<p>I am talking about Illinois Math and Science Academy. So, currently I'm a 9th grader at palatine high school at creating my application for IMSA. Over the past 3 years, I've maintained a solid 4.0 gpa unweighted and of course with getting A+ in my AP HuGe class this year I have somewhere over a 4 gpa. In terms of classes, I've always been in advanced math and english in the 6th grade year moving onto to honors Geometry and advanced reading in my 8th grade year. I am in honors algebra 2, honors english, and honors bio, and AP huge currently and project lead the way, and spanish 2 again with a 4.0 + uneweighted gpa. Starting with 6th grade, there weren't many clubs but I was in engineering and "math" club and I was the student council president in 6th grade which included giving the speech for presidency and other speeches during the school year if that counts towards leadership skills. In 7th and 8th grade, I was a starter for the math team and scored highest in my school and team total in the contests in 8th grade. I was also a participant in the 8th and 7th grade science fair winning bronze and silver medals in the respective years. Another thing alongside the 6th grader presidency that I believe will make me one of the more unique applicants for IMSA, is that in my 7th and 8th grade years, I was the starting center for our basketball team and I basically have a starting spot for my 9th grade year as well. In 8th grade I was also in track and we won a district gold medal if that counts. Adding on to leadership skills, in my 8th grade year, I was a peer leader, which is basically like a national honor society mini version created by my district's jr highs where you apply out of hundreds of students and get selected and I was the leader in that group and gave speeches and presentations. Ending my 8th grade year, I gave the closing graduation speech as well! In my 8th grade year, I tied 2nd for both math team's AMC 8 and 10 contests and I was in a robotics class where we made a 10 story elevator and we got 1st place if that is relevant. I was an American Legion award finalist but it was awarded to a person of higher minority level and it's what literally my principle told me otherwise I would've won it. Idk why he told me this btw. P.S., I'm Indian he was Mexican and my best friend! Anyway, again, 4.0 weighted for all 3 years and 4.0+ unweighted and for my 8th grade year I received numerous academic awards including a golden tassel for my success. Moving on into my freshman year, I currently am a starter in math team, part of science olympiad, again plan to play basketball and tennis, and part of scholastic bowl. I took a practice SAT and scored it and took out the writing score cause it's irrelevant to IMSA and I got 560 on reading and 670 on math and it's obviously not my best work but I heard it was a perfectly ok score for IMSA alongside my other accolades and statistics. So now I ask you, my peers and more acknowledged ones, what are my chances at IMSA? P.S, my teachers love me and I'm sure my 8th grade teacher who is my favorite and vice versa will write a great extra teacher report. Thanks.</p>
<p>News flash, I just realized that all my honors classes include the 5.0 gpa scale alongside my ap class so with honors bio math and english my weighted gpa is even higher cause I have A’s in all of them so it’s above a 5 weighted I assume ^^</p>
<p>Hi! I’m a freshman at Metea Valley High School. You have a pretty good chance at IMSA. However, you have to remember that none of this matters if you don’t do well on the SAT.
I’m a female Indian, freshman, with all honors and AP classes. I have a 4.0 unweighted and do Speech team, Science Olympiad, Robotics, and Math team. I have gotten to state in robotics with my team as well as have gone to state for Science Olympiad. My SAT score at the moment is a 1370 and I am giving the SAT again in December in which I will hopefull acheive a 1400 or above. Last year, I was called in for an eighth grade interview at IMSA. Where the admissions counselor told me all the things I need to improve in my application. Only 12 eighth graders in the state of Illinois were offered this oppurtunity. Additionally, I am doing Tennis, Singing, and two extra lanugage courses (Hindi and Sanskrit) for which I will get college credit. I was on the JV team for Tennis at my school. There’s a lot more stuff but that’s the gist of it. What do you think? Do I have a chance?</p>
<p>How did you get to science Olympiad state? It’s not till next April. About getting called in for summer counseling, they offer it to a lot more than 12 eighth graders. I should know because I got my service credits at the admission office. I would concentrate on raising your SAT. There’s a ton of Naperville and Aurora kids (mostly Asians) so you need to stand out. There’s pressure to have more African Americans and Hispanics so it will be harder for you to get in. </p>
<p>@nickster12 For science olympiad, my I was in a program outside of school. and i distinctly remember the admissions counselor saying that she only invited around 12-13 eighth graders. However, I could be wrong so… Yeah the SAT is super hard, it sux that im indian tho XD</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice Nick, but I also believe I stand out fairly in between the pool of students. I mean honestly, if IMSA picks me, it won’t be for winning state and regional awards because that’s not what I’ve exactly done. However, how many other students can say they’ve said the closing graduation speech, been a student council president, junior high honor society leader, and starting center for basketball team 3 years in a row alongside maintaining the max gpa possible in the highest classes. Now I’m not saying that my achievements are amazing and better than state awards cause they’re probably not, but referring to what you said, I think I stand out nicely and these make me more unique. But yeah again, I’m taking the SAT tomorrow for the first time and hopefully I’ll get a good score.</p>
<p>Your taking them today? Wow good luck !</p>
<p>@priyaluvsbooks Yeah just came home. The math section was a joke as always but hopefully the reading section comes together as well.</p>
<p>oh this post is so amusing. I’m a junior at IMSA, by the way, and I think you all are worrying way too much. IMSA is honestly not that difficult to get into.</p>
<p>@phyish didnt u worry this much when u were applying? and do u know harith alappat, raj gurtatta, and uh nitya talasila? </p>
<p>@phyish What were ur sat scores like? Do you think I have sufficient scores with the added stuff above?</p>
<p>@phyish Me too pls :)</p>
<p>ok I’m not a credible source at all, but based on my experience it’s more important to win awards than merely participate in things, but you two both have really good ECs. However, focus on your SATs! My CR was about 700 and my math was 770, just for a reference. The SAT’s not hard, though, so overall I think you both have a decent chance.</p>
<p>@phyish Lol, your sat scores are scaring the life out of me.</p>
<p>Somewhere in the school website is a list of how they pick students. I think it is SAT, then GPA then essay awards recs. I think the more important question is are you willing to put in the work once you are in? There’s a few people who crashed and burned in my class. One of my friends who dropped out admitted he would have been better off at his regular home school. He was planning to go to a top school and ended up at U of I. Not that U of I is a bad school but if that is your plan, you can get there from your regular school.</p>
<p>@nickster12 that’s actually a really good point. But I feel like before making up my mind, I should at least try my hardest to get in. Honestly, if I get in, I am willing to put forth any amount of energy to get to the top. But first I have to get in so…
@phyish any recommendations for how to study for the SAT you guys?</p>
It sucks how Indian people who live near Chicago have such a hard chance of getting in than people of different race
It just hasss to be indian people :3
@YoloSwagMaster @priyaluvsbooks If your profile looks unique enough with your essays you should generally have an easier time to get in. If you’re in stuff like cut sports or application based activities, it will highly boost your chance to get in because of course, not everybody can participate in those.
@nickster how easy do you think it would be for a native american to get in