<p>This is from JMU’s Admissions Website –</p>
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<p>**2009 - 2010 **Freshman Class Profile
Applications: 20,963
Applicants accepted: 61.4%
Applicants enrolled: 3,952
Average SAT Score: 1145
- SAT mid-50 percent range: 1100-1230
- ACT mid-50 percent range: 24-28
- Top third of high school class: 88%
Freshman retention rate: 91%
Competitive candidates will have mostly As and Bs in the core academic areas (English, math, lab science, social science and foreign language)</p>
<p>Competitive candidates for admission will have taken upper level coursework in the core academic areas (i.e. Honors, AP, IB, Dual Enrollment) when available in their high school.</p>
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<p>The **2010-2011 **class had 22,500 applications and 12,000 were offered admission; that’s a preliminary acceptance rate of 54%, down from 65% two years ago. I think it’s safe to assume that the SAT mid-range scores went up this year. It’s been like this the past couple of years at all the Virginia state colleges – record high applications and record low acceptance rates. I thought my son was a good candidate for UVa based on past numbers, but this year’s class data showed that it was really a stretch school for him. He’s going to JMU this fall; several of his classmates who were sure they’d be accepted, weren’t.</p>
<p>You have a chance, but you can expect things to be just as tough, or tougher, next year. To improve your chances, buy a couple of review books and study them over the summer, and take the SAT twice more in the fall to try to boost your scores. Keep the grades up and take at least three AP / DE courses as a senior (I know it’s hard if you’re playing baseball; do it anyway). Volunteer at something this summer. Look at the JMU application process and start planning your essays now. My son was swamped as a junior and played a fall sport, so we didn’t begin the college planning process until very late due to lack of time. You’ll be two weeks from the January application deadlines before you know it. Start the process as soon as school ends in June. In-state helps, male probably helps too (JMU 60% female, 40% male). Good luck.</p>