured out on our own after the tour to visit the Theater building. A student was happy to show me around and she had very positive things to say about the theater arts at Providence. PC is a college where academics, service, and school spirit come together to form a cohesive student body. I really enjoyed the visit!
What’s not to like about Virginia’s flagship university founded and designed by Thomas Jefferson? The Lawn is probably the most beautiful college quad in the country. Instate students are proud to be here, and only the lucky out-of-staters get to join them. With an undergraduate population of 16,000, school spirit is huge and academics are excellent at this state university that feels like a private school. Charlottesville is a medium sized town that supports the university while not being overwhelmed by it. While it was a bit cold as we walked around campus, it WAS January. I hear most of the year is sunny and warm.
School spirit and an incredibly happy student body is my big take away from my visit to JMU, on the IECA Mid-Atlantic College Tour. As the line of tour guides introduced themselves to us, I couldn’t get over their enthusiasm. One called JMU her favorite place on earth! You just can’t fake this kind of stuff! Set in a small town, JMU dominates, with a huge football stadium the first thing you see before coming upon the beautiful quad. Known for their business programs, this state school is also strong in communication, science and education. The tour guide said the food is unbelievably good. (I looked it up – their food service is ranked in the top five in the country.) Another reason to be happy!
On a group tour with IECA in January, we approached the campus in the late afternoon. With the sun reflecting off the colonial buildings, it was a beautiful time to see this gorgeous campus set next to Historic Williamsburg. William and Mary is a proud, historic Virginia state school with top-notch academics and a ton of school spirit. With a student population of 7,700, it is in the sweet spot for many college applicants, definitely a school to check out if you are interested in studying business or liberal arts in a town surrounded by history. One perk to enjoy is the American Revolution re-enactment that takes place every spring.
