Glorified community college trying to make strides in the competitive academic market that serves DC. Solid law and policy programs that are trying to elbow into more local and established schools (Georgetown, Maryland) The cost versus available programs is the real plus- there is value for the dollar here. Another plus is the proximity to the cultural opportunities of DC. The biggest minus is the inablity of the campus and leaders of the school to accept a certain reality- GMU is a commuter-school meant to help the careers of DC natives and less for the traditional 18-23 year-olds. . .but the young pups resent this reality. The result is a crunched campus that's so culturally and demographically splintered it has no real identity outside of being a non-traditional school with benefits. GMU has come a long way since its inception and it's competing against more established schools- but it would save itself grief and effort if it was more forthright about its paying customers and academic mission. And Fairfax (Va.) isn't anything close to a college town or environment.
