My name is Spencer, i’m a 16 year old NoVa Highschooler. I currently have a 3.33 GPA possibly 3.4 after junior year (unweighted, weighted is 3.5). Ive taken all honors (except 1 non honors this year). Freshmen year all honors and a pre-ap world, sophomore year all honors and ap world, junior year all honors except academic history because i stupidly didnt take AP US. Next year im taking AP Gov, AP Human Geo, AP GIS, Dual Enrollment for English, AP Computer Science, and physics.
I took my first SAT in May, I got an 1850 (1240 combined). Critical Reading: 650 Math: 590 Writing: 610 ( 8/12 Essay)
The SAT was relatively easy, way easier than I expected. Im expecting to get a 1900+ on the June 6th SAT. I havent taken the ACT and dont plan too.
I am a strong reader/writer ( dont judge this post for that im typing it via ipod)
Ive taken NJROTC for 3 years and will take it for my 4th year next year, Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp. I hold a leadership position as Asst. Head of the Administration Department in charge of 180 cadets records and files.
Im possibly interning at a big tech company, VMware, this summer.
100+ community service hours through njrotc
I dont have any clubs really, I played JV wrestling in sophomore year and i’m playing varsity football next year, I might be the special teams captain.
JMU is my dream school, I need to know if it’s possible for me to get in. Should I go for early action, regular decision, is waitlisting my only hope? Im a junior in HS and will be applying this fall depending on EA or Rd. Please help me, tell me whatever i have to do.
@spencer10798 According to my sources you have a 50% chance of getting in , I recommend regular decision and working your butt off in Senior Year. You need more extracurriculars, your essay should be fantastic and request recommendations of teachers you know. If you do all of this correctly you should be able to get in. If you procrastinate, send in materials late and drop your grades, that 50 may turn to 35%. Work harder.
Also the higher the SAT score the better chance you have. Aim higher than 1900. Try 2100.
@Hamlin
Ill be sure to try as a hard as I can on Saturday then to get a better score, though what does a 2100 serve if they only look at the combined?
Also, who’s best to get a letter from? I could get it from one of my njrotc instructors, I think a recommendation letter from “USN Commander *” or “USMC Gunnery Sergeant *” would look better than e.g. Mrs Shannon from English .
I have no plans to procrastinate on applying, but I havent looked into the process yet. Would it be wise to apply this summer or wait until August/September ( deadline nov. 1)?
As for senior year grades, myself and multiple friends who all want to go to JMU made a pact to literally attempt to get straight A’s the first semester of Senior year. Ive talked to people in these classes and don’t doubt my ability to do it. Will JMU look at these grades?
Also, does being a 4 year NJROTC cadet with a leadership position give me any help? I would’ve thought it would help more.
Finally, if you don’t mind me asking, who/what are your sources that can give you such chances? I’m not critiquing or anything, I am genuinely curious.
@spencer10798
Try your hardest yes, you should have been studying for a while now if your SAT is this Saturday. The 2100 is relevant as the colleges want to see your Academic capability, on average, JMU admits students with Higher SAT scores so the boost can be to your favor. Don’t know what you mean by “the combined” though, it’s all combined from 3 different sections.
The teacher/counselor whoever, that knows you very well and you believe you did very well in his/her course/club or program such as JROTC. Don’t get it from a professor who you barely spoke with, get it from someone who knows you very well and knows about your achievements.
I recommend you apply around November-December for Regular Decision, if you plan on Early Decision or Early Action (wont see your midterm Senior Year grades), apply on August- September.
If you do Early Decision or Early Action the colleges won’t see your Midterm grades and will judge you based on everything before and including your junior year.
Yes it does help you quite a bit as it shows you have the potential to become a leader and it’s more impressive to the admissions officers. Just you might need more extracurriculars rather than just that one position.
I checked on collegeboard and collegeapps to see the average for SAT, Class Rank, and GPA. The admissions rate was also beneficial to see if someone with high academic standing may be rejected for not being “involved.”
@Hamlin
Regrettably, I didn’t study at all for the first attempt nor have I studied at all for this one, other than reading books. Though I am taking 10 prep classes in preparation of the first fall SAT
@Hamlin
Thank you for the detailed replies, it’s much more than I expected from a website I signed up for an hour ago.
By combined I meant writing reading scores, which I scored a 1240 in. Last I checked that’s dead average for jmu accepted so I guess I’ll have to pull that up this weekend.
I’ll get my letter from the head of the njrotc unit, he knows me and has been my teacher for a year, he’s also a naval academy graduate. Will his word hold enough weight to pull me over the edge?
I definitely will have to get more EC’s. I’m going to be a counselor for a Christian athletes camp this summer, 50 hours of service, that should look nice.
