Will my low GPA ruin my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z James Madison University
1

<p>--General Info--
White male
Junior in New Jersey
Low-income family of single mom, my grand mom, and myself</p>

<p>--Stats--
Freshman and sophomore combined GPA unweighted - 3.35 | weighted - 3.75
Junior year GPA approx. unweighted - 2.2
UW GPA to date - 3.05
SAT scores - 1930 - 680 Critical Reading; 630 Math; 620 Writing; 9 Essay
ACT - 28; 8 Essay
Class Rank - 58/219</p>

<p>--Course Load--
Besides 3 or 4 classes I have taken every course at the highest level offered. (Honors or AP) (The 3 or 4 that weren't honors or AP were mandatory classes like the Arts, which had no option of honors or AP)</p>

<p>--AP Courses—
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Spanish 5
AP Statistics
AP English 4</p>

<p>--Clubs--
Member of Athletic Training Club - 2 years
" " Astro/Physics Club – 3 years
" " Environmental Club – 3 years
" " National Honors Society (Junior is the earliest grade to get in)
" " CHA (Cultural Heritage Awareness) – 2 years
" " Spanish Club – 2 years (I got in the earliest grade possible)</p>

<p>--Sports--<br>
Freshman - Cross Country - Winter Track - Spring Track (all JV)
Sophomore - Soccer - Winter Track (both JV)
Junior - JV Soccer (Captain of undefeated team)
Senior - Varsity Soccer</p>

<p>--Awards/Certificates--
Black Belt in Tang-Soo-DO
United Way Community Spirit Award (Youth Individual category) – awarded for “outstanding dedication to community service”
Sibley Award (For having all A's and B's) - freshman and sophomore Year
Certified Emergency Medical Technition (EMT).</p>

<p>--Leadership--
Vice-President of Spanish Club
Teachers Assistant in Tang-Soo-DO</p>

<p>--Volunteering--
Comcast Cares Day - Worked alongside the Coast Guard to clean up Cape May Beach
Habitat for Humanity - Nearly 30 hours of service
Family Promise - 60 hours of service
30 Hour Famine - Raised 3,000 in 3 years doing the event
Family Promise Walk-a-Thon - 3 years
Big Brothers Big Sisters - 3 years as a 'Big Brother'
Member of my town's Ambulance Squad since 7/7/09</p>

<p>--Job Experience--
Worked for 4 months as an aid in an after school program for elementary school students.</p>

<p>In MY opinion I feel like I have solid SAT and ACT scores, pretty good EC's and have consistently had a rigorous course load but my GPA is very weak and my class rank is nothing to brag about either. </p>

<p>So what do you think? Do I still have a shot? And would it better to apply early action or regular decision but send senior grades so they can know my junior year GPA was a fluke?</p>

2

<p>Yes, you do have a strength of schedule, good SAT"S , and EC’s but you are correct your GPA is pretty low. Any chance you can provide a letter as to why your grades were so low Jr. year? If there were extenuating circumstances than that may help. If not I think your GPA may hurt you. As you may have read, JMU seems to have no rhyme or reason to who is accepted. Having the strongest GPA and SAT scores is the best assurance you can have as well as well rounded EC’s .</p>