James Madison University - Office of Admissions

Are there specific course requirements for entrance into James Madison University? While there is no single academic program we can expect all students to follow, our strongest candidates choose rigorous secondary school curricula. Competitive applicants challenge themselves beyond high school graduation requirements in the core academic areas of English, math, science, social science and foreign language.

Is it to my advantage to take advanced, accelerated or honors courses, if available? Yes. We know that not all schools provide the same opportunities, but you should seek out a full and demanding college preparatory program.

Is the Admissions Committee looking for specific grades or marks in admitting applicants? Because secondary schools vary by size, academic program and grading scale, we do not have rigid requirements. The majority of our incoming freshmen are ranked in the top third of their high school. Grade point averages of 3.41-3.62 were the mid-50 percent range for the 2004 freshmen class.

What are the minimum required SAT I or ACT scores? There are no cutoffs. Total scores of 1090 to 1160 were the mid-50 percent range for the 2004 freshmen class. The mid-50 percent of ACT scores ranges between 24 to 25 of the composite score. We find the SAT I and ACT test results to be useful indicators when considered thoughtfully in conjunction with many other factors.

If I take the required test more than once, which results will you consider? The Admissions Committee uses your highest math and verbal scores from any test administration in reviewing your application for admission.

Do you require any SAT II Subject Tests?  No. SAT II subject tests are not required for the admission process.  Some majors and degrees at JMU have a foreign language requirement. If you are pursuing such a degree, we recommend that you take the SAT II Foreign Language which is used for placement purposes. Learn more about our Placement Policy.

Is there a personal interview? We neither require nor grant personal interviews. However, if you visit the university and need to speak to a counselor to discuss a unique situation, we are more than happy to meet with you.

Do you consider senior year grades? Yes, we do.  We use mid-year grades in the decision process.  It is also important to maintain strong grades through the end of your senior year.  We reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission due to poor academic performance in the senior year.

Do you rank the quality of secondary schools in the U.S. and abroad? No. We recognize that there are differences in the overall strengths of high schools, but we are most interested in how well our candidates have taken advantage of the resources available to them.

Is it easier to be admitted if I apply Early Action? No. Whether you apply Early Action or Regular Decision, the ultimate decision will be the same. We offer early admission to candidates whom we are certain we would admit at any time. Students admitted under Early Action typically have very strong and complete records of achievement and involvement. We offered admission to about one-third of our early applicants and one-half of our regular applicants.

What happens if I am not admitted under the Early Action Program? Most students not admitted during early action are automatically reviewed again carefully as part of the Regular Decision pool and they are notified of our admission decision in early April.  However, we do send non-acceptance letters to some of our early applicants. We feel it is unfair to keep a student waiting until April when we know they are not competitive for admission to JMU. We will send non- acceptance letters to students who are clearly not competitive for admission.

If I am admitted Early Action, am I obligated to attend? Absolutely not! We hope you decide to attend James Madison, of course, but the date by which we must hear from you, May 1, is the same for all enrolling freshmen.

Are my chances for admission reduced if I am deferred in Early Action? No. Deferral does not imply weakness in an application. We simply like to make the majority of our decisions during the Regular Decision process, when we can compare applications in the context of the greater pool.

If I submit my application before other candidates, will I have a better chance of gaining admission? No, but there are advantages to you and to us if you submit your application materials promptly. We can let you know if any documents are missing or incomplete in a timely manner. Last-minute applications often look hurried and are more likely to be missing important information.

Is it possible to ask ahead about my chances for admission? No. Because our decisions are made in the context of the entire applicant pool, it is not possible for us to predict your chances for admission.

Does it hurt my chances if there are other applicants from my school or community? No. There are no quotas for individual schools or communities.

Is there a waitlist? Yes. We never know precisely how many students will accept our offer of admission, therefore, we invite a group of students to be on our unranked waitlist. The waitlist is the pool of applicants we consider if we are able to admit additional students to fill the class. The extent to which we use the waitlist varies widely from year to year.

Is it possible to be admitted for the spring semester? James Madison University Enrolls Freshmen only in the Fall Semester, and transfers can enroll in either the Summer or Fall.

What if I want to change my major? JMU students are encouraged to explore academic areas of interest. You can change your major any time between the application process and graduation. Please know that changing your major after your sophomore year may delay your graduation.

Does James Madison offer an Honors Program? Yes. With three levels of participation - Honors Scholars Program, Subject-Area Honors, Program and Senior Honors Project Program - you can find the academic challenge to meet your needs. At graduation, your level of participation will be noted on your diploma and transcripts.

Will I be able to study abroad while attending James Madison? We offer study abroad programs in four European cities: London, Paris, Florence and Salamanca. A faculty member-in residence accompanies each group for the semester-long experience. There is a study abroad program in Martinique in the Caribbean West Indies for students fluent in French. We are a member of the Council for International Exchange which enables students the opportunity to study abroad with another college or university if the destination of choice is not offered at JMU.

Do I have to be a music major to be in the marching band or a theatre major to participate in plays? Not at all. Most students involved in performing arts here are majoring in fields unrelated to the arts.

Must I live on campus? All freshmen live in university-sponsored housing. We believe students get the most from the James Madison experience by living in the residence halls. After freshmen year, students may remain on or move off campus.

Am I allowed to bring a car to James Madison? Freshmen are not permitted to have cars on campus. You certainly do not need a car to get around Harrisonburg. The Harrisonburg Transit is convenient and free to students. Parking on campus, however, is not always easy to find. Upper-class students pay a parking fee to register their car for on campus parking.

Should I worry about safety at James Madison? Safety should be a concern everywhere. The university has a strong public safety program that includes a full campus police force, lighted pathways, an escort service, campus cadets, emergency phones and residence halls that are locked 24 hours a day.