Marymount University
Arlington, VA, USA

Reviews

Marymount University

Tynisha from Lorton, VA

a current student here
23 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
At Marymount University, you will learn a lot, not only the needed necessities for your intended majors, but just all around information that is vitally important. Right now i am a freshman in the 2009/ 2010 school year, and I am a Fashion Design major, minoring in business. My drawing and technical skills, before starting my drawing classes were horrible and at the end of the first semester i was able to draw wonderful still life's, and my portrait with my face on it, which is really difficult if you ask anyone else. Marymount is also known for Fashion, so its a wonderful school to attend if that is where your heart lies. We also have a really big Medical program, which is important because the campus population is really small, but you will learn above and beyond your expectations, because i surely did.
Am enjoying being here
I do enjoy being at Marymount, its a metro ride away from being in the Washington, D.C and many other wonderful sights in the area. i thought because Marymount was a private school, it was going to be tremendously strict and the population was to small for me. Marymount fooled me again, unfortunately. the class sizes are perfect to the point, where your professors recognize who you are, and how you've been acting in that class. For the school to be small in population, its a very diverse school, which i love also, back to the learning factor. You not only learn about your major/minor, but about yourself and other cultures as well. The students/staff, is very welcoming also, I've know a lot of people who come to Marymount with mean attitude, and by the end of the semester has a totally different attitude, and they have changed tremendously. There are lots of places in the Metropolitan area to have your fun, but also get your work done. Because at Marymount we make successful careers!
Bang for the buck
Marymount is a pretty expensive school. But for the amount of accessible networking opportunities, the teaching experiences, and also the available internships provided at the school is more than enough to think twice. especially if you are serious about your future and how it may turnout.
Tips for prospective students
Come into school with a business mindset, because either way you are going to have your fun. And if you come to school because you want to get away from home, think twice. A good percent of students who do go to college for the purpose, sets them on Academic probation, or even expelled. Then you will be very upset because you ended up back at home.
Second tip, do not try to befriend everyone, because no matter how cool they might seem, everyone is not for you. Many of your friends will turn there backs and start to change fast, either in a good way or a bad way. Choose wisely who you want to surround yourself around.
Third tip, Network, network, network ! Learn how to have a elevator conversation, which means, when you are around someone you don't know:
-greet them
- tell them who you are
- tell them why you are here
- What you want to get out of this experience
and maybe they will know someone to help you get there, or they might help you themselves.
Lastly, write out goals that you want to accomplish each semester, and yearly big goals that you want to accomplish, for example semester: get all A's Yearly: Complete a full (20 piece) line of garments. And if you do not succeed, do NOT shoot yourself down but gain motivation to complete them and then the new ones your going to have. but reflect back to why you did not complete the goals.
Great for these types of students
I really recommend Fashion, Medical, and Bussiness interested students. The school is well known for those studies. But i encourage many students to look into this school.

Britnee from Annandale, VA

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
A small private school in the midst of big changes in the upcoming years. Good community within the school that reaches out and makes use of the surrounding community as well. Teachers and advisers on the whole are very supportive and will do what they can to help you.
Tips for prospective students
No sororities or fraternities, if you are expecting a party school, don't, that scene is mostly in DC in the clubs. Generally the campus is quiet and peaceful which is nice. MU offers various scholarships and grants that make going here a pretty reasonable price. I work and live off campus and pay for college myself, but MU offers on-campus employment as well.
Academic Rigor
I am part of the Honors program at MU and take both normal and honors college courses, as well as an online course. Some classes definately require more work than others, but teachers are really good about making sure you get the help you need to succeed.
Dorm Life
I do not live on campus but have plenty of friends who do so I have a pretty good idea of what it is like, the size is comparable to other colleges, but you do have the option of getting a room to yourself for a higher price. Currently, the girls' dorms are being redone, with the next few years the boys' dorm halls will be tore down and completely rebuilt. However, there is a co-ed dorm that is only about a year old and is very nice. Noise during the day is pretty loud, and at night as well, but if you need quiet, students are generally pretty respectful of requests.
Food and Dining
MU has 3 main places to eat, and one more at another campus, all owned and operated by MU, the food is pretty good and they try to give healthy options as well. However, if you want different food, then you have to take the free shuttle to the Ballston mall and Ballston-MU Metro stop (about a 10min drive).
What to do for fun
There are a lot of activities always going on at MU, the student community is really active in making sure of that. there are festivals and fairs, activity clubs, sports events, movies, and DC is a shuttle ride and metro stop away.
Bang for the buck
MU is expensive, particularly if your parents aren't helping pay for it, but they have many financial aid options that help to reduce the cost. However, there are some perks that come with it, MU has 3 campuses that you can take classes at, Main (Arlington), Balston (most of the business classes are here, about a 7 minute shuttle ride), and Reston (about 20 min away, interior design classes, and health and nursing classes are here sometimes). There are shuttles run every 15, 20, and 30 minutes depending on where you are going and if you take an Express shuttle. The shuttle also stops at MU's graduate apartment buliding complex and the Ballston-MU metro stop. All of the shuttles are free to students and faculty. Also, if you are 18 (normal age is 21) and have a valid license you can rent a car through Hertz.
Great for these types of students
Great for students looking for a small community, access to DC, a private school education, small class sizes. People of all shapes, sizes, religions, and interests all go to MU.
Clubs and Activities
MU has an unimaginable number of clubs and activities for students to get involved in, and if you cant find it, it is super easy to start and establish one.
Greek Life
None. There are maybe one or two small chapters, but no one is really joins, and there are no houses, MU is not really a fan of Greek life.
Campus Safety
Campus safety is so nice and friendly, they really look out for students, if you just feel uneasy walking to your car at night because it freaks you out, they will walk you there or to your dorm or whatever, even if you park 12 blocks away because you haven't bought a parking pass yet.

