JMU for this profile of a MoCo Student?

[Anonymous]

I'm a MoCo, Marylander seeking guidance from fellow Marylanders or neighbors to the south of the river with recent experience applying to JMU:

DD Senior at MoCo "W' school.
UW GPA 3.5, Weighted 3.9 (4 semester Cs across the transcript, scattered over 9th-11th grades)
A few AP classes, but no 3s or above on tests
Street smart, but not academically inclined - think capable more than intellectual
Good but standard ECs (four year sport, a part time job for a while, a few interesting camps and clubs)
Test optional
Essay will be decent to good (because getting professional assistance), but nothing spectacular

Is JMU realistic? Will be applying EA.

[Anonymous]

I think this is realistic. JMU is on my kid's list too. Stats are a bit higher than yours and I consider it a safety for my kid, although we are in VA. I've looked at their CDS and they don't give an average GPA, but average test scores are 1180-1310 for SAT and 23-29 for ACT. I know you said test optional, but if your daughter has taken one of the tests you can see if she's in the range for their applicants.

[Anonymous]

Probably yes. What does your kid want to study? Unlike some schools, whatever the prospective major is, it won't limit the chance of your kid getting in to the school. But it is good to have an idea.
We have a senior there who is not the same profile other than the sport.

[Anonymous]

Ha. What? I got rejected in-state from JMU in the late 80s with a 4.0gpa (straight As) and a 1250 SAT when that was high. Nobody got 1500s back then.

Has it gotten easier to get in?

[Anonymous]

Why test optional?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha. What? I got rejected in-state from JMU in the late 80s with a 4.0gpa (straight As) and a 1250 SAT when that was high. Nobody got 1500s back then.

Has it gotten easier to get in?

Yes. JMU doubled their enrollment since then, and now it significantly easier to get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why test optional?

This is OP: Because test scores are not good. 22 ACT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why test optional?

This is OP: Because test scores are not good. 22 ACT

I should probably add that the JMU scattergram for her school (via Naviance) looks good - she's generally in the green zone.

[Anonymous]

They are in. JMU does not care about test scores. The weighted GPA show the rigor. Apply EA because most were WL regular admission last year

[Anonymous]

Test optional girl with Cs from a W school might be tough.

[Anonymous]

“4 semester Cs across the transcript, scattered over 9th-11th grades”

Does MCPS report semester grades? I think colleges really only look at final grades. I’m assuming those classes ended up with something higher than a C?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“4 semester Cs across the transcript, scattered over 9th-11th grades”

Does MCPS report semester grades? I think colleges really only look at final grades. I’m assuming those classes ended up with something higher than a C?

OP here. Yes. MCPS reports Semester grades. So for a class, like Chemistry, it'll say "Chemistry A" and "Chemistry B" and have a grade for each. If it was year grades, I think she'd have only have one. But the transcript does show all of them.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. They seem mostly optimistic, but not entirely so I guess. Definitely seems worth a try!

[Anonymous]

This is OP again. I see from JMU's CDS that 3 years of language are required in high school. I'm surprised (I know it would be recommended but I always thought it was 2 as required.) Anyone have any experience that indicates two is okay? A little more nervous now.

[Anonymous]

My DS attended JMU with French 3 in 10th grade and no additional foreign language. (2019 HS grad). There were no foreign language Gen Ed requirements for his degree.

[Anonymous]

Why JMU? (just curious)