Deferred from JMU early action?! So confused. Please help!

My name is Abhi and I am a 17 year old Indian male. I’m from Northern Virginia and recently applied to JMU early action. I received my decision yesterday and was absolutely shocked to see I had been deferred. I do not understand why this is as i was very confident that I would be accepted. Many of my friends with the same or lower stats got in and I got deferred. I am so confused. Can someone explain this and also chance me for getting in regular decision? Also, with the updated mid year grade report my WGPA should be a 3.6. The stats I applied with early are as shown below.

GPA weighted: 3.52 (yikes I know)

APs taken:
Sophomore Year:
AP world history

Junior Year:
AP US history
AP Physics 1
AP Psychology
AP Lang

Senior Year (the grades do not show on the early decision application but they see my course selection):
AP Calculus AB
AP Micro/Macro
AP Government
AP Literature

SAT score: 2080
Math: 710
Critical Reading: 640
Writing: 730

Extracurriculars:
JV Track and field, FBLA, Model UN, Debate, DECA, Webmaster of CISA (Indian Student Association), Red Cross, MHS, SHS (Science Honors), SHS (Spanish Honors), President of KAST (kids are Scientists Too), Key club, and probably a few more I can’t remember off of the top of my head.

Additionally, I took four years of spanish. Also, I am a first generation college student as neither of my parents completed college. I also slipped and got a couple of Cs in my High School career, which I am sure will hurt me.

Your GPA is a little low for their average, but Your SAT is definitely high enough. Some of things I might consider:

  • was your essay well written?
  • did you tell them why your gpa was low?
    Other than that there isn’t much they would defer you for. Wait for regular decision admission and then if you still get deferred then try appealing. Hopefully you did apply to other colleges.

@Blue4940 I though all of my stats average out to their accepted range. My essay was also well written enough. Do you think I have a good shot at regular admissions?

I’d say you have a good shot. Try finding out what was wrong with your application so you have a better chance though. Good luck!

@Freaked0ut Grades are typically considered more important than SAT scores, so that may explain why your stats didn’t “average out.” My friend with similar stats but a slightly higher GPA was also deferred; EA is competitive and you normally have to be above average in both grades and scores. I do think you have a solid choice of being admitted regular.

Since you have posted you were deferred at both JMU and Va Tech, I’d suggest you make an appointment with your school guidance counselor to review your applications. Being deferred gives you the opportunity to add information, updates, etc. to your applications, but you need to do that quickly. Did you have a teacher review your essay to confirm its well written? You have a good SAT and your GPA isn’t bad, but your stats are compared to your peers at your school and other schools in Norva - and that area is very competitive. Perhaps many kids from your school applied to JMU and Va Tech early action and they are in the top 10% of your class, where you might be in the top 30%. These are things you need to discuss with you guidance counselor. Make that appointment today!

@vamominvabeach Thank you so much! this was very helpful. The only thing i really have to update is my mud year grade report, in which i have mostly As a couple Bs and a C in math, but overall the performance is better than my previous years. I really hope i have a good shot at tech and JMU.

I hope your counselor was able to provide some guidance. Glad I could help and I wish you well.

@Freaked0ut have you hear anything from JMU? Any idea when decisions will be posted?