IMSA Applicant Class of 2022

Does IMSA look at the exact percentage of your grade (86%) or the actual letter grade (B), when they calculate your GPA?

Does IMSA use the plus and minus system when calculating gpa for applicants?

@BL1234

No, IMSA does not use a plus and minus system when calculating GPA. For example, if you have a B+ or B-, it will be considered a B grade.

How much weight does the 8th grade interview carry, when applying to IMSA in 9th grade? I heard that it is good to have on your application, but is that really true? Thanks

Hey there! I am applying this Feb. and I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a look at what I have to offer and what my chances are on getting in.

Race: Indian
Gender: Female
Grade:9

GPA:4.5
SAT: 1150 (560 RandW, 590 Math)

Extra Curriculars:

  • selected to represent my school district in Springfield Tech Convention 2018
  • StuCo president 2017-18 year
  • I teach Religious Education weekly to a class of 5th graders
  • Speech Team
    -Drama/Theatre
  • Skills USA/V.I.C.A.

Awards: I don’t have much related to Math and Science because those related events weren’t offered a lot to our school.

  • IPA Student Recognition Award

I know my weakest point is my SAT score and I can hopefully raise it in March, but what are some things I should include/not include? What are my chances?
Thank you so much for taking the time to help me!

Hi guys. I am a freshman applying for IMSA. I am wondering what are my chances for getting in to IMSA?

Race: Indian
Gender: Male
Grade: 9
Region: Chicagoland

GPA: 3.9 (Unweighted)
SAT: 1520 (730 Reading, 790 Math)

Extra Curriculars:
VEX Robotics
Math Team
Volunteering at the Morton Arboretum
DuPage Symphony Orchestra

Awards:
VEX Robotics Judge’s Award
Placed 5th at Team in Math Counts Chapter
Math Counts State Qualifier
2nd Place at a District Level Math Competition
(I’m hoping to win another award for robotics in the next month)

Courses:
Honors Algebra 2/Trig
Honors Biology
Honors English
AP World History
Concert Orchestra
Spanish 2

My teacher recommendations should be good, as my math and bio teachers love me, my english teacher likes me, and I have asked my old robotics coach for the optional recommendation, and he loved me as well.

Thanks for your time!

g

@link123
Your stats on paper look really good, and I have no doubt about you getting in, although from other IMSA juniors and seniors I have heard the essays are a really important part. I know a friend who had a 1320 on his SAT but got accepted due to his excellent essays.

Hey if I sent SAT scores to IMSA, since I’m in 9th grade can colleges see these scores when I apply in 12th if I dont use score choice? Please reply…

@topCShopeful
When applying to colleges, I’m 99% sure you get to choose which SAT scores you send in. It wouldn’t make sense applying with your 9th grade score unless it is really good

Hi! I am also a freshman applying for IMSA and wondering what my chances are.

Race: Indian
Gender: Female
Grade: 9
Region: Central Illinois

GPA: 4.54 - Unweighted
SAT: 1330 (590 Reading, 740 Math)

Extra Curriculars:
Student Council (Freshman Board Vice President)
FBLA - Qualified for State in Financial Math event
HOSA - Competition results to come
Math Team
Girls Who Code
Scholastic Bowl
Central Illinois Shotokan Karate Association - Green Belt
Swim Team over summer

Awards:
MathCounts 1st Place in Team at the chapter level
MathCounts State Qualifier
FBLA Middle-Level 1st Place in Business Math and Financial Literacy event
FBLA Middle-Level 1st Places in Bronze, Silver, and Gold Level LEAD Project
FBLA State Qualifier
Multicultural Academic Achievement Recognition by Illinois Wesleyan University for 4 consecutive years

Courses:
Honors Algebra 2
Honors Biology
Honors English 1 & 2
Computer Science Essentials
French 2
Sinfonia Orchestra

Teacher Recommendations: These should all be good

I am also part of an accelerated learning program at my school which has another competitive application process in 8th grade.

Thank you!

@tk2022
As a current junior, I would say you should definitely apply if you’re interested because you have a real shot! I am a little concerned about the really low reading SAT, and although your math score is quite strong, if you can, I would advise studying for reading and taking it again in March. Good luck!

Also, feel free to ask me about what it’s like here!

Thank you! I’m not sure if I will be able to take the SAT again, but I definitely will be applying. Some of my friends have also told me that the admission office focuses more on the math portion of the SAT. I also have a question about the courses offered. Since I am taking Honors English 1 and 2 as a combined course at my school, will it be possible to take English 3 at IMSA? I know that placements tests will decide our courses, but I was just curious. Also, do you think the dormitories are big enough for 2 people? I know that some of my friends at IMSA complain a little about the spacing.

This isn’t directly related ,but is it possible to raise your sat 150-200 points with only a couple months? I’ve heard stories of people that have ,but it just seems impossible.

@BL1234 Khan Academy has really helped me with a lot with the SATs! It helped me boost my score by almost 100 points (I had a really low score) within a month - you just have to stick with the schedule and take a lot of the practice tests, but it works! btw, I’m an applicant for the class of 2022, so good luck:)

@BL1234 It depends where you start and how much you are willing to commit. I went from a 1310 to 1520 with about 1-2 months of preparation. However, the 1310 was taken with no preparation, so I’m not exactly sure how much you could improve if you already tried your best.

I recommend doing a full practice test* and mark the questions you got wrong and specify areas you need to improve. Then work on the subject you are most uncomfortable with. For example, I am confident with SAT English, so I focused on math. Do a lot of official sets for that one area to familiarize yourself with the style of questions (in case you’re curious, I did 8 full math sections which tbh, isn’t a whole lot). Then take a couple full practice sets and you should be good to go. Try practice more the month of the exam, it will help refresh your memory and stuff.

I don’t recommend Khan Academy for practice sets because doing it on paper is a lot different than off of a screen. I printed paper versions from prepscholar
*
TIME yourself. this is really important.

For test day, prepare everything the day before and get there AT LEAST 20 min early. Finding rooms can be annoying and the more time you have, the more relaxed you’ll be.

(good luck! btw, I’m also a 2022 applicant. sorry for the long response haha)

I’m planning to submit my IMSA application on Wednesday, January 31. Do you think that this will leave enough time for any submission problems to get cleared, before the Feb 1st deadline?

I’d suggest submitting the application at least two days before the deadline. The website may crash the night before, so we don’t want that. By the way, Wednesday is on the 30th of January.

Good luck to everyone!

GUYSSSSS!!! I NEED HELP