Erika from South Euclid, OH

a current student here
6 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Marymount is a school centered around community,with its small class sizes and many clubs and on-campus activities there is always something to do and someone to hang out with. There are many ways to get involved around campus and take advantage of the many opportunities that Marymount has to offer. Everyone at this school is very friendly, and the professors are always willing to help.
Tips for prospective students
1. Get involved on-campus, whether in a big or small way. The campus is very small and close-knit, so getting involved in just one activity will open your eyes and your opportunities up to endless possibilities.
2. Take advantage of the LRC (Learning Resource Center), this is a great place for tutoring or taking tests at an earlier or later date than posted by your professor.
3. Never be scared to talk to your professors (either face to face or through an email), they are always willing to help and work with you if you are behind on an assignment or simply need help with the material.
Academic Rigor
The academic rigor at Marymount is not terribly difficult, if you work cooperatively with your professors and always attend class and turn in assignments, you will get excellent grades. You must be willing to put in the work to get good grades at this school.
Dorm Life
Living on campus provides you the opportunity to meet many new people from areas of the world and even the country that you have never been to. Dorm life is unique because the RA's always plan socials and there is always something to do. Living in the dorms is like living in a small interconnected community where everyone knows each other.
Food and Dining
The food and dining opportunities at Marymount are endless, there is Lola's, the main Gerard Dining Hall, Bernie's and even Ballston Campus dining. No matter what you are in the mood food, there is always a place to go and something for you. Marymount provides a look into the cuisine of many different areas, and spices up their menu on a daily basis; asking the students what they like and dislike.
What to do for fun
There is so much to do for fun! Washington D.C. is only a metro ride away and there are many things to do in the NOVA area as well. This includes going to the Arlington National Cemetery, Pentagon City Mall and Pentagon Memorial. Fun is only footsteps away on the campus of Marymount, there are even shuttles that transport you to and from the Ballston metro stop. If you prefer to stay on campus, there is always something going on as well.
Bang for the buck
Marymount provides a lovely campus, high quality education and great meal plan and rooming opportunities while still keeping the prices affordable. They give out many scholarships as well.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Marymount is home to an on-campus cemetery and the famous Washington Golf Course is only steps away. Marymount has activities such as Springfest and Dancing with the MU Stars.
Great for these types of students
Great for students who like to feel that they are part of a community and get involved. Also great for those that want small class sizes and hands-on experience.
Clubs and Activities
Marymount has a club/organization for nearly everyone. And if there isn't a club you're interested in? Make your own club!
Greek Life
No Greek Life on campus, however, there are sorority/ fraternity opportunities in the DMV area.
Campus Safety
Campus Safety is located at the Front gate and also the back entrance through the parking garage. They provide email and text alerts when anything is happening on campus and are always surveying the area.

