Chances of Getting Into IMSA? +Other Illinois Schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Hi, I’m a white, female girl living in central-west Illinois (my town is pracitically on the Mississippi river, five hours away from Chicago), I’m in the 8th grade right now and I’m looking to go to IMSA (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy) for my sophomore, junior, and senior year. I did not apply this year (too late in the year to do that) and I have some questions reguarding getting into IMSA that I’m quite confused about. I would absolutely love for some people to clarify some inquires I have about going into IMSA, and help me find out my odds of going there.
First of all, my mom is also from the same town we live in now, and she applied for IMSA around my age. Do note that I don’t know what type of grades my mom got, nor do I know how IMSA worked +20 years ago, but I just wanted to point that out that she didn’t end up getting in (well, she was put on the ‘waiting list’? I’m not sure what she means about that, but it isn’t like she can answer all these questions about a place she applied to go to 2 decades ago).
Second, as I said before, I’m an 8th grader and right now I’m in my 3rd quarter of school. I’m student council president here, and I’m also in the school’s programming and drama club. Last year, I was in drama club and art club. I’m also active at my local theatre, but I’m not sure if outside-of-school things are accounted for in the application process. I’m a teacher’s assistant with our 8th grade engineering class, which is Automation and Robotics. I am an avid computer and robot programmer.
I’ve been on high honour roll all my years of school, I typically get As, althought I’ve gotten a few Bs on the way. Since I have this semester and my first semester of 9th grade to make up for it, I’m planning on getting nothing less than an A through that time. I have pretty good attendence as well. I’m in several credit-baring highschool classes, as of right now I’m in English I (normally taken freshman year), Geometry (usually taken sophomore year), and Spanish II. Next year I will be taking English II, Algebra II, AP Biology, AP World History, and Spanish III, as well as electives like Computer App. and Website Design. I’m not sure if MAP or ISAT/PARCC testing is evaluated during the selection process, but I score above a senior in highschool. I haven’t taken the SAT yet, but I imagine I will do well on it. If people could clarify what would be an ideal SAT score for getting into IMSA, that would be great :slight_smile:
Here are some of my questions:

+I haven’t taken a high school science course yet, as it’s not allowed at my school, I get straight A’s in science, but my school doesn’t allow 8th graders in an honours science course. Next year, the year I am applying, I will be taking AP Biology as stated before. Will that count as the required highschool science course to apply? Or will I need to take a highschool science course online?

+What classes are shown on the grade report? Just science, math and English? Or all of them?

I would really appreciate if people who want to go to IMSA/have gone there/are associated with IMSA in any way answer my questions, thank you!
And P.S., are there any other schools in Illinois that I can go to other than IMSA? Like another public boarding school like IMSA? I would like to apply to more than one, just so I have some chance at getting a better education than the one here (our schools in my area have very bad resources and teachers). Once again, TY!!!

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Wrong forum. Prep school chances is in a different area

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Sorry, I just joined today :// I’ll fix it. Thank you!!

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Hello, cataphobia! My name is John and I caught your inquiry courtesy of LinkedIn and was intrigued to see someone inquiring as to their chances of attending IMSA, so I thought I’d drop by and see if I could offer any thoughts that might be of use.

First of all, I’m thrilled to see that word of IMSA is making it out of Chicagoland. By the time I learned of IMSA, I barely had a month to put my application paperwork together and complete the requisite testing, so you’re getting a good jump on it! That you have enough interest that you’re asking online, finding out what you can, already says something for your drive, and I cannot commend you more for it!

Let me answer a couple of questions up front:

  1. The wait list. These are students that are considered very strong applicants and quite capable of succeeding at IMSA, so I’d certainly consider it a feather in your mother’s cap! Unfortunately, IMSA is a small campus and there is only so much space and funding to go around, so IMSA’s admissions team can only accept so many students every year. So, based upon a variety of factors, IMSA admits up to the initial class size limit and then puts the rest of the strong applicants on the wait list. If an admitted student turns down their admission (and there are a lot of reasons that this can and does happen) before the first day of class, then a student on the wait list is offered the opportunity instead. And, if you ever wonder if this actually happens, I’m a waitlister who was admitted two weeks before classes started, so YES, it DOES happen!

  2. Not applying during your 8th Grade year isn’t a knock against you by any means. The vast, vast majority of each class is drawn from freshman applicants. I don’t have the precise numbers, but I’d guess somewhere around 95% of each incoming class is freshmen admits. You’re doing fine.

  3. It sounds like you are very engaged academically and in terms of extracurricular activities. That will never hurt you, be it in applying to IMSA, a different preparatory school, college, or future employment. In terms of IMSA, they do take into account your available opportunities when considering how engaged you are, but don’t forget that you should never limit yourself to the opportunities made available to you. If there’s something your passionate about and your area doesn’t have a group, club, or organization for it, start one yourself! Trailblazers thrill anyone looking at a pile of applicants - how often do you see someone so motivated that they break from the pack and lead in such a manner? Not enough! Drive, passion, zeal - these are what any person reviewing applications loves to find, and I’m certain the IMSA application process feels just the same.

  4. You’ll get the high school course credit component next year, so don’t let that worry you in the least. IMSA takes into account your academic opportunities, so don’t worry that someone who hasn’t had a chance to take all of the AP courses is at a disadvantage. In my experience, IMSA’s far more concerned with what you’ve done to take advantage of the opportunities you’ve had (or to make opportunities for yourself if you had none). Show that you are driven and that you will excel with or without their education, that’ll make you stand out in the crowd. (And that applies to the rest of your life, not just IMSA.)

  5. Can’t really answer the grade report question. Sorry.

  6. I’m not familiar with any other public boarding schools in Illinois. I know there are several private schools in the Chicago area, but IMSA is rather unique in the boarding concept. University High in Champaign boasts an incredible program, as well, but I don’t believe they provide housing. And, admittedly, I’m fairly partial to a school I still feel is like a second home.

I think you’re on the right track. If you’ve got more questions, I’d be more than happy to discuss them with you. IMSA is an amazing place, not for the incredible academics and the plethora of experiences that become available, but also because it really becomes a second family. I’ve met other alumni that graduated long before or after I attended, but we had so many common experiences that it was like we’d been there together. I genuinely hope you get that same opportunity. I’d say “good luck,” but there’s no luck to it - make it happen!

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Thank you so, so much for your help, John! My parents and I have requested more information from IMSA as well, so I’m sure that will also help with some doubts I have about applying there. I’m extremely thankful for your help! I can’t express that enough, really. I have asked some other IMSA alumni personally about their experiences, ones in and out of the Student Council there, and they have never gave me so much information as you have. If you don’t mind me asking, what year did you graduate? Sorry if that is too personal. If you could reply on my other thread (in the right section) here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-chances/1855361-chances-of-getting-into-imsa-other-illinois-schools.html#latest that would be great! Thanks again :slight_smile: