Early Action applicants who received a decision of Defer often have questions about the decision and the next steps necessary to continue being considered for admission. We have put together the following FAQs to address those concerns.

Before contacting our office, we recommend reviewing these FAQs and clicking on your decision in the Applicant Center of MyMadison to read your decision letter. You may need to allow pop-ups from jmu.edu to view the letter.

Deferred Freshman

Frequently Asked Questions

A deferred decision means that the Admissions Committee is not yet ready to make a final decision on your Early Action application. The Admissions Committee recognizes your academic potential and believes your application deserves further consideration for admission.

Students who receive a defer decision are still being considered for admission and will receive a final decision after the entire applicant pool has been reviewed.

Deferred applicants from the Early Action pool will receive a final decision by early April.

The number of admit offers for deferred students varies year-to-year, but many students who are re-evaluated in the context of the Regular Decision pool are offered admission each year.

No. Only letters of recommendation originally submitted with your application will be considered.

The primary academic factors for admission to JMU include:

  • Grades through the end of junior year
  • Rigor of course curriculum relative to the curriculum offered at the student’s high school

Therefore, a specific GPA does not determine whether or not a student will be admitted Early Action. You can read more about JMU’s thorough application review process here.

No. Applicants who have been deferred should not re-apply for admission. Your application file is considered complete for the Regular Decision review process and will be given every consideration.

Yes. To maximize financial aid opportunities you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the March 1 Priority Deadline.

If you would like to speak with an admissions counselor regarding your admissions decision, complete the Decision Inquiry Form. Your admissions counselor will reply within 10 business days.

If you would like to withdraw your application for any reason, please complete the Application Withdrawal Form.

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