JMU Early Action or Regular Decision: Which is Better?

I'm trying to decide whether to apply early action or regular decision to JMU. Does anyone know if there's a strategic advantage to either? I'm interested in the pros and cons of both options.

Applying Early Action (EA) or Regular Decision (RD) at James Madison University (JMU) largely depends on your individual circumstances and how prepared you are at the time of the EA deadline. Here are some elements to keep in mind:

EA Pros:

1. You'll receive your admission decision earlier, typically by January. This can help reduce stress as you'll know one way or the other sooner.

2. If you're accepted, you'll have more time to plan your transition to college, such as housing and additional paperwork.

3. There's data suggesting that applying EA can boost your odds of admission. On average, applying EA results in a 1.6x or, a 60% increase in your chances at selective schools. For less selective schools, the boost is less pronounced but can still be meaningful.

EA Cons:

1. The EA application deadline is typically in November, which means you'll need to have your application materials ready sooner. This could be a disadvantage if you want more time to improve your grades, test scores, or extracurricular activities.

2. If you're not entirely sure about JMU being your top choice yet, you might prefer to wait for RD to have more time to consider your other college options.

RD Pros:

1. You have more time to put together a strong application. If your grades first semester senior year are significantly better than your grades from previous years, waiting to apply RD could be beneficial so the admissions committee can see this improvement.

2. You can take standardized tests during the fall of senior year and have these newer (ideally improved) scores considered in your application.

RD Cons:

1. The decision notification date for RD is in April, which gives you less time to make a decision and plan your next steps.

In summary, if you feel confident about your application and JMU is a top choice for you, consider Early Action. If there are still areas in your application you're actively working to improve or if you need more time to explore your options, Regular Decision may be the better route.