In the JMU Honors College, we value independent, student-centered learning, interdisciplinary training, collaboration, and active and informed service and leadership. To illustrate how participation in Honors education at JMU is aligned with your values and plans, please respond to one of the prompts below.  

Please limit your response to 250 words. We will evaluate your essay for responsiveness to the prompt, originality, specificity, and writing quality.  

1. Describe a time when you went “beyond the assignment”: in other words, a moment when you independently sought out an intellectual challenge just because you were interested, either inside or outside of school. How and why did you pursue it? What did you learn? And how did this experience prepare you for participation in the JMU Honors College? 
2. Tell us about two of your contrasting academic interests or personal passions and the ways they interact. How did these two interests first come together for you? How do you plan to continue exploring and interweaving them during and after your time at JMU? 
3. Please describe how you’ve shown up in and for a community that matters to you. (You might discuss a community centered around an extra-curricular activity, a job, a faith community, your family, or another shared interest.) What strengths did you bring? What did you learn? What, if anything, will you do differently as a member of the JMU Honors College community?   

Direct Admission allows JMU-admitted transfer students meeting certain criteria to join the Honors College without going through the standard application.

Elibigility
To be eligible for Direct Admission to the JMU Honors College, transfer students must:

• Be admitted to JMU.
• Complete one year of courses (minimum of 24 credit hours) at another institution of higher education (these credits must be completed post-high school graduation). 
• Complete at least 9 credits of Honors coursework at their previous institution.
• Present a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 (4.0 scale) upon application to JMU. If a student has attended multiple institutions, they must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.5 (4.0 scale) at all previous institutions. 

Additional Terms

• The JMU Honors College may recognize up to 12 Honors credits completed at another institution as Honors Electives at JMU. 
• Students who are not eligible for Direct Admission to the Honors College may still apply through the standard process. 
  
  

If you would like to be admitted to the Honors College under this policy, please DO NOT submit the standard application; instead, reach out to the Associate Dean of the Honors College, Dr. Allison Fagan.