CNU Part Deux - Journal Continues

redbeard · 02-08-2006, 08:43 AM

Hi, folks. I'm the parent of a freshman at CNU (during the 2005-06 academic year). I've been writing a journal of my experiences during the past year, mostly to help people trying to decide about CNU.

Background: This is my second son, my third college student, so I've been to this amusement park before. Still, there are always surprises. We're now in the second semester. His first semester went fine, with respectable grades and a continuing favorable impression of CNU. (No, that was not one of the surprises!)

Update: Spoke with son last week. We had to do some tracking. Cell phones do not work in the cinderblock residence halls, so be sure you record your CNU student's room phone number (and put it where you won't lose it!). As an alternative, CNU can look up room phone numbers, and--in an emergency--you can always contact the residence hall manager--whose number is on the web.

Three weeks into the semester, and he's very happy with classes. He really likes his profs this semester. The worst he can say is that one is boring. I think it helped that he focused on a major early, and seems to enjoy the courses he takes in that subject. There's a lot of work, however: reading and projects take up a lot of time.

S is considering joining a fraternity. There are not many of these at CNU, and they are split between on-campus and off-campus frats (S is thinking of an off-campus house). The CNU rules are: live on-campus freshman and sophomore years, but you can live wherever for the final two yrs.

S is now selecting his next-year housing. I guess we'll know soon enough--I'll report on the process. At UVa, where my other son goes, this housing selection process for upperclassmen is much more elaborate and stressful. With its substantial base of top-quality residence halls, CNU can afford to be a bit more laid back.

The new student union, which was due to be open by now, will be delayed. The opening is now scheduled for June. Nobody's surprised. It will, however, be a nice addition to the campus.

In general, we have reached a quiet period, where contact is rare and the academic routine is established. CNU's spring break is rather early (March 4th). It would be nicer if it were later--there is more semester after the break than before.

As always, I would be happy to pose any questions to a real live CNU student from anybody considering this school. Sometimes it's nice to hear from a student without the school administration's 'filter'.

sunny_seas · 02-08-2006, 08:58 AM

Appreciated this post, as CNU is on our short list for my senior son. He is considering the President's Leadership Program and was duly impressed with the campus and dorm rooms. A coupla questions:
1. What is the area like off-campus (social life/activities/etc)?
2. Quality of food services on campus?
3. President's Leadership Program--experiences with that or advice?
4. Overall impressions of CNU vs. UVA (also on the short list).
5. Does the school have a "niche" for those that are, ummmm, pretty far leftwing? Just wondering if the political background of the Pres. filters through the rest of the campus.

tron123 · 02-08-2006, 10:57 AM

ok redbeard already knows this that im transfering and i dont like cnu but ill answer a few of the questions, take what u want from it

1. What is the area like off-campus (social life/activities/etc)?
if you dont have a car on campus, its kind of hard to access any place around campus other than like the grocery store across the street. at the setting sail and all those other things they promote how its so close to the beach and everyone goes there all the time and etc.. if u dont have a car you arent getting there. the bus system is not consistent and i dont even know how much it costs bc ive only seen it on campus once or twice. it is not a CNU bus service and im pretty sure its not free to students.

2. Quality of food services on campus?
food quality is not good. they have 2 dining halls for the basic 19-14 meal plans where the food is not good, and messes your body up aka u will be running to the bathroom after u eat the first couple weeks. the other dining hall is where u can use the meal exchanges it has chick fil a, the "world famous" stone willy's pizza and some deli type place with overpriced food.

to add a few things, the website and brochures always claim everything to be "world class" and etc all that saying its the greatest thing in teh world. the dorms are good but not much else is.

if your son got into uva i dont understand contemplating cnu

JayHova2k5 · 02-08-2006, 12:09 PM

Im a freshman at CNU, im also trying to transfer but i'll try to answer some of your questions.

1. CNU isnt in the middle of nowhere so its not horrible but you need a car to go anywhere worthwhile, there isnt much within walking distance and they dont have bus services like other schools, or atleast I have never seen it before. Social life on weekends is not great, alot of kids go to other colleges on weekends, or take a trip hope. CNU has some performances at the Ferguson Center sometimes but other than that this is what hurts CNU the most.

2. Food is not that great. Its better than high school, but its nowhere near as good as the food i've had at JMU and VT. Im not sure how good other schools' food is but CNU only has two places to eat so it gets old fast. They have special meals on like halloween and christmas that are good but thats about it.

3. Presidents Leadership Program- i heard its ok but i know some people who dont like it as well... it depends on how worthy you think getting a minor in leadership is. You get paid each semester and you do community service but its not like a prestigious program or anything, I think you need like a 3.2 and 1100 to get good consideration. The kids in PLP get to register early for classes which is a plus though.

