JMU decisions out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much of this could be avoided if JMU would just institute ED. Then those for whom the school is their top choice could show their commitment by EDing. It would save a TON of effort all around.

I have a Duke. Talked to their AO last year at Choices and he said they absolutely would not be instituting ED anytime soon.

Last year they made use of the WL into late July, maybe later. Neighbor got in last week of July. Got the dregs of housing, but he's thrilled to be there!

My Duke has friends from all over the Mid-Atlantic (TONS of NJ) and even Chicago, FL, Boston suburbs and Washington State. It's definitely growing in popularity and common app for sure has had an impact.

PP here. Totally agree. I’m a Duke parent too. We know of so many kids for whom JMU is their first choice. Just seems like it would benefit both JMU and students if they could express that preference in a concrete way.

Wouldn't that be ED?

Still, I agree with you. Our rising Senior DC has JMU as their top Virginia school and is only applying to three total (against the school counselor's advice). Realistically, I can't see the top OOS/Private coming up with enough money to compete and the other OOS is considered a safety with online/defined non-need merit predefined. DC will be unhooked with decently stats 4.0U/4.6 W with the SAT still to go so we remain hopeful for next year.

Yes - that's what I was saying (I'm also the bolded poster at the top). JMU really needs to institute ED for those kids. EA doesn't commit anyone, and for those who would *like* to commit, ED would be the way to go.

ED serves the Universities’ interests. Particularly those that want to play a rankings game. Not the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much of this could be avoided if JMU would just institute ED. Then those for whom the school is their top choice could show their commitment by EDing. It would save a TON of effort all around.

I have a Duke. Talked to their AO last year at Choices and he said they absolutely would not be instituting ED anytime soon.

Last year they made use of the WL into late July, maybe later. Neighbor got in last week of July. Got the dregs of housing, but he's thrilled to be there!

My Duke has friends from all over the Mid-Atlantic (TONS of NJ) and even Chicago, FL, Boston suburbs and Washington State. It's definitely growing in popularity and common app for sure has had an impact.

PP here. Totally agree. I’m a Duke parent too. We know of so many kids for whom JMU is their first choice. Just seems like it would benefit both JMU and students if they could express that preference in a concrete way.

Wouldn't that be ED?

Still, I agree with you. Our rising Senior DC has JMU as their top Virginia school and is only applying to three total (against the school counselor's advice). Realistically, I can't see the top OOS/Private coming up with enough money to compete and the other OOS is considered a safety with online/defined non-need merit predefined. DC will be unhooked with decently stats 4.0U/4.6 W with the SAT still to go so we remain hopeful for next year.

+1

Yes - that's what I was saying (I'm also the bolded poster at the top). JMU really needs to institute ED for those kids. EA doesn't commit anyone, and for those who would *like* to commit, ED would be the way to go.

ED serves the Universities’ interests. Particularly those that want to play a rankings game. Not the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone choose to go to JMU paying OOS tuition

OOS students love JMU. Why do some VA kids turn their nose up at it

Why do kids turn their nose up to VT or GMU or any other school?

my dd chose JMU over VT

And my kid chose VT over JMU. It works both ways.

And I have kids who chose both (one at each). We’re so lucky to have these great options in VA.
DP

We sure are, agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does JMU reject anybody, or just accept and WL?

DD is in EA. Her friend was deferred, then rejected. She got into CNU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much of this could be avoided if JMU would just institute ED. Then those for whom the school is their top choice could show their commitment by EDing. It would save a TON of effort all around.

I have a Duke. Talked to their AO last year at Choices and he said they absolutely would not be instituting ED anytime soon.

Last year they made use of the WL into late July, maybe later. Neighbor got in last week of July. Got the dregs of housing, but he's thrilled to be there!

My Duke has friends from all over the Mid-Atlantic (TONS of NJ) and even Chicago, FL, Boston suburbs and Washington State. It's definitely growing in popularity and common app for sure has had an impact.

PP here. Totally agree. I’m a Duke parent too. We know of so many kids for whom JMU is their first choice. Just seems like it would benefit both JMU and students if they could express that preference in a concrete way.

Wouldn't that be ED?

Still, I agree with you. Our rising Senior DC has JMU as their top Virginia school and is only applying to three total (against the school counselor's advice). Realistically, I can't see the top OOS/Private coming up with enough money to compete and the other OOS is considered a safety with online/defined non-need merit predefined. DC will be unhooked with decently stats 4.0U/4.6 W with the SAT still to go so we remain hopeful for next year.

Yes - that's what I was saying (I'm also the bolded poster at the top). JMU really needs to institute ED for those kids. EA doesn't commit anyone, and for those who would *like* to commit, ED would be the way to go.

