<p>Hi! I am currently a freshman in high school in Texas, and I am unsure of whether to attend TAMS (Texas Academy of Math and Science) a year early. I received my acceptance letter not too long ago. I am confused on whether to attend TAMS a year early cause then I would almost skip a grade since everyone attending is considered a junior. BTW if you dont know what TAMS is here is the website: <a href="http://www.tams.unt.edu/%5B/url%5D">www.tams.unt.edu/</a>. TAMS is basically a residential program where a high school student earns two years of high school and college credit at the same time. It is pretty cool. I am pretty sure that I will attend the program, but I am not sure whether I want to attend it a year early. I need to develop my EC's, which is the main reason keeping me from attending a year early. Do you think that I should attend the program early? Will it help me become more competitive for colleges if I attend TAMS early? Any other opinions? THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!! Btw my dream college is prolly MIT. Will attending TAMS early make it easier for me to get into MIT? Once again thank you!</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post, but I have another completely different question. If I don't go to TAMS a year early and stay at my high school, should I drop band and take a higher level course. I am not sure on whether I should drop out of band. How much of an advantage is band in college admissions. If I drop out of band I would take either computer science AP or Statistics AP. Also, I have won a state award for band and would dropping out of band make the award worthless? THANKS</p>
<p>I don't know whether going a year early will help, but the fact that you come from TAMS definately will. As for EC's, it depends what kind you want to do. TAMS has clubs, and not all are math and science related. I have a friend from TAMS who got into RSI. He particiaptes in many clubs in TAMS and doesn't think anything is missing. Of course, he is a hardcore math and science guy, but still.</p>
<p>Oh, and MIT will realize the opportunites TAMS provides. They don't care much about the EC's you take. They care about you initiative and drive to seize the opportunites (eg: EC's) provided to you.</p>
<p>Regarding whether or not Band is helpful in college admissions, it all depends on the school you are applying to. For instance, at some schools, the band is a bad joke, example: Stanford. At other schools, the Band reigns supreme on campus, example: USC.</p>
<p>Hm, idk. My high school that I'm entering next year just started a program just like that, but it's not a prestigious or really good high school at all. =/</p>
<p>Yikes, the answer to the band question is simple: do what you actually want to do! If you like band better, stay in band. If you think you'd enjoy AP Stat more, take AP Stat. Same goes for deciding where to go to school. Do what feels right to you. Dropping band just to load up on APs because you think that's what a college wants to see is exactly the kind of attitude that will land your application right in the "deny" pile, at least at MIT.</p>
<p>TAMS is cool. One of my best friends almost went there...but she liked her high school too much. That would be one reason not to go early. But as for helping you get into MIT, the mere fact that you were there early will not really help you that much... it's more the experiences you get that you could write about, and the advanced math and science courses, or an excitement for math/science that would help. So don't let "what MIT thinks" really influence whether or not you go, because MIT cares more about your reasons for going than the mere fact that you went. Though, the fact is a little boost, I guess. But it won't make up for a lack of other stuff, like super-excitement. I seriously think that is the only thing that got me in. Excitement. liek, srsly guyz.</p>