James Madison University — Attraction in Harrisonburg

Graduated Spring 2015 with a B.S in Physics + in honors program; here's my review:

The good

Location: The campus is beautiful, situated in the Shenandoah Valley with mountains a 20 minute drive away on either side. There's so much history (battlefields all through the Valley), hiking, some of the best mountain biking trails around and also a ski resort about 20 minutes away. It's easy to see why thousands of DC residents come down on weekends for a vacation. The surrounding area and countryside is definitely 5 stars (my opinion). The weather is also a bit unpredictable; sometimes it'll be sunny and 80 then the next day it'll be snowing. But that kind of makes it fun.

Size: The university is rather large, yet, not too big, just walking to another building between classes I'd see lots of people I knew. Given that it's like 20k students, there's no shortage on clubs and organizations.

Academics/research: On my track, physics, I had a very competitive amount of experience coming out of JMU. I currently have 3 publications connected to JMU. More than most of my colleagues in science.

Food: Yes I had to add this here, JMU prides themselves in having amazing food. I've heard that in some survey's it was #2 in the nation.

The Bad

Note: I wanted to write this review for people who are considering JMU and want to hear a different perspective from the usual good reviews. First of all, I wanted to go to W&M but got waitlisted (it's very hard to get in from my high school). So I went to JMU with an open mind. I tried so, so hard to like it. There were things I enjoyed about it, and I made some great friends. But overall, it wasn't a good fit for me. Most of the students seem less than intellectual; the weather is bad (on average eight degrees colder than northern VA and very windy most of the time); and Harrisonburg itself is unappealing. The students are smart in some ways, but I would say the typical student is good or even great at one subject, but it stops there. It's rare to find someone who is good at both math and English, or art and science (a stark contrast to my high school, where the students excelled at most subjects). I feel like most of the people from my high school class who went to JMU ended up transferring to UVA. Also, I question the competence of many of the faculty and professors. Even a letter from the Honors Program to parents was filled with grammar and punctuation errors. Most of the professors just read from PowerPoint slides. There are a few good ones, but many are mediocre, and some are downright awful and might just try to sabotage your college career! (I'm not exaggerating, but it's too long of a story to explain here.) The lives of most students seem to revolve around either partying, Jesus, or an obsession with the school itself. It's hard to find any relatable people if you don't fit into one of those categories. I got lucky and made a few really great friends, but I would have liked to connect with a lot more people and have more of a network. I felt pretty isolated much of the time, and I've talked to others who felt the same way. Oh, and JMU sucks for girls, because there are about 39% guys, so do not expect to get a boyfriend. And if you do get a boyfriend, he'll probably be an immature and/or unattractive douchebag. (Note to past self: Do. not. date. anyone. at. JMU.) I guess I should also list the things I enjoyed about the school: great food, nice gym, campus is pretty during warmer months. But if you want to have enriching conversations, meet interesting people, and find friends who spend their time doing things other than getting wasted Thursday through Sunday minimum, I recommend...

Certainly! Here's an essay on Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Delhi with over 210 characters:

Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi: A Centre of Excellence

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) is a prestigious central university located in New Delhi, India. Established in 1920, it was founded by nationalist leaders who aimed to create an educational institution that reflected India’s rich cultural heritage and the values of the freedom movement. The university moved to its current location in Delhi in 1925.

Over the years, Jamia has grown into a major center of learning offering programs in arts, sciences, engineering, law, education, and journalism. Its Faculty of Law and AJK Mass Communication Research Centre are highly regarded across the country. JMI also encourages research, innovation, and social responsibility.

The university is known for its diversity, welcoming students from different parts of India and abroad. It promotes secular and inclusive education, making it a symbol of unity in diversity. Recognized by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) as one of the top universities in India, Jamia continues to thrive academically and culturally.

Jamia Millia Islamia remains a beacon of hope, learning, and progress—living up to its motto: “Taught man what he knew not.”

Let me know if you want this in a more informal tone, in Hindi, or for a specific...