I've heard their campuses are packed. So why bother with the tv ads? when I matriculated at that fine institution I don't recall any kind of advertising. Maybe the occasional local newspaper ad. They create some Public Relations department and they got a budget and if they don't spend their budget it gets cut?
I'd think using the money instead for grants to students would be a better use of the money.

Many people view NVCC as a school for rejects or lower performers. While that is true to a certain degree, NVCC has been trying to change that image to one of a financially responsible decision and almost the same education you would get at a 4 year school initially. While NVCC has never had trouble filling up, these commercials are aimed at attracting the better high school students who can do well there and transfer to any VA school, and attracting the older more experienced professional.

@Recruiting - what's REALLY funny is that you get the exact same education at NoVA that you would at any area University. Cause a LOT of professors at G'town, Mason, American, GDub, etc - they all moonlight at NoVA as well for extra cash. I tell everyone I can to save their dough and get the Associates at NoVA and then move on to another school. its save LOTSA $$$$$$$ in the end.........

Agreed. NOVA doesn't give you that college feeling atmosphere, but the classes are relatively the same. If money is an issue, NOVA should be a strong consideration.

To further that point, if someone doesn't do hot in high school and starts applying themselves at NOVA they can go to the big schools. I had a friend who had a 2.6 in HS, worked real hard at NOVA and wound up at UVA doing well for himself.

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @Recruiting - what's REALLY funny is that you get
> the exact same education at NoVA that you would at
> any area University. Cause a LOT of professors at
> G'town, Mason, American, GDub, etc - they all
> moonlight at NoVA as well for extra cash. I tell
> everyone I can to save their dough and get the
> Associates at NoVA and then move on to another
> school. its save LOTSA $$$$$$$ in the
> end.........


Screw that, the four year experience is what you are after if you want the well rounded college experience. If you are so poor that you cannot afford the 70 grand to go to school then I guess you have to settle for two years of community college with the great unwashed. We are lucky to have decent four year schools in Virginia that are super affordable and you should take atvantage of it. Kids that transfer in as juniors never quite fit in and they often miss out on lifelong friendships that most kids strike up in their freshman year.

I probably owe my life to Northern Virginia Community College!

I managed to avoid 'Nam for a couple years in the hallowed halls of NOVA. It was cheap and minimal effort was required to maintain one's student deferment. Still remember those Friday night happy hours in the student union. 25 cents for a draft beer!!

When the lottery started, I drew a very high number so I parted ways with my beloved NOVA, but she will always have a special place in my heart.

jmu dad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Screw that, the four year experience is what you
> are after if you want the well rounded college
> experience.

"The well rounded college experience" often includes a whole lot of drinking and partying. Not everyone wants that experience, and not everyone should have that experience, especially anyone with a history of substance abuse.

> If you are so poor that you cannot
> afford the 70 grand to go to school then I guess
> you have to settle for two years of community
> college with the great unwashed. We are lucky to
> have decent four year schools in Virginia that are
> super affordable and you should take atvantage of
> it.

Well, 70 grand may be chump change to you, but it's not to a whole lot of people. Especially kids who are stuck with that bill after college. While there are four year schools in Virginia that are affordable, there is nothing more affordable than NVCC - not even close - especially if you can live at home and avoid dorm costs. Some people happily "settle" for NVCC because it's a great deal and - if you know what you're doing - a solid education.

> Kids that transfer in as juniors never quite
> fit in and they often miss out on lifelong
> friendships that most kids strike up in their
> freshman year.

Yes, that can be a tradeoff. But if you're the sort of person who is likely to strike up lifelong friendships, you can do so at any point in the academic experience.

Frankly, jmu dad, you sound like a real tool. And frankly, it's not like you went to Harvard.

Jmu dad is just pissed that his brat kid made him shell out all of that extra cash for 4 yrs of crap. My kid saved us money for 2 yrs at nova then transferred to UVA. Which happens to be a better school than Jmu. Basic math shows that my kid is not only less of a brat than the jmu dad's kid, but my kid is smarter too. And I'm a happier dad than he is! Hahaha!

Because the State gives them an advertising budget. They then feel compelled to spend said money in order to get another advertising budget.

@advert - .............hmmmmmm...................well, I cant argue that LoLz
@UVA and Pompous - you guys are dead right on. Jmu has not a clue about modern college life prolly still thinks campuses are like they were back in 1805.........
@JMU - trust me, yo - the new kids come in and make friends in 300/400 level classes JUST AS EASY as someone who's been there a cpl years ...........

advert said, "Because the State gives them an advertising budget. They then feel compelled to spend said money in order to get another advertising budget"


thanks. I think NVCC is a good way not to spend tons of money for a decent education and then get accepted at a state university but I still question the waste of money imo on advertising when the campuses are packed. I guess i can see how some numbnuts theory of trying to improve the quality of students but that's not really what I thought was the goal of community colleges. so I think the advert money should go to something more useful.

