thanks @corrjayna
how many people do you guyz think will apply this year? …like there is no one on this thread compared to previous years…
@xjayy13 Well, last year I believe 587 people applied. This year I think will be similar or lower than last year
Hi everyone. I’m an 8th grader looking to apply to IMSA this year, and I was wondering if you guys could tell me what you think my chances are. Here are my stats:
Race: Latino + White
SAT scores: Currently my highest are 780 math, 760 reading, 6-6-6 essay.
Unweighted GPA: 4.0, in the most advanced classes offered at my school
Region: Chicagoland
Some STEM Activities: Designing a video game with a group of people, some independent engineering/technology projects like building like a robot and rube goldberg machine, Math Club, worked as a volunteer math tutor over the summer, scholastic bowl captain
Some non Stem Activities: Various sports like baseball, football, snowboarding, boxing, and fencing, can play piano, acoustic guitar and electric guitar, NJHS, student council, volunteer work with disabled children at my school and in my community
Some STEM Awards: Some awards for my SAT scores, two first places in a robot building competition, scholastic bowl 2nd and 3rd place in regionals
Some Non STEM Awards: Some awards for my reading SAT scores, baseball and football championship winner, snowboard slalom speed competition winner, essay contest winner
I’m in good standing with my teachers (in especially good standing with my english teacher), so I’m confident that I can get at least decent recommendations. My essays are pretty well thought out and written but nothing special. Another thing I feel that I should mention is that I have a sibling at IMSA who I have shadowed and stayed the night with, and I have also attended multiple tours and Preview Days at IMSA before applying. What do you guys think my chances are?
@mk3655 I think you have a really good chance. Since you are an eighth grader, you will be judged harder and have more competition. Though if you don’t make it this year, which i think you most likely will, you can always apply next year with an “overqualified” application lol
@xjayy13 That’s what I’m planning to do if I don’t get accepted in 8th grade. I’ve always been interested in IMSA and I’m hoping to get in a year early because I know its possible with my SAT scores and such.
So. Just under two weeks to the deadline. How’s everyone faring? I for one could not think of a service project for my life.
@mk3655 Your SAT scores are well beyond the average of 734 for 2015, so are your reading scores. Extracurriculars and Rewards look rather nice, plus you are a member of a minority ethnic group in IMSA, so you face less competition. I would say your chances are approximately 75-90%. Good luck!
@corrjayna Think about some problems in your neighbourhood. Go out for a walk. Think about your surroundings, “Can this be improved with under $1000?” I am sure you will find something.
hello again,
(I know this is kind of late but) do you think it is bad if we write informally? for example using personal pronouns in the essays…?
@birdie02 I don’t think the style/format of your essays matter, at least that’s what I heard on preview day. I’ve heard of current IMSA students that wrote their essays as rap songs and still got in lol.
@romalex4 Thanks, I hope I find something.
@birdie02 I wrote/am writing my essays in an informal structure in the sense that there’s not really an introduction or conclusion, and I agree with what mk3655 said. I don’t think they care too much about the quality of your writing as much as they care about what kind of person you seem like from your writing.
@corrjayna same!! I can’t think of a service project either… i hope both of us get some inspiration soon :-))
Hello. I am an applicant for the class of 2020!
STATS:
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: F
Region: Chicagoland
GPA: 3.7 (3.43 unweighted), 3.33 7th grade, 4.0 8th grade
SAT: 680 Math and 610 Reading
ECS:
Math Team (regional/state, NSML)
FBLA
JSA
Jazz Band
Band
2 types of dance
swim team
singing
Awards (I lack a lot in this):
Honors 7th grade
High honors 8th grade
Some award in 8th grade i don’t remember
High School Course Load: honors geomentry, ap human geography, honors bio, honors lit and comp, spanish 2
Reccomendations:
Math- Good
Reading - Strong
Science - Strong
Optional - Strong
Chances of getting in?
@yomamasita what school do you go to, my school’s mascot is also a cougar, also your app. looks pretty solid good luck!
@melon132 it looks alright, decent chance… tho i believe in you so…
i legit know 11 people applying this year from my school (so much competition) and they all have the same teachers as me, so my teachers are swamped… lol
@xjayy13 wow thats crazy!! Good luck, fortunately for me i know only one other freshman applying in my school 
Just submitted my application. If you guys can, you should try to get yours in as early as possible. My brother, who applied to IMSA and got in last year, submitted his application at like 11:40 PM on February 1st and the site crashed. He was barely able to get it in at the last second, but it wasn’t worth the added stress. I’ve also heard of people who weren’t able to get theirs in because they submitted it so late. If you submit them any time before 9:00 PM on February 1st, you guys should be fine.
@mk3655 ahhhh. At my school, no one has a fully completed application. There are like 20 kids applying as well so it’s quite the predictament. Most of us need our grade reports turned in and our coneselors haven’t done that even though they submitted the counselor form. If only the materials were due March first instead of feb first
@lsutigers25 I’m having the same problem. My transcript just got mailed last Thursday because they had to basically invent a way for freshman to turn in grade reports (which I don’t understand because one or two people from my school apply every year!!!). In addition, the school website spelled my counselor’s email address wrong, so I only got it sent to her real email address last night and now it’s scheduling week for incoming freshman and I really don’t think she’s going to do it on time. I agree, March 1st would be so much easier. The one good thing is that at one of the tours or something the people said that they won’t penalize you if your counselors/teachers forms aren’t in by the deadline because at some point it’s out of your hands if your teachers do it. I mean, all the emails and stuff are saying that it’s your responsibility to get your teachers and counselors to do stuff, but I think that’s what the first two weeks of Februrary are for, I think they’re a bit of a grace period for teachers and counserlors to submit stuff.
Anyway, I’m still stressing bc counselor and one teacher form still not done, but I submitted my share last night so hopefully if my teachers do their thing in the next week or so I should be fine.