Phone
Office of Admissions
Phone: (540) 568-5681
Fax: (540) 568-3332
Web site: http://www.jmu.edu/admissions
Transfer
Admission
International
Admission
Special
Admission Requirements
Nontraditional
Academic Credit
The
enrollment for the university is authorized by the State Council of Higher
Education in Virginia. The number of students admitted each year is limited by
the resources available to the university.
Visiting the University
We
encourage
prospective students to attend
a group information session and a walking tour of campus. To check our
visitation schedule and make a reservation, visit www. jmu.edu/admissions/visit.shtml.
In
inclement weather, the Office of Admissions cancels conferences and tours. If
weather conditions are severe, please call the Office of Admissions, (540)
568-5681, before you come.
Freshman Admission
Admission
to the university is competitive. Each year, the university receives
applications from students representing approximately 2,000 different high
schools. Because high school programs and grading systems vary widely, the
secondary school program cannot be rigidly prescribed. However, in general, JMU
expects that candidates for admission will have completed college preparatory
courses in English, mathematics, natural science, social science and foreign
language.
Requirements
When
evaluating applicants, the Admissions Committee considers the following factors:
Quality of High School Academics
The
Admissions Committee is most interested in the quality of the applicant’s high
school program of study. Students with solid achievement in four or more
academic courses each year of high school will have a distinct advantage in the
admission process. Honors-level courses, especially Advanced Placement classes,
International Baccalaureate or dual enrollment, increase an applicant’s
competitiveness. To assess students’ achievement in their high school
programs, the Admissions Committee notes grades in core academic areas.
Standardized
Tests
Performance
on the Scholastic Aptitude Test or American College Testing Program Assessment
helps the Admissions Committee discern students’ past academic achievement and
their potential for future academic achievement. The SAT II Subject Test in
Writing is required for academic placement.
Other Factors
Also
important to an application are the high school counselor’s secondary school
report form, evidence of special talents and abilities, and the depth of
involvement in extracurricular activities that indicate leadership,
organizational skills and problem-solving ability. These aspects of the
application indicate an applicant’s potential to contribute to and benefit
from the university’s diverse range of academic and extracurricular programs.
Early Action Admission
The
university will offer non-binding early notification admission to qualified
freshman applicants with exceptional high school programs of study, academic
achievement, SAT or ACT scores and potential to contribute to the university
community. The deadline for early notification is November 1. Successful
candidates will be notified in mid-January and must submit a room or tuition
deposit by May 1 to enroll at the university. Some students who are not selected
for early notification are considered under the university’s regular admission
process.
Regular Decision Admission
Applications
must be postmarked by January 15 to be considered for regular decision
admission. All applicants will receive notification of their admission status
the first week of April. Admitted students must submit a room tuition deposit by
May 1 to enroll at the university.
Students
applying to James Madison University should
-
Carefully complete and submit
the application, along with the $40 nonrefundable application fee.
-
Request that a counselor send a
copy of their transcript and a letter of recommendation to
Office
of Admissions, MSC 0101
James
Madison University
Harrisonburg,
VA 22807
Information
furnished on applications and all other university documents and records must be
accurate and complete without evasion or misrepresentation. Submitting
inaccurate or incomplete documents is cause for rejection or dismissal from the
university.
Transfer Admission
Requirements
To transfer
to JMU, a student must
Have completed or be in the
process of completing a full year of academic work on the college or university
level at the time of application.
Be in good standing and
eligible to continue or graduate from their previous institution(s). It is the
student’s responsibility to provide the JMU Office of Admissions with
transcripts of work completed from all colleges attended. Concealment of
previous attendance at a college or university is cause for cancellation of
admission and registration. (Students with holds on their academic records will
not be considered for admission until holds are released.)
Have earned at least a
“C” cumulative grade point average (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) for consideration in
a college parallel program. The university recommends that students have a
“B” cumulative grade point average to be competitive applicants.
Application Procedure
To apply
for transfer admission to the university, applicants must
Office
of Admissions, MSC 0101
James
Madison University
Harrisonburg,
VA 22807
This fee is not refundable or transferable
and will not be credited to the student’s account. The application fee must be
paid by check, money order or credit card. Transfer applications must be
completed by March 1 for fall admission, by October 15 for spring admission and
by January 15 for summer admission.
-
Request official
transcripts be sent from all colleges attended prior to the application
deadline.
-
Submit their high school
transcript or a copy of a GED in addition to college transcripts, regardless
of how many college credits are completed or how many years the applicant
has been out of high school.
-
Submit official SAT or
ACT scores. If a transfer student has completed more than 30 credit hours of
college work at the time of application, SAT or ACT scores are not required.
Applicants who are 25 years or older are not required to submit test scores.
-
Complete a one-page
personal statement for review by the Admissions Committee.
Evaluation of
Transfer Credits
Credit will
be awarded for those courses equivalent to courses offered at JMU in which the
student has earned a grade of “C” or better.
After the
student has been approved for admission, the Office of the Registrar will
evaluate the transcript(s) of each transfer student to show the credits accepted
by the university. The director or head of the department or school in which the
student is majoring will determine the departmental/school credits required for
graduation.