ED serves the Universities’ interests. Particularly those that want to play a rankings game. Not the students.

It serves both their interests. The universities can see exactly who will be committing to their school. And the students can show their commitment to their first-choice school, which often helps them gain admission. Win-win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you accept an offer, your kid gets on the waitlist for a housing assignment. The earlier you accept, perhaps the better the dorm your kid gets assigned, right? If you know, accept now.

Good God, just STOP... now you're being silly.
Now kids should accept early JUST to get better housing assignments... it wouldn't be to start clearing out the wait list, right?? lol.

This kind of manipulation & scheming is kinda pathetic, as it's completely obvious & see through. I'm embarrassed for you.
That whole "housing assignment" comment seems like a totally conspicuous act of desperation, which has been brought on by being THIS hyper focused & "heartbroken" over college admissions.

You'd better be careful, or you can really damage not only your child's self esteem, but your relationship with them, as they may begin seeing themselves as just a disappointmen based on your theatrics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you accept an offer, your kid gets on the waitlist for a housing assignment. The earlier you accept, perhaps the better the dorm your kid gets assigned, right? If you know, accept now.

Good God, just STOP... now you're being silly.
Now kids should accept early JUST to get better housing assignments... it wouldn't be to start clearing out the wait list, right?? lol.

This kind of manipulation & scheming is kinda pathetic, as it's completely obvious & see through. I'm embarrassed for you.
That whole "housing assignment" comment seems like a totally conspicuous act of desperation, which has been brought on by being THIS hyper focused & "heartbroken" over college admissions.

You'd better be careful, or you can really damage not only your child's self esteem, but your relationship with them, as they may begin seeing themselves as just a disappointmen based on your theatrics.

Note: the housing point is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you accept an offer, your kid gets on the waitlist for a housing assignment. The earlier you accept, perhaps the better the dorm your kid gets assigned, right? If you know, accept now.

Good God, just STOP... now you're being silly.
Now kids should accept early JUST to get better housing assignments... it wouldn't be to start clearing out the wait list, right?? lol.

This kind of manipulation & scheming is kinda pathetic, as it's completely obvious & see through. I'm embarrassed for you.
That whole "housing assignment" comment seems like a totally conspicuous act of desperation, which has been brought on by being THIS hyper focused & "heartbroken" over college admissions.

You'd better be careful, or you can really damage not only your child's self esteem, but your relationship with them, as they may begin seeing themselves as just a disappointmen based on your theatrics.

DP. Wow - speaking of “theatrics” ^^^. Settle down. The PP asked a good question. You seem quite off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much of this could be avoided if JMU would just institute ED. Then those for whom the school is their top choice could show their commitment by EDing. It would save a TON of effort all around.

I have a Duke. Talked to their AO last year at Choices and he said they absolutely would not be instituting ED anytime soon.

Last year they made use of the WL into late July, maybe later. Neighbor got in last week of July. Got the dregs of housing, but he's thrilled to be there!

My Duke has friends from all over the Mid-Atlantic (TONS of NJ) and even Chicago, FL, Boston suburbs and Washington State. It's definitely growing in popularity and common app for sure has had an impact.

PP here. Totally agree. I’m a Duke parent too. We know of so many kids for whom JMU is their first choice. Just seems like it would benefit both JMU and students if they could express that preference in a concrete way.

Wouldn't that be ED?

Still, I agree with you. Our rising Senior DC has JMU as their top Virginia school and is only applying to three total (against the school counselor's advice). Realistically, I can't see the top OOS/Private coming up with enough money to compete and the other OOS is considered a safety with online/defined non-need merit predefined. DC will be unhooked with decently stats 4.0U/4.6 W with the SAT still to go so we remain hopeful for next year.

Yes - that's what I was saying (I'm also the bolded poster at the top). JMU really needs to institute ED for those kids. EA doesn't commit anyone, and for those who would *like* to commit, ED would be the way to go.

ED serves the Universities’ interests. Particularly those that want to play a rankings game. Not the students.

It serves both their interests. The universities can see exactly who will be committing to their school. And the students can show their commitment to their first-choice school, which often helps them gain admission. Win-win.

+100
I have a junior whose first choice school is JMU and we really wish they offered ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you accept an offer, your kid gets on the waitlist for a housing assignment. The earlier you accept, perhaps the better the dorm your kid gets assigned, right? If you know, accept now.

Good God, just STOP... now you're being silly.
Now kids should accept early JUST to get better housing assignments... it wouldn't be to start clearing out the wait list, right?? lol.

