JMU HONORS PROGRAM251 Warren Service Drive
MSC 1501
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Hillcrest House
540.568.6953
540.568.7728
540.568.8079 (fax)
E-mail: honors@jmu.edu
Office hours:
Mon.-Fri., 8:00am-5:00pm
FAQs for Prospective Students - Track I
1. What are the criteria for admittance into the Honors Program?
2. What are the benefits of participating in the JMU Honors Program?
3. Are honors classes harder than other university classes?
4. How many freshmen will be selected to participate in the Honors Program?
5. Do you need my high school transcripts? Do they need to come directly from my high school?
7. If my school does not rank, am I still eligible to apply?
8. If I have been home-schooled, am I still eligible to apply?
9. What are the requirements to stay in the Honors Program after my freshmen year?
10. If I am not accepted, can I apply to the Honors Program later?
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1. What are the criteria for admittance into the Honors Program?
A typical honors student will have the following:
- unweighted GPA of 3.75 or higher
AND - combined Math and Critical Reading score of 1280 or higher on the SAT OR
- composite ACT score of 30 or higher
These are only guidelines; the entire application is taken into consideration. The academic record and extra-curricular activities all play a vital role in the decision-making process.
2. What are the benefits of participating in the JMU Honors Program?
- Small honors classes
- Priority registration
- Student lounge and computer laboratory
- Honors residential hall
- Mentorship by great professors
- Undergraduate research in your major
- Diploma and transcript designations of Honors Scholar and graduation with distinction
- Excellent preparation for graduate and professional school
3. Are honors classes harder than other university classes?
Honors classes are not harder, nor do they receive any greater GPA weighting than other courses. They do offer greater opportunity for discussion and debate, work with primary materials, research and writing, and the development of critical thinking.
4. How many freshmen will be selected to participate in the Honors Program?
Approximately 200 students enter as freshman Honors Scholars each year.
5. Do you need my high school transcripts? Do they need to come directly from my high school?
Yes, a copy of your transcripts must be sent to the Honors Program office; we cannot access the transcript you send to JMU Admissions. We will accept either official or unofficial transcripts, so they may come from either you or the high school.
6. I sent a copy of my transcript to Admissions. Why do I need to send another copy to the Honors Program?
Documents submitted to the Admissions Office are confidential, become part of your permanent record, and are not distributed to other departments. The Honors Program maintains its own confidential files. In order to consider your application, we must have a copy of your transcript in our files.
7. If my school does not rank, am I still eligible to apply?
Yes. You are strongly encouraged to apply.
8. If I have been home-schooled, am I still eligible to apply?
Yes. You are strongly encouraged to apply.
9. What are the requirements to stay in the Honors Program after my freshmen year?
To remain in good standing, students must achieve and maintain at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA and complete at least one honors course or Honors Option each semester until all honors requirements are met.
10. If I am not accepted, can I apply to the Honors Program later?
Yes. Students achieving a cumulative 3.5 GPA at JMU are invited to apply to the Honors Program as 2nd semester freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. At that time, the JMU GPA is the primary criteria for acceptance.