How could I put my self above and beyond when it comes to EC? I’m willing to do something big like a public project or anything really, just something that an admissions officer would look at and say “wow”
@spencer10798 Many colleges disregard the Writing section of the SAT Reasoning Test, however there is an increasing change in which colleges are paying more attention to the Writing due to a study by Harvard.
If you’re talking about combined it’s usually Math and Critical Reading that’s focused on mostly but yeah, study today as much as possible. Bring a calculator, and a watch to the exam. Be prepared!
That’s the type of person that you need, not sure if only one Letter of Recommendation is required but a good deal require two, I’d ask two anyways just to be safe, get someone else also that’s affiliated with you equally or remotely equal.
Yes it will look nice, try joining clubs in school as well, get leadership positions that are relevant to the major you’re applying for. If there isn’t any clubs/organization, make one!
Like I said, showing your passion for your major is a good approach through joining clubs that are relevant to it. Public projects are difficult to do and if you find an opportunity that won’t take a long time I’d say go for it.
And finally, (arguably) the most critical part of the application is your essay. This is a chance you get to show the Admissions Officers your true nature. Don’t try to sound smart, don’t lie, don’t complain, just be yourself. Tell them about your passion without directly saying “___ is my passion.” Be creative and personal (but not too personal)!
JMU’s biggest factors for admission decisions are course load and GPA, SAT’s up there but not the #1. Having all that NJROTC experience and the file recording position should really boost your application. You’re definitely taking quite a few tough courses and your GPA is just under their average IIRC. Hamlin covers most everything else effectively.
Even if you don’t get in though, JMU’s guaranteed admission through Virginia Community College System is a relatively safe bet considering how well you’re doing in high school. Their required GPA is 3.0 and in my opinion is pretty easy to get at a community college. Even William and Mary’s or UVA’s required GPA’s are pretty attainable, especially for you. I had a similar GPA as your’s coming out of high school with an easier course load but earned a 3.9 GPA once I got my associate degree.
Not to mention with your background you’d probably be able to get a scholarship at NOVA community college through their scholarship application. I had a weaker resume than your’s and was able to get one through my community college. In fact I’d argue it’s relatively easier to get a scholarship at a community college than four year institution, lots of people don’t take advantage of community college’s scholarship applications and the level of competition is generally lower. And of course, it’s already dramatically cheaper to go the community college route. You’d be looking at about roughly $6,500 tops at NOVA vs. $23,000 a year at JMU before scholarships. But I’m not sure if there’s any military options at NOVA or if you’re doing ROTC to cover college expenses.
Basically, if you want to get into JMU chances are you’ll get there one way or another. If you want to spend four years there, it’s one of the best places in Virginia to do so. But if it doesn’t pan out that way, the community college option is very legitimate. JMU in particular has a pretty doable route.
@spencer10798 I’m not sure where others are getting their information but using JMU’s own stats your first SAT test exceeds the scores of 75% of the students who are admitted.
You have great leadership experience through JNROTC. You have a B+ unweighted GPA and great test scores and will write a great essay. You are in state and male. They have fewer male applicants. You will have a slight advantage by applying EA. Go for it. The worst they will do is defer their decision until they get first semester grades. So keep your grades up! Ugh. You are in direct competition with my son.
@OspreyCV22@DaraMactire@Hamlin Thanks for the help I really appreciate it from everyone. I will end up doing nova for 2 years if i dont get into JMU on EA or RD. Osprey, awesome to hear you son is interested in JMU! Thanks for telling me ill write a great essay, Ive always thought myself a skilled writer when I have inspiration. Osprey may I ask why you think EA is the better decision? Most people have told me i dont have a chance at getting in EA and just to try my luck at Rd. Either decision im going to be putting the most work in i’ve ever done at school for the first semester, my course load being as follows
AP Gov
AP Econ
AP Human Geo
Naval Science 4 (NJROTC)
AP Computer Science
Dual Enrollment (English)
Physics
I dont doubt my ability to perform well in these classes, my worst case scenario is earning a B average in all those AP’s, though as I may have said a few posts earlier, my friends and I all made a pact to relentlessly dominate our first semester academics just for college. Also if it changes anything, I just found out i dont actually have a 3.33 GPA, i was logged into someone elses collegeboard. I have a 3.45
I think now Im just going to have to decide, EA or RD? Also JMU is my top/main pick, is there a way to inform them of this in the application process, that if I was accepted I would attend 100%? Not sure if that’d help. I’m also applying to RU, GMU, CNU, and possibly a specific business oriented school out of state. Thanks everyone
New SAT Scores came in, my Critical Reading + math super score is now 1300/1600. Pretty amazed i scored 710 in critical reading, 96th national percentile, when i didnt even study. Gonna actually study for octobers test, hopefully get even better scores.