Atiya from Arlington , VA

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Marymount is a small University with great professors and people who are genuine and kind-hearted and make you feel like you belong. Everyone wants to help everyone else succeed. Marymount prepares us for the future, which is important because everyone believes we will be great one day.
Tips for prospective students
Work hard in high school because grades always count. College is going to be harder but also very much more rewarding in the long run. Don't ever think you can't get into any college because you can. If money is an issue, there are so many scholarships and grants out there and there are so many people who want to help you succeed. Don't ever give up on your dreams because they are achievable and here at Marymount, everyone is rooting for you.
Academic Rigor
Here, we are expected to work hard to earn the best we can. The work can be overwhelming but it is most definitely rewarding. Professors and tutors are available at any time because everyone wants to see you succeed.
Dorm Life
With new buildings being built, Marymount is great. Everyone gets along and you really feel like you belong.
Food and Dining
There is all kinds of food on campus and even more all around campus--just a bus ride away.
What to do for fun
Marymount is right next to Washington, DC--it is literally just a bus/train ride away and that's what makes it so great. In DC, there is always something to do--go to a museum, go to music festivals, go sightseeing. But also, on campus, there is always lots to do--throw a frisbee around on the lawn, fallfest, springfest, midnight madness.
Bang for the buck
It is a bit expensive but there are scholarships and grants available to everyone. It is worth it in the long run. Everyone here wants to make Marymount affordable and fun for the students.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There is a rain garden behind the library that cleans rain water and recycles the water to grow wonderful plants.
Great for these types of students
Students who want to succeed belong here. Students who want to work hard to get somewhere in the long run belong here. Hardworkers belong here at Marymount. Students who want to balance work and college and fun belong here.
Clubs and Activities
There is definitely something for everyone here: psychology club, international club, gaming club, science club, etc. There are always activities on campus that are lots of fun and are enjoyable to go to.
Greek Life
There is no Greek Life here.
Campus Safety
There is always someone around if you need any help. There are security guards around and a lot of safety posters and everyone is always taken care of.

Grace from Oakton, VA

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Marymount has a huge variety of courses you can take. I am personally an Interior Design student and love the classes I am in! All the professors are so helpful!
Am enjoying being here
Marymount has a great environment. This area is a great place for commuters and people who want to live here. The main campus offers a free shuttle to the Ballston campus/metro so you can hop on and get anywhere you need to go!
Bang for the buck
Marymount is little expensive, but its totally worth it!
Tips for prospective students
If you want to come, live on campus!! It is the best time of my life, you'd love it here!
Great for these types of students
Everyone!

Anonymous from Washington, DC

accepted here and planning to attend soon
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
It's a beautiful campus and the size is just perfect to feel big, but not intimidating. Every faculty member and student has been nothing less than fantastic and very outgoing. Before moving in, I already feel like I'm a part of the community.
Tips for prospective students
I suggest going to see the campus on Senior Day; that's when I made up my mind to apply. The school's constantly evolving to form a better Marymount University.
Academic Rigor
I've only attended mock classes during orientation so far, but it was great and very interactive with the professor and my classmates. I made friends in class without breaking any rules because we were encouraged to talk with each other! And the course list is neverending so you can always be academicall challenged.
Dorm Life
Due to renovations, I have yet to see the dorm that I'll be staying in, but the overnight orientation in a different dorm was nice. The building was located close to every other building on campus. It'd be near impossible to get lost.
Food and Dining
Marymount University supplies students with amazing cooks and chefs in all of its dining halls. There are even different types of dining, from restaurant style with a menu and specials to buffet style.
What to do for fun
There are many, many clubs for students to join and you can always find orgagnized activities around campus. However, if you feel like exploring, Marymount is only a short shuttle + Metro ride away to Washington D.C! The possibilities are endless and the shuttle runs every fifteen minutues.
Bang for the buck
I suppose it can be expensive, depending on one's point of view, but there are tons of scholarship opportunities, student employment, work study, and internship opportunities. If you work hard, you can make things work and Marymount is worth it.
Great for these types of students
Marymount's great for all types of students. It's great to have a school diverse in types of students. If you procrastinate, you might meet someone who spends all their time in the library. The two of you could rub off on each other and create two students with perfectly balanced lives.
Clubs and Activities
There are tons of clubs! Check them out. As an incoming freshman, I have exploring left to do, but so far, I'm satisfied.
Greek Life
I haven't seen any here, and I'm okay with that. Marymount feels like a community for everyone to join without excluding anyone. There is a small prescence of Greek chapters, but no dorms for them.
Campus Safety
I met an officer at orientation and he actually offered his personal contact information. Campus Safety truly cares about every student, on and off duty.

