How will this affect my acceptance?

Applying to College
1

<p>Just so we’re clear, I want to go to James Madison University.</p>

<p>I wrote an article that is being published in a National Magazine. Will this positively affect my acceptance? I don’t know how much weight publications carry. I want to be an English major with a focus in Creative Writing though so it kind of shows that I’m already starting to succeed in the field.</p>

<p>I’m asking because I’m an average student. I fit in with JMU’s general standards but I’m nothing real special. I have a good chance at getting in, but I don’t know if I have that “hook”. I have good grades in all AP/ Honors courses but they’re not straight A’s. I have an okay SAT score (630- CR, 520- Math, 580- Writing) which with just CR and Math is a little over JMU’s mean score for last year’s incoming Freshmen. I have good EC’s (Theatre, Academic Based Clubs, Volunteer Programs, etc.) But I see a lot of people with straight A’s, 2400 SAT scores, and who won academic contests and nationally recognized awards. (Granted those students are mostly applying to the Ivy Leagues and not a Virginia state school) It makes me feel like there’s nothing special about me haha I’m just hoping this is my “hook”. </p>

<p>Thanks so much for answering!!!</p>

2

<p>Will it help you? Yes.</p>

<p>Will it help you enough for JM to accept you? Nobody here knows.</p>

<p>I’m writing this because you are obsessing over one school in many threads. You’ve done what you can, now JM will accept you or not, but no amount of asking for an answer here is going to change anything. Hopefully you have applied to a realistic list of schools and will be happy and prosper where ever you land.</p>

<p>If you use the Search function for ‘hook’, you will find that your writing, while a very nice EC, is not a hook. And even if it was, it wouldn’t make any difference in determining if you will be accepted at JM or any other school.</p>

<p>Best of luck and enjoy your sr year.</p>