This kind of manipulation & scheming is kinda pathetic, as it's completely obvious & see through. I'm embarrassed for you.
That whole "housing assignment" comment seems like a totally conspicuous act of desperation, which has been brought on by being THIS hyper focused & "heartbroken" over college admissions.

You'd better be careful, or you can really damage not only your child's self esteem, but your relationship with them, as they may begin seeing themselves as just a disappointmen based on your theatrics.

DP. Wow - speaking of “theatrics” ^^^. Settle down. The PP asked a good question. You seem quite off.

The housing comment is totally true. There are really awful dorms at JMU and better dorms. If you want air conditioning then commit early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you accept an offer, your kid gets on the waitlist for a housing assignment. The earlier you accept, perhaps the better the dorm your kid gets assigned, right? If you know, accept now.

Good God, just STOP... now you're being silly.
Now kids should accept early JUST to get better housing assignments... it wouldn't be to start clearing out the wait list, right?? lol.

This kind of manipulation & scheming is kinda pathetic, as it's completely obvious & see through. I'm embarrassed for you.
That whole "housing assignment" comment seems like a totally conspicuous act of desperation, which has been brought on by being THIS hyper focused & "heartbroken" over college admissions.

You'd better be careful, or you can really damage not only your child's self esteem, but your relationship with them, as they may begin seeing themselves as just a disappointmen based on your theatrics.

DP. Wow - speaking of “theatrics” ^^^. Settle down. The PP asked a good question. You seem quite off.

When you say commit, do you mean put down a housing deposit or actually accept a spot?

The housing comment is totally true. There are really awful dorms at JMU and better dorms. If you want air conditioning then commit early.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I'm totally new to being on a waitlist, as these are my first borns (they're twins).
One was accepted to JMU through early action & the other one was waitlisted.

The acceptance letter stated that we'll need to make a decision by the May 1st deadline, however does anyone have an approx idea as to how long it usually takes (after May 1st) for the school to then begin to offer spots off of the waitlist?

I'm not going to lie -- our waitlisted child's self esteem took a little bit of a hit when he learned that he & his brother weren't both accepted (they'd always planned on attending the same school together).

Here my dilemma -- one of my son's best friends was also waitlisted for JMU, and his mom called me up and had asked me how I helped my son manage his disappointment over being waitlisted, as well as manage his expectations properly?

I told her that we sat him down and explained to him in no uncertain terms, that as of right now we need to continue to go forward as if JMU is totally OFF the table for him.

I told her that I tried to find as many silver linings as I could; because I knew that he'd never be able to find any for himself.
So I told him that being put on the waitlist can be a blessing in disguise, because it can open the door to an entirely new world of possibilities for him, and a future that he could never have even dreamed of before today.
He can forge a new dream for himself, he can be WHOEVER he wants to be, and be known by whatever name he chooses, rather than always being known as "one half of the twins" (nobody has to even know he's a twin if he doesn't want them to).

I told her that in just the few minutes we were sitting down talking, I could clearly see his demeanor change from a kid who was feeling sad, dejected, rejected & riddled with self-doubt, to seeing his face start to light up and become genuinely excited by the newfound possibilities that his future could hold (at one of the other schools that he was accepted to).

My thought process was that I was covering both bases for him, so this way if he DOES happen to get into JMU from the waitlist, it will be an unexpected surprise, as he's now resigned himself to the fact that JMU isn't in the cards for him, and thats ok (you hope for the best, but expect the worst, right?) and who knows... he may get so hyped up over a different school, that he doesn't even want to go to JMU anymore?

Well... she told me that I went about that all wrong.
She said that these kids need to stay positive & put all of their energy into the universe that they KNOW that they're going to get into JMU, and that I wasn't using the law of attraction -- in fact, I was intentionally standing in the way of his attraction to JMU.
She said what I was doing was completely defeatist because we'd already accepted defeat, and alphas never accept defeat, because wars aren't won that way (whatever that means?!).

I was like "Wait... uhh, wha??" 🫨

My thought process, was that the absolute WORST thing I could do for my son after such a letdown of being waitlisted, was to then give him affirmations that he'll get into JMU, or give him false hope, or an unrealistic expectation of something that may never come to fruition (I'd heard that the number of applicants this year was history making and they'd had a record number of applicants, so I thought the odds probaby aren't great for this one, but you never know).

I just didn't want him banking all of his hopes & dreams for college, on a lukewarm "shrug" from JMU.
If for the next 2 months he continuously told himself "you got this!" and then the rug gets pulled out from under him ONCE AGAIN, it would be far more devastating for him than when he was waitlisted.