At northern virginia community college, you can get the power, you can get the knowledge
KNOWLEDGE NOW
when you know nova, you know high tech with a personal touch
that's the attention that always means so much
today's dreams, tomorrow's realities
nova knowledge now!

If you get your Associates while maintaining a certain GPA at NOVA, you are automatically accepted at GMU to finish out your four year degree. Plus, many of the classes you'll take to get your Associates at NOVA transfer to GMU so you won't have to take them again.

Anyone who says it's more advantageous to take these general courses at a "real" college has more money than sense.

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

Not only does GMU have a transfer agreement with NVCC, so do most schools in the state - even some out of state. My son has several friends who graduated from NVCC and transferred to UVA (of course, you have to have a good GPA). They'll have a UVA degree at half the cost. Can't beat that.

@Mephisto Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They'll have a UVA degree at half the cost. Can't beat that.

Exactly. Sure, you don't get the dorm life or the Full College Experience by going to NOVA, but you also don't end up with almost a hundred grand in student loans to pay off.

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

At Northern Virginia Community College,
You can get the knowledge, you can get the power!
Knowledge Now!
We teach with a personal touch, that's the attention that always means so much
Today's dreams, tomorrow's realities
NOVA knowledge now!


I still remember this from 7-8 years ago. That's why you bother to run tv commercials.

To Pompous Ass Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jmu dad Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Screw that, the four year experience is what
> you
> > are after if you want the well rounded college
> > experience.
>
> "The well rounded college experience" often
> includes a whole lot of drinking and partying. Not
> everyone wants that experience, and not everyone
> should have that experience, especially anyone
> with a history of substance abuse.
>
> > If you are so poor that you cannot
> > afford the 70 grand to go to school then I
> guess
> > you have to settle for two years of community
> > college with the great unwashed. We are lucky
> to
> > have decent four year schools in Virginia that
> are
> > super affordable and you should take atvantage
> of
> > it.
>
> Well, 70 grand may be chump change to you, but
> it's not to a whole lot of people. Especially kids
> who are stuck with that bill after college. While
> there are four year schools in Virginia that are
> affordable, there is nothing more affordable than
> NVCC - not even close - especially if you can live
> at home and avoid dorm costs. Some people happily
> "settle" for NVCC because it's a great deal and -
> if you know what you're doing - a solid
> education.
>
> > Kids that transfer in as juniors never quite
> > fit in and they often miss out on lifelong
> > friendships that most kids strike up in their
> > freshman year.
>
> Yes, that can be a tradeoff. But if you're the
> sort of person who is likely to strike up lifelong
> friendships, you can do so at any point in the
> academic experience.
>
> Frankly, jmu dad, you sound like a real tool. And
> frankly, it's not like you went to Harvard.


I did not mean to be a prick, sorry. I only had to send two kids to school and my wife saved all her takehome pay for like 8 years to pay for it all. I was just trying to say that college costs in Virginia are so low it just seems wrong to make your kid go to NVCC for two years. If I had 4 or 5 kids I guess I might feel differently. Hell, I went to Longwood and barely graduated after 5 years but loved every minute of it and yes my dad paid for it all.

It's funny that I came across this thread. I actually saw an nvcc commercial earlier today claiming that you aren't "settling" for nvcc when you go there, it's actually top notch and can earn you "dozens of job offers before you graduate".

"NOVA is committed to student success by intending to triple the number of credentialed students by 2021."

So says many job postings https://nvcc.peopleadmin.com/postings/18016

jmu dad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gordon Blvd Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > @Recruiting - what's REALLY funny is that you
> get
> > the exact same education at NoVA that you would
> at
> > any area University. Cause a LOT of professors
> at
> > G'town, Mason, American, GDub, etc - they all
> > moonlight at NoVA as well for extra cash. I
> tell
> > everyone I can to save their dough and get the
> > Associates at NoVA and then move on to another
> > school. its save LOTSA $$$$$$$ in the
> > end.........
>
>
> Screw that, the four year experience is what you
> are after if you want the well rounded college
> experience. If you are so poor that you cannot
> afford the 70 grand to go to school then I guess
> you have to settle for two years of community
> college with the great unwashed. We are lucky to
> have decent four year schools in Virginia that are
> super affordable and you should take atvantage of
> it. Kids that transfer in as juniors never quite
> fit in and they often miss out on lifelong
> friendships that most kids strike up in their
> freshman year.

JMU=Just Missed Uva