4. CNU vs UVA... im applying to UVA as a transfer... UVA is one of the top public schools in the country, CNU is rated as like a 4th tier liberal arts school... even without rankings I dont see the comparision. If your son can get into UVA, he would not only qualify for PLP but for honors which only requires a 3.5 and like 1200 on the SATs... which if you can get into UVA your son would have. I honestly would be surprised if even one person at CNU got into UVA and passed it up... CNU's similar schools are like ODU VCU and Mason... most people dont apply and get into the VT's and UVA's from CNU... thas jus a general observation im sure there might be a few exceptions but yeah I doubt it.

5. There are definately more conservatives but politics arent big here, i dont think it matters if your liberal or not.

hopefully i answered all your questions.

tron123 · 02-23-2006, 11:17 PM

sorry if i rained on ur parade and ruined ur thread

JayHova2k5 · 02-24-2006, 11:47 PM

wrong message

tron123 · 03-15-2006, 10:27 PM

50 days left

DramaQueenNlife · 03-20-2006, 06:24 PM

Call me crazy, but I am choosing CNU over both Virginia Tech and JMU.

sunny_seas · 03-20-2006, 06:47 PM

I think everyone should make the choice that is the best for them, and there are MANY factors that go into that choice ~~ so, I applaud you for making the choice you did!!! CNU has advantages over both of the other schools you mentioned, and it really does come down to "fit". I was personally very impressed during our visit, and I was especially impressed with the incredibly welcoming feeling CNU conveys to it's applicants. Good luck to you!!

DramaQueenNlife · 03-20-2006, 08:42 PM

When it comes down to it, I don't want to go to a school and have 500 freshman in my english class. Also, the facilities at CNU are more impressive than at other Virginia schools. With all of the new building that CNU is doing, I definitly see CNU as a school on the rise, and in a couple of years I can see it getting VERY competitive. Also, I am planning on majoring in musical theatre, and while JMU also has a good program, VA Tech, practically has no program at all. I saw South Pacific this past weekend, and it was really top notch. Overall, I think CNU is a great school, and I am looking forward to attending

tron123 · 03-20-2006, 11:49 PM

i wish i had teh choice between cnu vt and jmu
but it sounds like u like it so its all good

tron123 · 03-22-2006, 05:23 PM

the controversy.............
changing of dining services aka people are basically protesting because cnu wants to change dining services and make it comercialized and get rid of current employees.

and
upper classmen not getting on campus housing
supposedly they wait in line to get housing at the lottery and find out they dont have rooms available for them.. screwjob for them

JayHova2k5 · 03-23-2006, 10:50 AM

www.cnuhousingsucks.com yeah its a real link

redbeard · 03-23-2006, 10:19 PM

Okay, so here's the deal, from the website JayHova posted:

"The problem:

* There are 2781 beds on campus
* 1st and 2nd year students are required to live on campus. They are the only students guaranteed housing.
* There are 1140 rooms reserved for incoming freshmen and 926 for returning sophomores. Together they make up the 2066 students guarenteed housing for the 06/07 academic year.
* 2781 beds total minus the 2066 students guaranteed housing gives 715 beds available. 342 of these are reserved through retentions or disability, leaving 373 beds
* There were 732 returning juniors and seniors entered into the lottery.
* 373 is less than 732.
* 359 students are homeless."

First of all, I'm a parent of a freshman, and I don't remember being promised housing for all four years. Few universities do promise this. All across the nation, students have to find apartments.

Reading between the lines, however, I think I know what happened. If there are 1140 freshmen and 926 returning sophomores, then CNU retention rates have shifted radically, nearly overnight.

There are 732 returning juniors and seniors who want to live on campus. Think about that next time you wonder if CNU is just a commuter school or a safety. About half the juniors and seniors want to stay on campus. It can't be that bad.

Clearly, the university administration has been victims of their own success. Better students stay for four years and don't drop out. And, they need a place to stay. The university-owned housing and the local apartment inventory can't support this population right now.

There will be solutions, but they won't be ideal. In the short run, students will have to pay more and live farther away. In the future, more housing will be built.

Perhaps the University should have been more communicative. There are over 300 students who were too far down on the list to make it into housing next year. But, there are still five months to find a place to stay. Get out the phone book and start calling.

If I'm a parent comparing universities, CNU's housing problems don't seem much different than those of other schools. I've had kids in other Virginia schools, and upper-class housing has required careful attention and planning. Welcome to the NFL, CNU.

tron123 · 03-23-2006, 10:56 PM

try giving the dining services problem a positive spin

one of the main problems with housing was that CNU never told the people entering the lottery, they gave them numbers and a bunch of the higher numbers were just told they arent allowed to get housing.. i mean at least tell them before hand that they need to get offcampus housing, not tell them last minute. thats the main problem
"5 months to find housing"
from what ive heard most apartments are filled up now or some other problems

its just the timing of cnu and their awesome time management..