<p>@AviSaxena33 As I told another student earlier, you should not compare your SAT scores to everyone posting on this blog. Understand that many of you come from different parts of the states, different schools and districts and therefore are not equip equally to take a standardized test like the SAT. Your school may have a relatively weak math/science program compared to another student who got a 750 in both Math and CR. So try not to worry so much about how you measure up to other students posting on this blog. </p>
<p>What you should be considering is this: how good of a math/science program does my school have? Am I taking the highest level math course within reason at my current school? These points will be reflected in your SAT scores. IMSA will not expect a student who is taking Algebra 1 in an economically disadvantaged school in a small town to get SAT scores far into the 700’s for reading and math (not that I am saying that YOU are that student, but you get my point). </p>
<p>I don’t know a lot about the city of Palatine or the high school itself, but if it is in Cook County, them I am confident that your math scores are solid. As for you reading scores, they are not very high, no, but IMSA will take into account the background you are coming from. So don’t worry. If you however are still dissatisfied with your reading score- then do consider retaking the SAT. There is no harm to it. IMSA will take your highest scores from each test So if you currently have a CR: 580 and Math: 680, then take the test and get CR: 650 and Math: 640, IMSA will take your CR: 650 and Math: 680. Totally up to you though; I know it’s not fun sitting in a testing room for 4 hours on a Saturday morning, but I did it twice and thank goodness I did- my scores were much improved from the first time!</p>
<p>If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.
Good luck!</p>
<p>@Daisybug Thanks for the info. One thing I am curious about though and I want your insight on this. First of all, so as you know, my reading score was 580. I am in honors english and have been for the past 3 years including this year with an A in each quarter and semester. If IMSA looks at this, along with the presumed excellent english teacher review, will it not contradict with the SAT cr score? Thanks.</p>
<p>@AviSaxena33 SAT reading is not the same type of content that you study in high school- which is why many students tend to struggle the most with it. SAT reading can have more than one right answer, but college board wants you to pick the answer that is “more right”. In high school english, there is no one right answer. Period. They are two very different creatures. So IMSA recognizes that your reading score is not completely reflective of your English/Reading ability. I took college-level english courses before attending IMSA and my SAT reading scores were not spectacular, so don’t worry. The only reason I advised to retake the SAT is so that your scores could improve more (if you really wanted to do so). However, if you feel that you did your best the first time, then by all means keep your score. It’s not a bad score and, as you mentioned, good english grades and positive recommendations from your english teacher should do you fine in the admissions process. </p>
<p>@priyaluvsbooks you mean for the transcripts? If memory serves me right, I believe so. You do send in the transcript for all the classes of course, so they will see if you received a C in History, though your GPA is calculated using your science, english, and math scores. </p>
<p>Hope that helps ease some of the anxiety. Our SAT, GPA, and Reading Committee score (essays, recommendations, activities/awards) are evenly weighted, so a good GPA and RC score will balance out SAT. And looking at most of your activities, you all should be golden. </p>
Finally finished my essays. They were pretty fun and interesting to write. I did each of them at like 1 AM while watching the bulls game for peace and quiet lol.
Update: I don’t know if you guys recall, but there was an Arabic guy as he put it that got into IMSA after being waitlisted with a 4.0 gpa and 480 cr and 610 math score. He is from hickory hills which is a city in cook county which gives me somewhat some hope. So I don’t know if that helps anybody but just putting it out there.
Hey guys, I am a 8th grader who has a sat of 700 in math and 720 in CR. I am from lemont in cook county and have many national academic awards and also state academic award. No athletic awards because idk. I have never gone under 4.0 in my gpa and I am in mathletes academic team and tennis. I dont plan on going this year but do I have a chance.
Ps I have a friend who has the same stuff as above but he lives in lassalle county does he have a better chance of getting in
So, how should we approach the optional statement? Should we take it as a short essay, or should we be more direct, like the bullet-pointed achievements?
@ChemSniper Well it is optional so I would only use it if you have to. Directly from the directions it says “We attempt to identify those applicants whose previous school grades or admission test scores may under predict academic success”. If you do fall under any of those I would just do bullet points because it is so specific.
@ChemSniper It depends. If you have literally exact evidence which is non-debatable then bullet points. But if you’re trying to provide a case where you must sort of prove why then you could paragraph it.
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