... and that would be all my fault, because I didn't set a realistic expectation for him, and I allowed him to have delusions of grandeur, when I should have been bringing him back down to reality.

There are some teenagers that you could feed a continuous diet of lies, false hope, false confidence, law of attraction, vision board bullsh!t for the next two months, and if they didn't get into JMU, they wouldn't be fazed in the least.
However, that's not my kid -- I know him.
It would be FAR more detrimental to his self esteem if I had intentionally get his hopes up by blowing smoke up his @ss, as that would be setting him up to get blindsided and take an even greater fall.

I felt very strongly that one of the most irresponsible things that I could do as his mother, was to overestimate his chances of getting in, just to make him feel better... in fact, I thought it was far better to under sell his chances, because then if he does get in, it's like SURPRISE! 🎉

The other mom felt just as strongly as I did, but she thought that I should keep telling him that he definitely IS getting into JMU, and there are no if's, and's or butt's about it. "Maybe's" are for losers, "Definitely's" are for winners! and she had the perfect recipe for winners -- they just need to keep their eye on the prize, keep their sights set directly on JMU, and JMU alone... no. where. else.
"Back up schools are for losers & fall-back schools are for pu55ies!"

Right now, his head is back on track and he's genuinely excited and open to new possibilities, and for the past 2 days I've been totally confident in what I've told him... but now she has me really doubting myself, because it's my son and I want to get it right for him. I don't care about disappointment for myself, but I can't do that to him.

She said that my strategy will have my son settling for second best for the rest of his life, because I obviously feel that "best" is just "too hard" and it comes with too many risks to go for it.
So while my kid will always be taking second place (which she lovingly referred to as the "first loser", her kid will always have "the universe" on his side and the universe will ensure that he's always taken care of.

I just had to hang up on her, because she sounded so delusional, and it was all at the expense of her son & his skewed expectations.

** Sorry this post is SO long, I never write posts this long, I'm just so freaked out by what she said, and that I'm doing a disservice to my kid. Thanks for letting me vent. 🩷

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you accept an offer, your kid gets on the waitlist for a housing assignment. The earlier you accept, perhaps the better the dorm your kid gets assigned, right? If you know, accept now.

Good God, just STOP... now you're being silly.
Now kids should accept early JUST to get better housing assignments... it wouldn't be to start clearing out the wait list, right?? lol.

This kind of manipulation & scheming is kinda pathetic, as it's completely obvious & see through. I'm embarrassed for you.
That whole "housing assignment" comment seems like a totally conspicuous act of desperation, which has been brought on by being THIS hyper focused & "heartbroken" over college admissions.

You'd better be careful, or you can really damage not only your child's self esteem, but your relationship with them, as they may begin seeing themselves as just a disappointmen based on your theatrics.

DP. Wow - speaking of “theatrics” ^^^. Settle down. The PP asked a good question. You seem quite off.

The housing comment is totally true. There are really awful dorms at JMU and better dorms. If you want air conditioning then commit early.

Are you serious??! There are dorms in the state of Virginia without AC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you accept an offer, your kid gets on the waitlist for a housing assignment. The earlier you accept, perhaps the better the dorm your kid gets assigned, right? If you know, accept now.

Good God, just STOP... now you're being silly.
Now kids should accept early JUST to get better housing assignments... it wouldn't be to start clearing out the wait list, right?? lol.

This kind of manipulation & scheming is kinda pathetic, as it's completely obvious & see through. I'm embarrassed for you.
That whole "housing assignment" comment seems like a totally conspicuous act of desperation, which has been brought on by being THIS hyper focused & "heartbroken" over college admissions.

You'd better be careful, or you can really damage not only your child's self esteem, but your relationship with them, as they may begin seeing themselves as just a disappointmen based on your theatrics.

DP. Wow - speaking of “theatrics” ^^^. Settle down. The PP asked a good question. You seem quite off.

The housing comment is totally true. There are really awful dorms at JMU and better dorms. If you want air conditioning then commit early.

Are you serious??! There are dorms in the state of Virginia without AC?

WM also although they are working on phasing them out but it’s going to be a few more years. UVA had some freshman dorms w/o a/c until fairly recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry, I'm totally new to being on a waitlist, as these are my first borns (they're twins).
One was accepted to JMU through early action & the other one was waitlisted.

The acceptance letter stated that we'll need to make a decision by the May 1st deadline, however does anyone have an approx idea as to how long it usually takes (after May 1st) for the school to then begin to offer spots off of the waitlist?

I'm not going to lie -- our waitlisted child's self esteem took a little bit of a hit when he learned that he & his brother weren't both accepted (they'd always planned on attending the same school together).

