James Madison University Chances? Thank You SO Much If You Respond

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I don't have the best GPA. In my defense I take pretty hard classes. Here are my stats, just chance me, keep in mind these SAT scores are not set in stone; I have to retake them. I know that they are horrible. I just don't do well on that test for some stupid reason, probably because it's timed.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.4
Class Rank: Top 25%</p>

<p>SAT scores as of now:
Math: 500
CR: 550
Writing: 580</p>

<p>Freshmen Year Courseload:
-Creative Writing 1
-Spanish 1
-Geometry
-World History 1
-Honors English 9
-Earth Science
-Gym 9
Sophomore Year Courseload:
-Theater 1
-Honors Spanish 2
-Alegebra 2
-Honors World History 2
-Honors English 10
-Honors Biology
-Gym 10
Junior Year Courseload:
-Theater 2
-Honors Spanish 3
-Trig
-AP U.S. History
-AP English Language
-Honors Chemistry
-Service Learning 1
Senior Year Courseload:
-Theater 3
-Honors Spanish 4
-AP Stat
-AP Government
-AP English Lit
-Honors Physics
-AP Pyschcology </p>

<p>AP Testing Scores:
-AP English Language: 3 (Not the best, I know. My proctor didn't tell us when we had a 5 minutes left so I could randomly bubble in the rest of my answers on the multiple choice and I had to leave like 75% of it blank. As you can see from my SAT scores I do not do well on timed tests.)</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:
-Beta Club*
-Theater (I'm in plays and musicals)*
-Mentoring (I help Freshmen get situated at school and follow them around all year to make sure they're doing well)*
-Key Club (I'm an officer)*
-Spirit Squad
-SGA*
(*'s mean I had to be invited to join or I had to audition)</p>

<p>Awards/ Honors:
-Being Invited To Apply To and Getting Accepted Into Beta Club
-Spanish Award
-2 Core Value Awards
-Being Invited To Apply To and Getting Accepted Into the National Society of Honors
-Honor Roll through all of High School</p>

<p>Additional Information
-I have put in a lot of hours volunteering at elementary schools. Around 4 to 6 hours a week and sometimes more if they need me to come in and work at special events.
-I wrote a book and I'm in the process of getting it published, but I honestly don't know if that's relevent information. My friends and family want me to mention it on my application since my intended major is English/ Writing. But I feel like it just won't interest the admissions board.
-I competed in a National Chemistry Test and got a certificate, but once again no one probably cares.</p>

<p>So I think that's about it. I'm retaking my SATs and in practice I've been getting like 580ish in Math, and in the low 600s for Critical Reading and Writing so I'm hoping to see significant improvement. However my GPA won't be officially updated until January 18th and JMU's application deadline is January 15th so unfortunately I'm stuck with my 3.4. Unless I've got my end of semester dates wrong- then I might be able to change it. If the timing works out for me my guidance counsler thinks I should have a weighted 4.1 GPA.</p>

<p>So if I can get that improvement in my SAT scores do I stand a chance? I know JMU recieves a lot of applicants and I don't know how I stand.</p>

2

<p>My older daughter had exactly same stats but that was 5 years ago. She did get into JMU and graduated. One thing we noticed about JMU is that concept of percieved interest without being a stalker, very difficult to manage. #1 raise your SAT scores. #2 show your interest by keeping in touch with adcoms. Trust me we never thought she would get in there but she did and I am happy to say she is attending a medical school in Caribbean(she got 27 in MCAT).</p>

3

<p>Are you in-state or OOS? You should contact your regional admissions counselor… Call the admissions office and tell them where you are from, and they will direct you to the appropriate counselor. They are very helpful!</p>

<p>Look at the most recently posted Common Set Data: [JMU</a> - Common Data Set Listing](<a href=“Institutional Research - JMU”>Institutional Research - JMU) it is updated through the current sophomore class.</p>

4

<p>I’m in state. And thank you. I think I’ll apply and just cross my fingers. Do you know by any chance if JMU lets students update their transcripts? So I can send in my new GPA and class rank three days after my application is sent? I’ve heard it’s no problem for most colleges. If you don’t know though I’ll go ahead and contact admissions. Thanks so much for responding both of you :)</p>

5

<p>I am afraid I do not know, but admissions should be able to answer your question. </p>

<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>

6

<p>Okay, I’ll contact admissions. Thank you so much again :)</p>

7

<p>I don’t know if JMU has gotten more or less competitive over the years so I’m not sure how helpful this will be. My stats were similar to yours (I graduated high school in 2000) but my SAT scores were in the 600s for each section. I got into JMU but my counselor wasn’t sure if I would get in with my stats. However, I won fewer awards than you so I think you would definitely stand a chance if you improved your SAT scores. I also think you should mention your book being published, assuming it’s being published by a real publishing company and not just some vanity company. It would definitely be relevant for your intended major. Good luck.</p>

8

<p>Well I’m pretty sure it’s gotten more competitive, but I feel like there is hope, especially once my new GPA and class rank come in and I retake my SATs. My counsler said she thinks I stand a good chance with my course load and such, but we both know that my GPA is a good .3/.4 short of JMU’s average. Thank you so much :)</p>