My 4.3 kid did not hear about the honors program yet. JMU is definitely a possibility. My neighbor was a high school guidance counselor in a different state and agreed that every student she had who went to JMU loved it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the kids on here with 4.3's and higher really considering going to JMU? I'm being honest, not being snarky. When my older kids applied they were aiming for VT and UVA and W&M and wouldn't think of JMU. They'd go out of state before JMU. I don't see how JMU would be the top choice for a kid who is top of their class? Also, why does it seem so many OOS got in.

Va Tech (70 percent acceptance) other than engineering is no where near WM and UVA either

Somebody keeps quoting this 70% acceptance rate and needs to get up to speed on the reality. SCHEV data shows that in 2021-22, for Arlington County, VT's acceptance rate (all majors) was 39.4%, Fairfax County was 40.3%. For all of Virginia it was 44%.

https://research.schev.edu//enrollment/b8_admissions_locality.asp

I also wonder where the 70% figure comes from. According to this VT site - https://udc.vt.edu/irdata/data/students/admission/index#college - the non-engineering acceptance rates for 2022-23 were 65% for out-of-state and 52% for in-state - an overall non-engineering acceptance rate of 58% for the year.

For the College of Engineering, 2022-2023 acceptance rates were 55% overall; 50% in-state and 60% out-of-state. So the in-state acceptance rate for engineering (50%) isn't too much lower than the in-state acceptance rate for everything else (52%).

At least that is how I understand the data at the VT link. Still higher acceptance rates than UVA and W&M, I think, but nowhere near 70% for Virginia residents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the kids on here with 4.3's and higher really considering going to JMU? I'm being honest, not being snarky. When my older kids applied they were aiming for VT and UVA and W&M and wouldn't think of JMU. They'd go out of state before JMU. I don't see how JMU would be the top choice for a kid who is top of their class? Also, why does it seem so many OOS got in.

Va Tech (70 percent acceptance) other than engineering is no where near WM and UVA either

Somebody keeps quoting this 70% acceptance rate and needs to get up to speed on the reality. SCHEV data shows that in 2021-22, for Arlington County, VT's acceptance rate (all majors) was 39.4%, Fairfax County was 40.3%. For all of Virginia it was 44%.

https://research.schev.edu//enrollment/b8_admissions_locality.asp

Anonymous wrote:Are the kids on here with 4.3's and higher really considering going to JMU? I'm being honest, not being snarky. When my older kids applied they were aiming for VT and UVA and W&M and wouldn't think of JMU. They'd go out of state before JMU. I don't see how JMU would be the top choice for a kid who is top of their class? Also, why does it seem so many OOS got in.

Yes mine turned down VT for JMU. He’s not an engineer. He had a great first semester grade wise and socially.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the kids on here with 4.3's and higher really considering going to JMU? I'm being honest, not being snarky. When my older kids applied they were aiming for VT and UVA and W&M and wouldn't think of JMU. They'd go out of state before JMU. I don't see how JMU would be the top choice for a kid who is top of their class? Also, why does it seem so many OOS got in.

This has been discussed in many threads. JMU is the first choice school for a LOT of kids. It has something for everyone. Just because you don't "see it" doesn't mean a lot of others don't.

+1 my friend's son is at JMU now and it was the only school he applied to. He's in the honors program and very happy.

Though I'm sure they exist, I have LITERALLY never met a person who went to JMU and who didn't love it.

How are job placements for computer science degree from JMU? Do you feel it is viewed as favorably as other comsci degrees from schools like VT, GMU, UMD? Do employers in the DC metro look at it the same?

1370 4.3W 11 APs light ECs- in! Only other schools she applied to is W&M and Dickinson. JMU is her top choice-

JMU was on list of safety schools that 4.2 DC was going to apply to, but got in at W&M.

JMU price is fantastic.

DD Accepted! In-State Private.
3.5 W GPA
29 ACT
Full IB

Anonymous wrote:Are the kids on here with 4.3's and higher really considering going to JMU? I'm being honest, not being snarky. When my older kids applied they were aiming for VT and UVA and W&M and wouldn't think of JMU. They'd go out of state before JMU. I don't see how JMU would be the top choice for a kid who is top of their class? Also, why does it seem so many OOS got in.

Va Tech (70 percent acceptance) other than engineering is no where near WM and UVA either

DD Accepted! OOS (DC public)
3.9 W GPA, test-optional
Full IB

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the kids on here with 4.3's and higher really considering going to JMU? I'm being honest, not being snarky. When my older kids applied they were aiming for VT and UVA and W&M and wouldn't think of JMU. They'd go out of state before JMU. I don't see how JMU would be the top choice for a kid who is top of their class? Also, why does it seem so many OOS got in.

My kid is a freshman. Was 4.6, top 15% of a very large HS class. Had absolutely no interest in UVA, W&M or VT. Is in Honors at JMU and made Dean's List and has been challenged and beyond happy. Not everyone aspires for UVA/ W&M or VT. OOS options were too expensive., JMU is the perfect fit for my child. Congrats to everyone who got in today!

Anonymous wrote:Are the kids on here with 4.3's and higher really considering going to JMU? I'm being honest, not being snarky. When my older kids applied they were aiming for VT and UVA and W&M and wouldn't think of JMU. They'd go out of state before JMU. I don't see how JMU would be the top choice for a kid who is top of their class? Also, why does it seem so many OOS got in.

Yes, JMU is a strong contender for my 4.3 kid. Times may have changed since your older kids were applying--all the schools you listed have become more competitive. In our case:
UVA 25th percentile was 4.24, so my kid barely scrapes the bottom of their pool. SAT was below median.
Didn't like W&M (too small) and it's $12K more per year.
VT doesn't offer the program they are interested in
OOS not a viable option due to cost and the need to stay close-ish to home
Has lots of friends and relatives who attended JMU, all of whom rave about the school

My DD just got accepted and is thrilled!!! OOS; 3.7 w GPA; 1230 SAT; good EC and lots of volunteer hours. So excited and surprised!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the kids on here with 4.3's and higher really considering going to JMU? I'm being honest, not being snarky. When my older kids applied they were aiming for VT and UVA and W&M and wouldn't think of JMU. They'd go out of state before JMU. I don't see how JMU would be the top choice for a kid who is top of their class? Also, why does it seem so many OOS got in.

This has been discussed in many threads. JMU is the first choice school for a LOT of kids. It has something for everyone. Just because you don't "see it" doesn't mean a lot of others don't.

+1 my friend's son is at JMU now and it was the only school he applied to. He's in the honors program and very happy.