Katie from Fairfax, VA

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
I absolutely love my Marymount experience. I've been able to go abroad twice (once to study PTSD in Chimpanzees in Kenya and once to the University of Oxford in England), study my major of Psychology, become a student researcher, lead groups like Student Government and MU Ambassadors, and I am currently interning with Alexandria as a Learn and Play representative! We have so many opportunities that it truly is hard to get bored!
Tips for prospective students
Try your hardest at Marymount; you will be rewarded. Also, get to know your professors! They really do care so much and they just want to help!
Academic Rigor
I'm in the honor's program, so I've been so lucky to be able to study and learn so many interesting things. I love our small class sizes and it truly makes it so easy to get to know your professors while also getting to know the other students.
We also have the consortium, which gives you access to the other DC schools and their classes, for Marymount credit!
Dorm Life
Our residence halls are constantly being updated and redone, so they just keep getting better and better. We have something for everyone, including communal style, suite-style, and apartment-style living on campus. We also have special programs for Freshmen students, known as Freshmen Interest Groups (or FIG's), which help to group students together based on like interests, such as fashion, a willingness to discover DC, or music.
Food and Dining
The Dining Hall changes for every single meal and we also have Lola's (which is like Panera on campus) and Bernie's (which is like Texas Road House mixed with Buffalo Wild Wings). So, the food is great!
We also have dining options for almost every allergy, including nuts, gluten and soy and can accommodate vegan and vegetarian.
What to do for fun
We're right by DC, so you have the opportunity to go into the city for a fun time at the 9:30 club for concerts, or free ones out at the mall. But, we're also by Ballston, Clarendon, and Georgetown.
There are also clubs, games for our 17 sports, and events on campus, which go on at least a couple of nights a week!
Personally, I really like going to the bigger events like Saintsfest, Homecoming, Halloweenfest, and Midnight Madness, but there is always something happening! (:
Bang for the buck
We have a lot of scholarships to help students with financial aid and our financial aid office is always willing to sit down and chat.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
We do Halloweenfest every year on campus, which welcomes kids in low income areas of Arlington to come and trick or treat in a safe and caring environment. We all dress up and we decorate every residence hall, student space, and even the campus grounds to give them a good time! It really is one of my favorite parts of the year.
Great for these types of students
Marymount is great for students who want a smaller school with higher levels of personalized attention who also want to really get to know their professors.
Clubs and Activities
We have over 40 clubs and it's so easy to start your own if you want to! We also have a lot of campus organizations that are always looking for more student leaders!
Greek Life
We don't have greek life, but we do have a relationship with community based ones.
Campus Safety
They're absolutely wonderful. They will walk you to your car, go-cart you around if you break something, and even take the time to make sure that you know where you're going if you get lost on your first day.
The campus is so safe that I can honestly say that I can walk around at 2am and feel completely fine. We're located in Arlington, VA so it's a safe area and we're right beside the Washington Golf and Country Club, so it's also a good neighborhood.

chace from mukwonago, wi

researching this school
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
a small school just outside of washington, d.c.
Tips for prospective students
be prepared for a small school environment as this is the best feature of marymount
Dorm Life
average dorms, nothing very special to offer
Food and Dining
amazing food options

Samuel from Alexandria, VA

researching this school
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
with the nations capitalbeing nearby the school enviroment will be reliavle because of the information and the history surrounding the area.
Will enjoy being here
I have family that come here with that added support the sky is the limit.
Bang for the buck
hmm depends on the scholarship package.
Tips for prospective students
just work hard Marymount will understand if they noticed you put effort into the class.
Great for these types of students
self determined students

Elizabeth

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
This school is located just minutes form Washington D.C. There are many opportunities for leadership and service within a very diverse community. Marymount inspires the students to become active in the community, to be lifelong learners and leaders who desire to serve and become citizens of the world.
Tips for prospective students
Visit the campus and see what it has to offer for your personal growth as well as academic career. Make sure it is a good fit for you.

If your are an athlete, inquire about the posibilities of playing your sport.

Talk with current students about their experiences at Marymount.
Academic Rigor
The class sizes are samll which is an advantage for the students. You are able to become involved in the class and are known by name verses a number. The smaller class size makes it easier to ask questions and not feel intimidated by being in a lareg lecture hall full of students.
Dorm Life
All freshman must live in gender specific dormitories. The dorms are clean and welcoming. The RAs make the freshman feel at home.
Food and Dining
I find that there is a large variety of food choices. Due to the large international student population, it is great to try different cuisines. The only issue that I have as a student athlete is that I usually have daily practice during dinner hours. When I get out of practice at 7:30 - 8:00 pm, the cafe is closed.
What to do for fun
I ride the metro into DC with my friends and teammates. There are so many attractions and sites to visit. There are also great places to eat and shop.
Bang for the buck
As Marymount is a private school, the tuition can be pretty expensive. The large amount of accessible networking opportunities, the teaching experiences, and also the available internships provided at the school makes it well worth the investment for your future.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
As I have just finished my first semester of my freshman, I am sure that there is a lot to learn and ways to become more involved in at MU. One of the things that I thought was neat is that all the dorms and buildings were decorated for Halloween. The resident students donated candy along wiht MU. Underprivileged childeren came to the campus to go trick or treating. If they didn't have costumes, the school provided costumes for the children. The kids were so adorable and excited. It really touched me to feel the energy on campus.
Great for these types of students
There is something for everytype of student on Campus. The only reason you would not find an interest is if you did not want to.
Clubs and Activities
There are social and academic clubs. You are encouraged as an incoming freshman to become involved in activities and clubs.
Greek Life
No Greek life.
Campus Safety
The security is the best! There is never a feeling of bing scared or feeling like you are in harms way. The President's daughter came to camp last summer and Washington Officials use campus facilities daily.