@lsutiger25 Your extracurriculars are pretty good, and your grades aren’t bad, but it will give you a better edge if you can get higher grades next year (especially in math and science!). It’s harder for eighth graders to get in, so you gotta be on your A-game, literally. Don’t panic, an upward curve still looks good.
Your SAT is AMAZING, just know that IMSA doesn’t count writing, so you don’t need to worry about that. They only count math and CR, so it will be out of 1600
It’s good that you are thinking about this ahead of time, and you have two opportunities to apply.
As far as I know, GPA is calculated normally even for the PA program. IMSA will look at your first semester’s grades of the year you’re applying (first two quarters) as well as the previous two years. So if you apply in eighth grade, they will look at your sixth and seventh grades, and the first two quarter grades of your eighth year.
In sixth grade I got 2 C’s in PA math and PA science @yeldarb1. But this was like way back in 6th grade 1st quarter. Now I take class seriously… Please man I need to get in because my sister got in in 8th grade and she tortures me about how I’m so stupid 
@vniatge seams is awesome, and worth the time, i had took bio while also in 8th grade science, so this year i started in hon chem, at my local high-school The experience and friends you meet at the seam program will out weight the con of being ahead a year, plus if you’ve never stayed on campus before, it real gives you a taste of what it may be like if you do end up going to IMSA as a full time student, so i say try to participate, because whatever you can do to get the ball in your court for admissions try, whether that be an IMSA sponsored program or a opportunity that may boost you over the competition, but if you don’t go try to participate in EIP during your freshman year :-bd
hey maddi @ptvnicorn long time no see, and I’ve always called it the wrong name i think,
but thanks for the support and back to you too.
How come PA does not modify my grade? What is the point of PA then?
@lsutiger25 it’s imsa, almost everyone applying to imsa has taken advanced course work. Because of that, the gpa for everyone is calculated the same, regardless of your project arrow. Don’t worry, they do look at the level of the classes you’re taking, but it won’t affect your gpa. By the way, don’t strive to get into imsa in 8th grade just because your sister did, whether you get in or not you have another chance to apply. I know I matured a lot in 9th grade, and I wouldn’t have done as well there as I might have if I get in now if I went before I got a year of high school. Just something to think about 
Plus, your sat score is wow. That will help you out a lot. You want to work on improving your grades though, I personally got 1 c in my 7th grade algebra 1 class, due to my teacher changing the teaching style, but I explained that on my application so they know that. A’s are important, but if you have the total package otherwise, which it seems like you do, it won’t matter as much. Good luck
If you get in pack lots of hats for cc and I to steal if we get in @londolife
@lsutiger25 i understand the sibling thing, but it’s important to remember a few things
- your sister is just teasing you, it doesn't really mean anything. make sure you're applying to IMSA because you want to, not because you want to get back at your sister. it's a big commitment!
- again, IMSA is no walk in the park. putting more effort into your grades is key- it's an indicator of your work ethic. if you put in the effort, your grades will be fine. keep doing that for the rest of the your school years and everything will work out for the best
- don't get so worried about making it in. of course, you'll work really hard to make the best application, but 204 has good high schools. you'll still be going to a great school if you do not go to IMSA.
I got a C in math and a C+ in science last year due to my teacher’s absence for 3 months due to a baby, and our substitute was very disorganized. I got one C+ this year due to a test score in social studies. If I would average my grades, I would be a B student. I did score a 2300 on SAT’s if that matters. Also, can someone tell me what the application will look like? What is the main thing I need to focus on while writing the essay
Man… I am so sad now because I didn’t know IMSA expected A’s in PA Classes :(. Due to my B’s, i think that I will be cut… I am honestly really smart if I put the effort. Like I spent 12 hours studying for the SAT’s and I got a great score. Also, 204 is one of the best districts in Illinois. Doesn’t it matter like if lets say someone got straight A’s in a inner city middle school. And someone got straight B’s in D204 school. Aren’t they equal?
@lsutiger25 It depends. The only time location really makes a huge impact in comparison in when you are comparing a district in which a school like Stevenson, or naperville, etc is in against a small town high school in somewhere south IL. The grade thing also I believe depends on what math class you are in. Are you in geometry or algebra 1 right now? If it’s 2 years ahead I’m assuming geometry.
@lsutiger25 you could always say why you got B’s or C’s on the optional statement. due to your high sat scores, they will probably understand your situation.
Currently, I am doing 9th grade level math and 8th grade level science, social studies, and ELA. We are doing Algebra 1, and next year, when I am in 8th grade, we will go to geometry. @AviSaxena33
Guys, I’m gonna repeat myself here (for those who haven’t seen me before, I’m a current IMSA sophomore).
Grades are LESS IMPORTANT than essays in applications.
Every year, without fail, applicants try and calculate who will get in based on SAT scores, grades, ethnicity, hometown, and a whole bunch of other factors. I know that the month left before letters is stressful. I know that for those of you applying next year, you want to analyze this year’s applicants to try and figure out your chances.
Again, let me stress: IMSA accepts people based not mainly on grades, SAT scores, classes taken, or ethnicity. IMSA accepts students who are passionate about learning and helping others. IMSA’s mission isn’t to create students who are good at standardized tests, or brown-nosing. It’s to develop and nurture creative, ethical, scientific minds to advance the human condition. IMSA accepts students who can, want, and try to fit that standard.
Yes, grades matter. Yes, the SAT matters. But it’s YOU that IMSA wants, not your numbers.
(Sorry if that was a bit rude, but it was necessary. )
Can someone explain to me the format of the application?
@lsutiger25 Ok like the guy above said, grades are not that much an issue, but here is the deal, algebra 1 is supposed to be a really really easy class, not to take away from anything you’ve done, but you really have to try to secure an A in a quarter. It’s much more understandable to get a B in a quarter in geometry over algebra 1. I’m also saying this because if not in 8th grade, you will be applying in 9th grade and you’ll be in algebra 2 then and if you do not do well in algebra 1, you may not make it into geometry but if you do make it into geo and later get into algebra 2, you may have a tough time. The main point of what I’m saying is that you don’t want IMSA to see that you were in the highest possible math class for your area and then were put in a lower class due to low grades.
@AviSaxena33 Dude in 6th grade, I was doing really bad in pre algebra because I was new to it. In my grade (7th), I am taking algebra 1, and i am getting High A’s. Math isn’t really my problem man
@AviSaxena33 in 9th grade freshman year, people take algebra 1. I am in 7th grade… I am making A’s in this class.
So B’s in advanced classes is technically bad on the applications?