Mary Washington College: Narrative Description

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MARY WASHINGTON COLLEGE D-13

1301 College Ave.
Fredericksburg, VA 22401-5358
Tel: (540)654-1000; 800-468-5614; Admissions: (540)654-2000; Fax: (540)654-1073; E-mail: [email protected]; Web Site: http://www.mwc.edu/

Description: State-supported, comprehensive, coed. Awards bachelor's and master's degrees. Founded 1908. Setting: 176-acre small town campus with easy access to Richmond and Washington, DC. Endowment: $25.3 million. Research spending 2002-03: $279,049. Educational spending 2002-03: $4595 per student. Total enrollment: 4,792. Faculty: 331 (206 full-time, 125 part-time). Student-undergrad faculty ratio is 17:1. 4,472 applied, 60% were admitted. 50% from top 10% of their high school class, 88% from top quarter, 99% from top half. 1 National Merit Scholar, 150 class presidents, 7 valedictorians, 350 student government officers. Full-time: 3,573 students, 67% women, 33% men. Part-time: 647 students, 66% women, 34% men. Students come from 44 states and territories, 15 other countries, 35% from out-of-state, 0.4% Native American, 3% Hispanic, 4% black, 5% Asian American or Pacific Islander, 0.5% international, 11% 25 or older, 70% live on campus, 4% transferred in. Retention: 85% of 2003 full-time freshmen returned. Academic areas with the most degrees conferred: social sciences and history; business/marketing; English. Core. Calendar: semesters. Services for LD students, advanced placement, accelerated degree program, self-designed majors, independent study, double major, summer session for credit, part-time degree program, adult/continuing education programs, co-op programs and internships, graduate courses open to undergrads. Study abroad program.

Entrance Requirements: Options: Peterson's Universal Application, Common Application, electronic application, deferred admission, international baccalaureate accepted. Required: essay, high school transcript, SAT I or ACT. Recommended: SAT II: Subject Tests. Entrance: very difficult. Application deadline: 2/1. Notification: 4/1. Preference given to state residents.

Costs Per Year: Application fee: $35. State resident tuition: $2344 Full-time, $164 per semester hour part-time. Nonresident tuition: $10,092 full-time, $486 per semester hour part-time. Mandatory fees: $2080 Full-time. Part-time tuition varies according to course load. College room and board: $5478. College room only: $3160. Room and board charges vary according to board plan and housing facility.

Collegiate Environment: Orientation program. Drama-theater group, choral group, student-run newspaper, radio station. Social organizations: 96 open to all. Most popular organizations: Community Outreach, debate team, Washington Guides, Trek Club, entertainment committee. Major annual events: Fall Homecoming, Junior Ring Week, Multicultural International Festival. Student services: health clinic, personal-psychological counseling, women's center. Campus security: 24-hour emergency response devices and patrols, student patrols, late night transport-escort service, controlled dormitory access, self-defense and safety classes. 2,500 college housing spaces available; all were occupied in 2002-03. Freshmen guaranteed college housing. Options: coed, men-only, women-only housing available. Simpson Library with 355,478 books, 559,809 microform titles, 2,419 serials, 1,079 audiovisual materials, an OPAC, and a Web page. Operations spending 2002-03: $1.9 million. 244 computers available on campus for general student use. A campuswide network can be accessed from student residence rooms and from off campus. Staffed computer lab on campus.

Community Environment: Fredericksburg is located an hour south of Washington, DC and an hour north of Richmond, in one of the fastest growing regions in the state. One of the most historic cities in the country, Fredericksburg was the childhood home of George Washington and was the site of several major battles of the Civil War. Today the surrounding metropolitan population reaches upwards of 150,000 people yet still maintains the charm of a small town. The 40-block Historic District is located within easy walking distance of the campus and includes fine shopping, restaurants, movie theaters as well as historic attractions. Located on I-95, Fredericksburg offers access to both Washington and Richmond by Amtrak, various bus lines, and transportation service to National Airport in Washington and Richmond International. Fredericksburg is on the regularly scheduled commuter rail to Washington.

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