<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 haven't made it in yet, but I applied a year early just to see if I would make it. I was invited for an interview, and I hear that everyone who makes it to the interview gets accepted to TAMS. Anyways 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>yes, it will as long as you are still a star there. I went to the version of TAMS in another state, and they took about 10-12 people in our senior class (180 in the senior class). There may have been a few more that could have gotten in that didn't apply.</p>
<p>If you do the following, you are pretty assured of admission:
1. make the math and/or science team
2. get straight A's in math and science
3. get at most 2 "B'"s
4. for all classes you get a rec, they should be able to say you are the best student in the class (maybe not the english rec, but it would help). that means junior year, really turn it on academically
5. mix in some other activities...</p>
<p>I will add that your SAT score should be above 750 on math and math + verbal should be 1500 to look ok (although below that won't mean that you can't get in.) Also, they highly value your AHSME score (they may call it something different now AMC12 or something.) Make sure you get over 100 (or whatever the score is now to qualify to take the AIME.) It's pretty important that you do; probably 1/2 of your classmates will make the cut. </p>
<p>Also, everything that I said was true before Marilee Jones became the head of admissions, so MIT admissions may now be less straightforward.</p>
<p>I just read your question more carefully and realized you asked about skipping a grade. It might help you a little, but it is far more important that you be a star at TAMS. If an extra year is the difference between you qualifying for USAMO by the time you apply to college, then you would be far better served waiting to attend TAMS. If you don't think the extra year will help you either in how you'll perform at TAMS or in being able to do better on math competitions and other things like that, I would go ahead and skip a grade.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice collegealum314! I am quite sure that I will not go to TAMS a year early. Actually, I have already skipped 3rd grade. BTW I attend Jasper High School in Plano, TX. I think that I should wait a year to work on my SAT's and EC's. I will most definitely go to TAMS though. Even though the PISD schools are good, I want to immerse myself i math and science courses. Consequently, I will attend TAMS in my junior year. Once again, thank you.</p>
<p>another PISD person to TAMS? lol good work man. I myself was in PISD from 4th to 7th grade. I then went to India, and that is where I am now. </p>
<p>Congrats on getting in. I know what TAMS is like because two of my very close friends go there. (As you are skipping a grade, they would be two years your senior age-wise)</p>