University of Mary Washington Top Questions

If you take the initiative to be involved in class (in discussions, visiting Professors during office hours, etc), the professors will know your names. Some classes are larger (100 or so), and the professors won't know who you are. All professors are available outside of class for help and additional assistance. I think the size of the school is also great because you have the opportunity to be known by your professors without having to do too much work (reminds me of the size of most high school classes I had).

academics are good teachers care, classes are reasonably sized as well, some teachers are entirely too old to still be teaching

Difficult. Some students study daily while other may only do work the night before something is due. Upper level classes are difficult, especially in the science department. There is a low student:teacher ratio that does help, but students should not expect to be able to do well by doing the bare minimum. In upper level classes, class participation is expected and more often then not it becomes a portion of the grade.Teachers always have office hours and if you are having difficulties it is important to seek help with them in order to succeed. Since UMW is a liberal arts school, they do make sure you get the liberal arts education which can often put you in classes that make you feel like a fish out of water. However, it does broaden your horizons and sometimes you find a field that you never saw yourself interested in before.

my favorite class or classes would have to have been west civ 1 and 2. i loved my teachers and the class its self. west 1 i had a new teacher who in his lectures made them like a long story that was sooooo interesting absolutly loved him. and proff hood i had for west 2 and he was just soooooooooo funny. to say the truth i learned nothing in that class i just went to laugh at his hand motions and the way he talked haha and i passed the class with nooo studying hahah. again do not take theatre with Mcclusky it is impossible to pass that class i failed it and it has pretty much ruined my life i hope that man gets fired and never ever comes back. oh and before u register for your classes go on rate your proffesor.com.. i made the mistake of not doing that freshman year.

Small classes, great professors (mostly), and an intellectually stimulating student body. We have some really unique classes (anthro. of food), and some dedicated profs. (one of mine had 15 office hours a week plus by apt.). Requirements just changed, so we'll have to wait and see on that one. I know as a business major I'll be ready and in demand when I enter the work force, esp. if I stay local with UMW's connections in Fredericksburg... Overall it could stand to be more challenging.

Professors are good with knowing who you are as long as you show up to class. Some introductory classes however may be held in lecture halls sitting up to 70 or 80 people. UMW has very serious general education requirements making it true to its liberal arts title. From what I hear from upperclassmen, UMW is a great place to find interships for those seeking a political science, international affairs, or economics degree due to its close proximity to Washington DC. My only academic grievence is the occasional professor who just so happens to be completely cold and uncaring. Some UMW professors are so inflexible that it becomes difficult to get all your assignments in despite how studious and organized you may be.

All my professors knew my name at some point. Of course the ones who became my advisors, or who I continued taking classes with, or who I kept in touch with over my four years there still know my name. It's really difficult to pick just one favorite class. One of the most challenging and most rewarding was my Methods of Art History class with Dr. Och. We had a presentation and paper due every week, along with additional reading to prepare us for class discussions. The class was small and everyone participated in discussion. Professors encourage discussion and particpation and many make participation a significant part of your grade. My least favorite class was Business Communications. I loved the professor and I know I got a lot out of the class, but I despised the semester long project and presentation and impromptu speech. UMW students do have intellectual conversations outside of class and students are competitive. Because I double majored in two very different subject areas, Business Administration and Art History, I experienced two very different departments. The Art History department is much smaller than the Business Administration department and I feel the professors in the Art History department knew me better than the ones in the Business Department. The professors in the Art History department are genuinely interested in the success of students inside the classroom and outside the classroom through jobs and internships. The Business department is as well. Both departments are very helpful in giving recommendation letters and being faculty sponsors for indepentdent studies and internships. The General Education requirements are annoying but I see the point in requiring them so that students are forced to experience the variety of departments. I still haven't decided if UMW is geared toward getting a job or learning for its own sake.

Every single professor that I have had from day one still knows my name. Students probably study on a need to need basis. The best class I have taken was my freshmen seminar, I think every incoming freshmen should take one.

The academics at UMW are the best part about this institution. Almost all of my professors have known me on a first name basis. The professors are really good at developing personal relationships with the students. Students are UMW are very academically orientated and they study a lot. Class participation is very important at UMW, so if you don't like to speak up in discussions then this probably isn't the best school for you. The students are very intellectual and serious about their school work. I am a double major in Sociology and American Studies. The Sociology department always offers very good classes. The American Studies department is amazing. The professors are amazing, the classes are awesome, and people in this department form a special bond. The academic requirements are UMW are extremely rigirous, but it is a liberal arts education so it is suppose to be tough. I have learned more than I ever though I would learn in college. The education at UMW is absolutely geared toward getting a job and learning as much as you possibly can. It is a great education.

The class sizes are amazing. Even the "big" classes (aka the 111 science classes) are only like 35ish people. The other classes, once you get into the higher levels, are great. The professors all know you by name, and everyone is really nice and approachable. Depending on your study methods, you should do OK. I skate by with hardly studying, but that's because I can retain information pretty easily. The gen ed's are a pain, but worth it just because you get a broader scope of knowledge and skills.

Class sizes are generally manageable with the occasional overcrowding issue. For this reason it is a necessity to sign up for classes as soon as they are available, because many core classes and popular electives fill up very quickly. The faculty is, deservedly so, held in very high regard. Many professors are published in their fields, several of whom have won numerous awards. Career placement is not a high priority at Mary Washington, but that said they do have great internship possibilities. The level of requirements is that of any standard public university, though one must make sure not to stray too far from one's chosen major, as it will set one back a semester or more.

the class size at mary wash is pretty small. my largest class probably had about 60 people and my smallest had around 10. once you pick a major, you'll get to know your professors within that field and they are all nice, friendly, and accessible. the courses are all pretty hard, not going to lie. you'll get a good education, but it will not be easy. the school definitely values academics above everything else so be prepared to work. personally, i feel like the education you get at mary wash is just as good as the one you'd get at UVA or william and mary and i believe within the next 10 years, mary wash will have the same reputation as those schools. that being said, getting the classes you want can be kind of challenging. i will still having to force add classes when i was a junior.

The general education requirements are a hassle and usually are what screw people over in the end, whether it be GPA or lack of credits. The classes are not really hard, but some can be challenging

Small classes and professors who are passionate about their subject make the demands of Academic life easier

Students at UMW are primarily focused on their academics. Because UMW is a small school, there are generally small classes. Because of the small class sizes, class participation is not only expected, but required. UMW's academic requirements are better now than they have been in the past. While some may appreciate the broad curriculum of the "liberal arts" education, it can be quite a nuisance to have to fit so many different disciplines into your studies. Further, it creates a "Jack of All Trades, Master of None" situation. I would have rather focused more on my major and taken more classes within it, but I was forced to fulfill a bunch of Gen. Ed. Requirements instead.

In every class I have had, the professor knew all of their student's names (except for one intro class that had about 70 people) and they make a genuine effort to be available to help students out. Since most of my classes are relatively small (less than 20), most people do show up to class because teachers generally use participation to bump grades to a higher level. Overall, I get the sense from my friends that UMW is academically vigorous; however, I, personally, do not feel that is the case. A lot of people go to college not realizing how much effort is needed to succeed. A good thing that UMW has done, though, is they have made Freshmen Seminars a graduation requirement. These seminars are used to help transition students into a higher level of work.

The academics weren't bad. The classes were pretty hard...you have to go to classes to do well and you have to study. It helps if you had friends in you class.The professors were sometimes very friendly and accesible. Most of the time they were not...you have to put in some serious effort to get to know you.

Academics at UMW are decent. I never found it to be particularly hard, but I went to a hardcore academic high school. Class size is pretty small. I had some classes that only had 6 students in them, but I also had some larger lecture classes with 30 or more students. Professors know who you are. Within my major (International Affairs), class participation was a significant part of the grade. I think most students study when they want to or when its necessary. Even though they were revised, our general education requirements are still kind of annoying, but I think they're better than most schools since they now include experiential learning. If you hate studying in your dorm room, there's tons of places to study on campus. Most of the academic buildings have good wireless service as does the library. People actually use the library.

Great class sizes and professors though demanding are there to help you if they see you are making an effort. Students are competitive. I recommend taking the harder teachers b/c although your GPA may take a hit you will learn information and skills that will prove invaluable.

Class sizes are perfect, freshman year my largest class was less than 20 students. Teachers know your name and actually seem to care, office hours are held regularly and e-mail responses are always quick.

The size of classes allows for student-teacher relationships. I do know all of my professors by name, and as you go further into your field, the professors are help with decisions relating to your major. The new curriculum allows for freshman seminars, which really helps with getting adjusted to school. The class sizes are small and are designed for students to ask questions that can help them will their upperclassmen classes. There are many opportunities on campus to help students when they graduate, including job fairs and mock interviews provided by the school.

The business department is absolutely fantastic. They make fun of the english majors a lot, but it is all in good fun.