@imsa2020 IMSA will mostly looks at your math SAT, so you should be in good shape there. My school does not teach algebra, geometry, trigonometry… it teaches “integrated math” … which is suck… so here is your advantage over me. 
@javascript Yeah I heard about that “integrated math” curriculum. Like, if you are coming from Naperville. You have a better chance of succeeding at IMSA, but a lower chance of getting in. And vice versa from areas like where you come from. But, you just got to make the best of it!
@imsa2020 I am taking online “normal” math curriculum currently, to learn what “normal” schools are teaching. My parents have to pay money for it… It is actually so unfair that I am in this remote from Chicago area do not have an access to a “normal” competitive education… I am actually mad about it… I am the only one in my area interested to apply to IMSA, teachers and administration are not very helpful… you still have a better options than me. I have to fight also with surroundings… they think I am an idiot because I want to go to a school with a rigorous curriculum… i am so abnormal here… 
@imsa2020 let say you do not make to IMSA, you will still be fine, your school is good enough… if I do not make to IMSA I am done… My parents can not afford a private school…
@javascript Yeah, so thats why IMSA understands your struggles and will most likely accept you! As for me sure I will be fine here in Naperville, but the education provided at IMSA easily defeats education elsewhere. You need this education much more than chicagoland people, and that is why IMSA likes to accept people from random areas. To provide this education. But my competition is different than yours as I have to face the people in the chiacgoland area who all of outstanding stats when applying. Sure everyone applying in chicagoland will be fine not going to IMSA, but everyone in chicagoland wants the education provided by IMSA.We both sorta have challenges to face while applying to IMSA. You have to be at par to the education provided at Naperville schools. Whereas, I have to be at par to the education provided at IMSA. If we both achieve this, we both have a good shot of getting in.
@imsa2020 good luck to you! you have to make your application unique and I am sure you will be good
@javascript Hey, just curious, what did they talk about in that 8th grade interview thing you attended?
@imsa2020 it was all about what was good and not so good in my application
@imsa2020 please do not ask me what was not so good in my application :-S
@imsa2020 actually, I would kill for your SAT score… :-?? now you know what was not so good…
@imsa2020… well my GPA was not outstanding also… my school is just plain boring… everything is boring… most of everything… you have to be a super hero computer person to keep going through this boredom with straight As… assignments was just boring stupid… you can not even imagine how boring it is to study planets at 8 grade at a level of 3rd grade!.. if you know everything about plants and your teacher can not even answer a simple question about planets… if your science teacher has no idea what is photosynthesis or cellular respiration is in details… you can not ask a question about anything… and your parents have to take you to this school every morning, and you have to sit through… till 4 pm… even thought you are suffering and wasting your live time there…
@javascript Tbh I would kill for a gpa higher than mine aha. It truly does suck that your school does not offer education like my current school. I realized the main reason I want to get into IMSA (you are probably going to call me super self centered). In my district, there is a highly selective gifted program for middle schools. I was offered placement into the program, and I of course accepted it. Then, for high school I was recommended for the hardest course load for the freshman level. The thing is though that my high school does not have a gifted program in high school. Basically, anyone can sign up for Honors bio for example. Sure, they can fail the class. But people who just randomly sign up for an honors class without recommendations truly ruin the whole class entirely. Thats why I want to go to IMSA as everyone around me are intellectuals who see eye to eye with me!
@imsa2020 I understand you. I also enjoy to be surrounded by intellectual people… Well, trust me, people surrounding me at my school are much less intellectual than people surrounding you… My school has 25% math proficiency and 30% reading proficiency.
So just imagine the level they are teaching at my school to meet expectations of behind-ers people…
However, teachers are paid a lot even though they are not being able to answer any question…
our principle was “resigned” from his job for drinking and driving… he was caught without valid insurance and license… :-S
hey guys, i made it into the class of 2019 (and attended excel), here’s some advice for applying to imsa
-Do IMSA programs like eip, Fusion, SEAMS, etc… these programs increase your chances of you making in by a lot imo
-get good grades - focus on getting A’s and maybe an occasionally C
-get your teachers to like you - actually talk to them, so when they write recommendations they know what to write
-practice your essay writing-the essays are the only way to talk about why you want to attend imsa, so they have to be good
-and if you make it in… be prepared to ask for help and reach out to your teachers, because IMSA is kinda hard(according to my experience at excel). Remember that if you are going your GPA will probably drop and that you will have to get used to not being the smartest in the room. Also, get used to studying and managing your time.
@caressmytoenails Can you tell us your stats? Also, I heard IMSA programs don’t matter that much because everyone from chicagoland does them. Like, they aren’t unique if you are from chicagoland.
I had about a 3.78 GPA. i don’t remember my 8th grade grades that well except I got a C in math for 2 quarters, straight A’s 7th grade and straight A’s freshman year.
i had 630 reading, 520 math, 580 writing SAT scores(from the old SAT).
And also, I do think imsa programs help. 50% of kids in promise programs make it in. If you have the opportunity to do them, you should.
@caressmytoenails you should mention that competition among females is not the same like among males… Also do you think I should do EIP this fall even if I live 3 hours away from Aurora? Will it hurt me if I will not do it? I did SEAMS, Fusion and IMSA@Summer… doing TALENT…
@caressmytoenails Oh yeah promise programs help a lot because IMSA can identify kids that lack education to join their school. But, sadly I do not qualify for promise programs, so I can’t go to them.
@javascript Well EIP is 10 Saturdays at IMSA. So think about the driving each time. Like 6 hours driving from IMSA and back every Saturday. If your parents are up for it, then I guess.