Hello, I’m in the ninth grade and I wanted to know if what I’ve done so far would get me into TAMS. I still have time to tack on other extras and do my SAT test and such so don’t be afraid to try and help make my application bullet proof.
I’m in the ninth grade and I have been wanting to apply to TAMS for the longest time. Please be honest if I need more on my list of what I’ve accomplished so far.
4.33 unweighted gpa, 4.83 weighted
Roo buddies(club to help disabled kids in our high school)
School Mathematics Award of the year (eighth grade)
School Technology Award if the year (eighth grade)
Chosen to compete in Bobby Braggen “What’s My Hero” scholarship essay
Skipped the seventh grade
Vice President of Class if 2021
Accepted in Colligate Academy (currently earning my Associates Degree)
Accepted into Timberview ECHS program created by Bill Gates(unfortunately could not attend)
Volunteer 12 hours at football concessions stand for school profit
75th percentile in PSAT(waiting for recent PSAT scores. Will take SAT this spring)
Won fifth place in UIL Impromptu Speaking competition
Volunteered at Fortworth Science Museum for engineering week
Attended summer film program at Benbarber (Mansfield, Tx)
Trained in yoga for a year(not sure that counts but including it just in case)
Inducted into NJHS
Was in Spirals Gymnastics Counselor in Training summer program
Helped Fortworth animal foster care(All five kittens I fostered found loving homes)
99th percentile on Math STAAR(didn’t know if that counted but I’m including it anyway)
Won Spanish Intelligence Award on three separate occasions
Please tell me what you think!
Hi @MyLifeIsTAMS , I’m a junior at TAMS and are you applying next year because the next SAT date is after the deadline? It seems like you have enough accomplishments, but I don’t think that you should list the ones where you didn’t get a formal award/honor like the percentiles, etc. It looks great as far as I can see and definitely has more than I had on my application. 
Oh my goodness, Thank you for replying! I would be applying next year, that way when I take the SAT this spring it would count. I have also decided that I want to take the geometry CEB (test out) and algebra 2 (CEB). Then, I would be in pre-calc in my sophomore year. I have a plan to take the CEB test review, look at the material, and then study on khan academy and other cites. Please I would love it if you could get some of your friends to look at my posts. Also tell me if I’m crazy for doing the whole CEB thing. Again thank you sooo much!
That’s a lot of material to learn, but I think it’s doable. If it’s too much for you, keep in mind that at TAMS you would be finishing precal in one semester and starting cal 1 in the next one. There’s also the TAMS Summer Math Institute that would prepare you in testing out of these subjects and also give you a look into TAMS. I don’t think my friends have an account on College Confidential, but a lot of them told me that they didn’t have much to put for leadership positions and awards. So I think that you worry less about your accomplishments and more about the overall application itself (SAT score, ESSAY, short answer, etc.) Try not to stress yourself out too much with the CEBs and feel free to ask me any other questions!
I feel so greatful to have someone on the inside helping me! I’ll have you know that your reply made my day. I was victory dancing to farci hip hop. Here’s my question now, should I get more involved in mathematics/robotics relating competitions? Also this summer I’m going to a multimedia presentation program. (We learn how to make them and work for a greater cause); This program is held for a week at Alabama University. Will that help me in my application’s weak areas or will it just add on to the already excessive?
Also, do you have any SAT prep tools, sites, books, etc* that you would recommend?
Aww no problem! Being in STEM-related competitions would definitely help, so I would suggest doing that. As for the the presentation program, I think that might be excessive, but if you actually want to do it or think it’ll help your application, you should listen to your gut. 
Are there any competitions you would suggest?
Oh my, You need to sleep or study or whatever you need to do! I’ll leave you to it and save my over zealous, worry-wart imagination for tomorrow. Again I cannot stress enough how much this means to me. TAMS is my dreams and it’s reallly wonderful to know that IF I possibly get in, there will be amazing people like you. Have a good night!
*dream
I don’t really have any competitions in mind, but you could join robotics to compete unless you’re already in it. Haha it’s fine and I’m not really busy because TAMS doesn’t start back up until the 16th. I can always answer your question later on if I’m busy at the moment so feel free to keep asking. Thanks! I completely understand your position because all I thought about for the past four years is TAMS, and now I’m living the dream. Good night
Hey, what is the general SAT scores of the students at TAMS? If you have any sort of idea how high I need to get on the SAT Math, that would be wonderful.
Hey so I am actually an applicant this year (my interview is a week from today) and based on what I am seeing, the TAMS application doesn’t really look that competitive. Almost everybody I know was invited to the interview, and a lot of people on wait-list get accepted. Also, please be aware of the fact that the TAMS tuition with the UNT scholarships included is ~$26,000, according to the preview day powerpoint. I personally don’t want to spend that much money, but if you are up for it, I guess TAMS would be a great school for you.
Also, I’ve heard of people with 1200s on the SAT being invited to interview, so don’t worry about it.
Also, I’ve heard of people with 1200s on the SAT being invited to interview, so don’t worry about it.
The majority of TAMS students score above or within the 1400 range, but they care a lot about character. It’s good to have a high SAT score, but it’s not everything. Most people do get invited to the interview dates but only about half of everyone gets accepted. As for the those that are wait listed, they only get accepted if those that decline the offer because some people have second thoughts, but most of them only apply to see if they can get in. Sadly, there was huge budget cut from the TAMS program, so I don’t know how much it’ll cost for the 2020 and 2021 classes. One million dollars was cut from a two million dollar budget, so it definitely affects tuition. For the class of 2019, it’s about 14k I believe.@pathophysiologyftw Is there any point in going to the interview if you don’t think that you’ll accept their offer?
Thank you for the information!! I am just paranoid because my older brother went through the TAMS process and waitlisted but never got in. My brother is just so great I was scared that if he couldn’t get in… what shot would I have. Yet, with you guys giving me this important information I feel more confident in myself.
@ryaanwong, so based on what I have for my application so far… would it matter if I got a1200 or even a 1000 on the SAT. This would be my first time taking the SAT and I don’t know if I’ll get a high enough score.
I’m sorry to hear that your brother didn’t get accepted. You definitely should aim higher than that unless you can really stand out from the other candidates. If you don’t get the score you want the first time, you still have opportunities to retake it before the deadline. The math portion is mainly algebra 2, and you said that you haven’t taken it. So you should learn the material and then retake it. You may receive an invitation to the interviews with these kind of scores, but there’s a possibility of being wait listed or rejected because of your SAT score as well as other factors.