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.