James Madison University Book

College guides written by students for students.

James Madison University Students
Tell It Like It Is
If you are contemplating James Madison University as your choice for an undergraduate education, there is a ton of information you should know. And sure, by calling
(540) JMU-JMU1, you can talk to the admissions office and get all the information they want you to know. But without actually spending a year on campus, you won't get all the information you need. That's where College Prowler comes in.

Here's what students at JMU have to say about:

Classes
"In my experience so far, the teachers have been either very passionate and interesting, or quite boring. Mostly, it's been the former. The general education classes here are pretty tough, in comparison to other schools. JMU seems to be really serious about their education system. The key to finding a good teacher, though, is to ask an upperclassman or an older sibling who is good. Some of the best classes I have taken have been ones that other people told me were awesome."

The Town
"Harrisonburg has a very small-town air to it. It's well populated by a college-age cohort; the town itself still holds an agricultural, conservative character. The closest university would be UVA. There's a lot to do in the 'Burg, especially in the surrounding mountains and forests."

The Walk Home at Night
"Campus itself is very safe. Personally, I've never felt threatened or in danger, but I also try to avoid stupid situations. Don't be that girl who walks home alone at three in the morning; it's just not a good idea anywhere."

The Living Situation
"The newer dorms, Potomac andChesapeake, are really nice, but they're kind of out of the way. I'd say the Village is the best place to live because it's dead in the center of campus. But watch out in the dorms without air-conditioning at the beginning and end of the year!"

Sports
"Unfortunately, the sporting events that most people think to go to are not the ones that JMU excels at. Our football team is terrible, and our basketball team isn't that much better. However, our archery team and water polo teams are very good."

Parties
"If you want to go to bars and clubs, this isn't really the place for that. Harrisonburg itself doesn't really have much of a nightlife, but the students do. Places like Ashby, Foxhills, and other apartments are always having something going on during the weekends and, sometimes, during the week. Most of the time, parties get pretty big, and it's fun to get there and try to guess when the cops will bust the place."

Find out if JMU has something for you, straight from the students' mouths. Visiting campus isn't enough.

Read our James Madison University insider's guide and discover what it feels like to be on campus for 4 years.

Discover if JMU is Right For You.

The Boston Globe

The prospective college student's antidote to the Princeton Review doldrums.