Chance me for TAMS!

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

I am a current sophomore and I am very interested in applying to TAMS. My situation, as far as I have found online, is fairly complicated, so I would really appreciate any insight.

I formerly studied in the “curriculum reform” (aka Math specialization) class of a fairly competitive school (regularly listed as a top 10 of a major prefecture) in China until the end of 8th grade. I have a fair grade there, around the 25th percentile of class.

This background have resulted in the following complicated class history I have taken since 9th grade:

9th grade:
English I Honors
Algebra I Honors
PE
Art I
AP Computer Science Principles
World Geography ----regular for 1st semester, Honors for 2nd semester
IPC----1st semester
Chemistry----2nd semester

CBE: Chinese 1-4, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus

10th grade:
Chemistry Honors----1st semester
Health Science----2nd semester
AP World History
AP European History
AP BC Calculus
English II Honors
Biology Honors (due to course not taken on 9th grade)
Independent Research and Design Honors

I have just taken the SAT, but results are not out yet; my anticipated score is around 650-700 for R&W and 740-770 for Math. My school have not disclosed my rank and GPA, so for that I have no clue:(

Extracurricular:
Math club member for 9th and 10th grade
LASER club secretary starting 10th grade

Awards:
AMC 8 1st percentile as international participant
NOIP Guangdong sector for Junior Middle School (6-9): 2nd prize

My school have denied the rights to block lunch, meaning I can’t participate normal school extracurriculars; however, I am able to negotiate a work-behind-the-scene position with my nice science teacher. I am still concerned about my lack of extracurriculars and awards. What do you guys recommend about preparing for TAMS better? Thanks for reading and helping out!

2

Hey! Current TAMS student here. As long as you have good grades in your classes you should do ok. Your extra-curriculars do seem a little weak as you pointed out. If joining clubs at school is not possible for you, try and look for something outside of school to do. It is really important that you show admissions that you are a valuable community member. Even if your extracurriculars are weak, it is still possible to save your application through a high SAT score, and a high class rank. As of right now, it is difficult to tell your standing due to the lack of information of a formal SAT score and grades.

3

Thanks for your advice!
The SAT grade have just come out; to my dismay I only got 1390, for 690+700. Do you think this score is sufficient to knock it?
Also by “outside school”, do you recommend me to do volunteering in places like libraries and Goodwill, or do you intend something else?
By the way, is there any way to compensate for the fact that the school does not rank students?
Please let me know. Thanks!

4

Your SAT score should be fine for TAMS, I think the average SAT score for my class was a high 1300, so you are right in the center for that. Outside of school, I meant things that do not directly relate to your classes. For example, I founded 2 clubs because I wanted to share machine learning with my peers, and also my culture. I also was a member of the debate team and a bunch of other things. I would recommend you take part in clubs or make your own. TAMS really likes people that make their own clubs. You could also do math olympiads for example. Volunteering is a good start, but if that is the only thing you do, that may not bolster your application enough.

I am sure TAMS will realize your school does not provide ranks, so not having won’t really matter as long as the grades themselves are decent.

5

I do participate in math and science clubs and involve in math Olympiads, so I can put a check mark on that. As a Chinese, I think joining the Chinese club can be pretty helpful(in terms of influencing those ethnic Chinese who have marginal understanding of Chinese language and culture at best), so I probably should do so. Volunteering is really hard to find in my area, particularly those of a STEM focus, but I will try.

By the way, does universities outside Texas accept credits that I get in TAMS (normally)?

6

Yeah, those clubs will definitely help you out. With math olympiad, I suggest you put in dozens of hours if needed, and win some awards. That will be something that will boost you right up. The student life sector of TAMS is heavily emphasized, so definitely try and show them you can contribute through clubs or whatever.

As for credits, unless you stay at UNT, there’s a very low chance all your credits will transfer unless you go to a school around the same level as UTD in state. However, with some luck even out of state colleges will skip you through some classes based on credits. Don’t count on it though.

7

Deleted Floor

8

Hello, I have just received an invitation to interview. Do you think the interview is hard? I reviewed the math section and found it OK, but I can’t say for the rest. Also, are there anything that I need to bring or pay attention to for that? Thanks for your information.