Here my dilemma -- one of my son's best friends was also waitlisted for JMU, and his mom called me up and had asked me how I helped my son manage his disappointment over being waitlisted, as well as manage his expectations properly?

I told her that we sat him down and explained to him in no uncertain terms, that as of right now we need to continue to go forward as if JMU is totally OFF the table for him.

I told her that I tried to find as many silver linings as I could; because I knew that he'd never be able to find any for himself.
So I told him that being put on the waitlist can be a blessing in disguise, because it can open the door to an entirely new world of possibilities for him, and a future that he could never have even dreamed of before today.
He can forge a new dream for himself, he can be WHOEVER he wants to be, and be known by whatever name he chooses, rather than always being known as "one half of the twins" (nobody has to even know he's a twin if he doesn't want them to).

I told her that in just the few minutes we were sitting down talking, I could clearly see his demeanor change from a kid who was feeling sad, dejected, rejected & riddled with self-doubt, to seeing his face start to light up and become genuinely excited by the newfound possibilities that his future could hold (at one of the other schools that he was accepted to).

My thought process was that I was covering both bases for him, so this way if he DOES happen to get into JMU from the waitlist, it will be an unexpected surprise, as he's now resigned himself to the fact that JMU isn't in the cards for him, and thats ok (you hope for the best, but expect the worst, right?) and who knows... he may get so hyped up over a different school, that he doesn't even want to go to JMU anymore?

Well... she told me that I went about that all wrong.
She said that these kids need to stay positive & put all of their energy into the universe that they KNOW that they're going to get into JMU, and that I wasn't using the law of attraction -- in fact, I was intentionally standing in the way of his attraction to JMU.
She said what I was doing was completely defeatist because we'd already accepted defeat, and alphas never accept defeat, because wars aren't won that way (whatever that means?!).

I was like "Wait... uhh, wha??" 🫨

My thought process, was that the absolute WORST thing I could do for my son after such a letdown of being waitlisted, was to then give him affirmations that he'll get into JMU, or give him false hope, or an unrealistic expectation of something that may never come to fruition (I'd heard that the number of applicants this year was history making and they'd had a record number of applicants, so I thought the odds probaby aren't great for this one, but you never know).

I just didn't want him banking all of his hopes & dreams for college, on a lukewarm "shrug" from JMU.
If for the next 2 months he continuously told himself "you got this!" and then the rug gets pulled out from under him ONCE AGAIN, it would be far more devastating for him than when he was waitlisted.

... and that would be all my fault, because I didn't set a realistic expectation for him, and I allowed him to have delusions of grandeur, when I should have been bringing him back down to reality.

There are some teenagers that you could feed a continuous diet of lies, false hope, false confidence, law of attraction, vision board bullsh!t for the next two months, and if they didn't get into JMU, they wouldn't be fazed in the least.
However, that's not my kid -- I know him.
It would be FAR more detrimental to his self esteem if I had intentionally get his hopes up by blowing smoke up his @ss, as that would be setting him up to get blindsided and take an even greater fall.

I felt very strongly that one of the most irresponsible things that I could do as his mother, was to overestimate his chances of getting in, just to make him feel better... in fact, I thought it was far better to under sell his chances, because then if he does get in, it's like SURPRISE! 🎉

The other mom felt just as strongly as I did, but she thought that I should keep telling him that he definitely IS getting into JMU, and there are no if's, and's or butt's about it. "Maybe's" are for losers, "Definitely's" are for winners! and she had the perfect recipe for winners -- they just need to keep their eye on the prize, keep their sights set directly on JMU, and JMU alone... no. where. else.
"Back up schools are for losers & fall-back schools are for pu55ies!"

Right now, his head is back on track and he's genuinely excited and open to new possibilities, and for the past 2 days I've been totally confident in what I've told him... but now she has me really doubting myself, because it's my son and I want to get it right for him. I don't care about disappointment for myself, but I can't do that to him.

She said that my strategy will have my son settling for second best for the rest of his life, because I obviously feel that "best" is just "too hard" and it comes with too many risks to go for it.
So while my kid will always be taking second place (which she lovingly referred to as the "first loser", her kid will always have "the universe" on his side and the universe will ensure that he's always taken care of.

I just had to hang up on her, because she sounded so delusional, and it was all at the expense of her son & his skewed expectations.

** Sorry this post is SO long, I never write posts this long, I'm just so freaked out by what she said, and that I'm doing a disservice to my kid. Thanks for letting me vent. 🩷

Is this a serious post? If so, you handled the situation perfectly. It's a college for chrissake. You did right by your kid. This other woman sounds like a complete looney tune.