With the exception of some
degrees in General Studies, General Education requirements will be waived for
those students who have completed either the Associate in Arts, Associate in
Sciences, or the Associate in Arts and Sciences degree at a Virginia community
college. Students who complete one of these associate degrees and are offered
admission will receive junior-level status. For more details, please consult the
JMU Virginia Community College Transfer Guide.
International
Admission
The Office
of International Admissions and Enrollment Services is responsible for the
admission and enrollment of undergraduate international students. It also
evaluates courses taken at colleges and universities located outside the U.S.
for academic credit.
All non-U.S.
citizens and nonpermanent residents of the U.S. must complete the international
student application. This application and an international student information
guidebook are available in the Office of International Admissions and Enrollment
Services, which is located in Sonner Hall.
In addition
to regular freshman and transfer admission requirements, international students
must present evidence of English proficiency and documentation of sufficient
financial resources.
The
university welcomes international applications and is authorized by federal law
to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. Requests for information concerning the
admission of undergraduate international students should be directed to
Office
of International Admissions and Enrollment Services, MSC 0101
James
Madison University
Harrisonburg,
VA 22807
(540) 568-7865
Credit for
International Examinations
JMU will
follow the recommendations of the National Council on the Evaluation of Foreign
Educational Credentials when awarding academic credit based on international
examinations. Questions regarding the evaluation of international examinations
should be directed to the Office of International Admissions and Enrollment
Services.
International Baccalaureate
JMU
recognizes the International Baccalaureate diploma and individual IB courses by
awarding credit on IB higher-level examinations in essentially the same manner
in which credit is allowed for Advanced Placement courses. Typically, credit
hours will be awarded for each higher-level examination on which a score of
five, six or seven has been earned.
Some
standard-level examinations will also be considered for credit. The university
encourages the completion of the IB diploma and will give special consideration
for admission to students who have completed the IB program. The grading scale
is from one to seven, with seven being the highest score.
For
more information and the most recent scores, refer to the Office of Admissions
Web site at http://www.jmu.edu/admissions/scores.shtml.
German Abitur
Students
with the German Abitur may be awarded up to 30 credit hours of advanced
standing. Awarding of credit will be based on a grade of “C” or better. A
passing grade will be equivalent to six credit hours in the subject.
The German
Abitur will fulfill general education requirements with the exception of 9
credit hours and the information literacy competency exams (Tech Level I and the
ISST) required in Cluster One and of the 4 credit American Experience
requirement in Cluster Four.
United Kingdom “A” Level Examinations
A passing
grade in an “A” level subject will be considered comparable to completing
the two-course introductory sequence (six credit hours) in the subject.
Special Admission
Requirements
In addition
to regular freshman and transfer admission requirements, students who want to
major in music, theatre or dance must also complete an on-campus audition.
Prospective art students who intend to major in studio art are encouraged to
submit a portfolio and be interviewed.
Art
Students
unable to travel to JMU may send a videotape, color photographs or slides of
their work in support of their art application. Students who intend to major in
art history are not required to submit a portfolio or additional material for
review, but should follow the regular JMU admission process. Students who submit
a portfolio will be eligible to receive a freshman art scholarship.
On-campus
portfolio reviews for art majors are held each Saturday throughout January.
Other portfolio reviews are conducted during November, on campus and at selected
off-campus sites. For the complete schedule of portfolio review/interview
sessions and additional information, contact the School of Art and Art History
(540) 568-6216, e-mail: art-arthistory@jmu.edu.
Music
Auditions
for music are given on three specific dates in January and February. It is
important that you indicate your intention to participate in the audition
process by Jan. 15. For more information, call the School of Music at (540)
568-3851 or e-mail: music_admit@jmu.edu.
Nursing
In addition
to the regular freshman and transfer admission requirements, students who intend
to major in nursing must submit a supplemental application. Applications may be
obtained from
Department of Nursing,
MSC 4305
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
(540) 568-6314
Theatre and Dance
The School
of Theatre and Dance is flexible in scheduling auditions. Most theatre and dance
auditions are given in January and February. For more information, contact the
School of Theatre and Dance at (540) 568-6342.
Nontraditional
Academic Credit
Advanced Placement
Applicants
for admission who have completed advanced work in secondary school may apply for
advanced credit in certain subjects at JMU. Students may apply to the College
Board for permission to take one or more of the tests offered through the
Advanced Placement program at the following address
Advanced Placement
Examinations
P.O. Box 6671
Princeton, NJ 08541-6671
Interested
students should discuss advanced placement tests with their guidance counselors
or principals. The College Board reports the results of the examinations to the
university. The minimum advanced-placement scores required to earn college
credit are shown in the table on Page 17.
Credit for Military Service
JMU
encourages veterans to apply for admission as full-time or part-time students.
Information regarding VA Educational Benefits is available from the veterans’
coordinator, Warren Hall 504N.
Veterans
who have one or more years of active military duty will be granted six hours of
health and kinesiology elective credit (providing they have no previous credit
in this area). Students must submit a Report of Separation (DD-214) to receive
this credit.
Additional
credit may be given for successfully completing certain service schools. This
credit will be determined based on recommendations in A Guide to the
Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. The Office of
the Registrar should be consulted.
Credit is
allowed for courses taken at the Defense Language Institute. The amount of
credit varies with the type of courses successfully completed. JMU must receive
an official transcript. Credit allowed is based on the recommendation in A
Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services.
For those languages not offered at JMU, a maximum of 12 hours is accepted.
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