Information for High School Counselors

The Office of Admissions thanks you for another successful year! We've enjoyed working with you as we admitted the freshman class of 2011, and now we are on to the class of 2012.

We would like to keep you updated on the status of applicants from your school. Please use the Counselor's Companion to track your students.

We welcome invitations to any college/career nights! We'd also be happy to make a personal visit to your school! Please send invitations and/or requests for a personal visit to the attention of Jamie Didawick. We do not have a preference between fax, e-mailed (richarjf@jmu.edu) or postal mail invitations. You may also fill out our online form for new College Fair information here: www.jmu.edu/admissions/newfairs

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

JMU Office of Admissions
MSC 0101
481 Bluestone Dr.
Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Phone: 540-568-5681
Fax: 540-568-3332

If you or your students have questions regarding the admissions process, please contact the regional coordinator for your area.

Announcement:

NEW! Counselor Open House

Counselors, you are invited to an opportunity to come to campus, learn more about our changing programs, and meet with some of the admissions staff for lunch and a Q & A. Learn more here.

A Message From the Dean

We've put together some information that we thought would be helpful to you in advising your students regarding JMU's application process.

Please feel free to direct students to our Prospective Students Gateway for articles regarding writing their Personal Statement, how many letters of recommendation to send and the Early Action application process.

If you have any questions about the process or if you have suggestions on what you would like to see added to this site, please contact us here.

Mid-year Grades

James Madison University requires mid-year grades as part of the application review process. While many high schools already send us these grades, I know that this will increase your workload. I appreciate your assistance with this matter.

James Madison University review mid-year grades for two reasons:

Studies have shown that students, who experience a drop in their senior year grades, will often follow with poor grades in their freshman year of college.

For three years the staff reviewed the files of students whose offers of admissions had been rescinded after final senior grades were received. In over ninety-percent of the cases, the initial offer would not have been made if the committee had seen the student's grades for the first semester of their senior year. Having the mid-year senior grades should significantly reduce the offers rescinded by JMU.

High school counselors tell us that students looking at JMU often reduce their academic effort senior year because they believe we do not consider senior grades. In the past, we did look at senior grades but not until the summer. We hope this change will reinforce that academic performance in the senior year is important. Habits established in the senior year of high school impact the student's performance in their freshman year.

If you have questions please feel free to contact me. Again, I appreciate your assistance with this part of the admission process.

Michael Walsh
Dean of Admissions