Imsa applicant class of 2019

Prep School Admissions
321

Here is a great response to how admissions work at IMSA.

Acceptance into IMSA is dependant upon three things:

1.) Your SAT score
2.) your GPA for the past three years
3.) your personal information (activities, essays, and teacher reccomendations.)

All three categories are equally important.

The average SAT score for accepted IMSA students is around 600 for reading, and 650 for math. (IMSA does not look at the writing score.) There is no minimum score required to be considered for IMSA, but the higher your score, the more likely you are to get in. The average total score is around 1250 out of 1400. (not including the writing section.)

The average GPA for accepted students is a 3.88 / 4.0. Again, there is no minimum GPA required, but the higher, the better.

The last part the admissions commitee will look at is your personal information. This includes any activities you have participated in, awards you have won, and IMSA sponsored events you have attended. It also includes the essays you had to write, about yourself and why you should be accepted into IMSA, and your teacher evaluations from a math, science, and english teacher. (You can also submit an optional reccomendation)

After all students have turned in their application, the IMSA admissions committee will give each student a “score” on each of the three parts on their application. The three “scores” are added, and the students are then put into a list, with the names descending from highest score to lowest score. The top 240 or so students on the list are accepted, and the 20 students after them are waitlisted. Generally, about 1 in 3 students who apply get accepted.

There is really no “easy” way to get in, but my best advice would be to study the SAT. A really good score on that test can almost guarantee acceptance. Another good thing to do would be to participate in lots of math/science/IMSA related activities. Participating in IMSA tours and visits shows a strong interest in attending IMSA, and kids who demostrate a strong interest in math or science are more likely to get in. (It is a math and science school, after all.)

322

Granted its 9 year old response but still pretty neat!

323

Awesome! Although, keep in mind that they are looking at the writing SAT this application season. That was confirmed last year IIRC.

324

@red42413 Yeah I know. I emailed an admissions councilor about it and this is what she wrote back.

"In regards to the writing SAT score, we will still just be using math and critical reasoning as the main components, however, we have had a change in the policy in that this year we will be able to disclose the writing score if we have further questions or concerns regarding an application. For example, in the past we sometimes would have an application with a very high math score but a rather low critical reading score. This would raise questions; such as something go wrong on test day or is there something we should be concerned about in regards to this applicant’s ability to comprehend the English language, etc… being able to look at the writing scores just gives us additional info to consider if we need it.

325

@floridagators100 Ooh that’s awesome! I was under the impression it was like a whole category in itself. Thanks!

326

I told you guys that earlier in this chat. But yeah! That’s great

327

@floridagators100. I am sure they don’t just pick the top 240. If they did the disadvantaged areas of Illinois will be much more underrepresented. I am sure they let the top 120 in based on total score and then the other half is filled to make IMSA more representative of Illinois population. How much more will Illinois legislators cut the IMSA budget if most students are from Chicagoland? This is the reason why I think IMSA will be less Asian going forward. They need to satisfy the downstate senators. I am sure you know this since you are concerned with the other kids from Metea that are applying. The only way someone from the 203/204 area can guarantee admission is to be much higher than the average or have some national awards or unique talents. Just my 2cents backed by what I heard from 3 current students and a few parents.

328

@survivorfan1 True. That post is dated 9 years ago so things must of changed. Heres some facts I found about average accepted values.

SAT MATH AVERAGE: 678
SAT CRITICAL READING AVERAGE: 610 AVERAGE MODIFIED GPA: 3.91 AVERAGE RCE SCORE: 65

So basically since my GPA doesn’t meet “average” I have to get an above average rce score and and an above average SAT score (which I have)

329

Applicant Pool – Region
 Central – 6.7%
 Chicagoland – 82.9%  East Central – 2.8%  Metro East - .8%
 Northern – 4.7%
 Southern – 1.2%
 West Central - .9%
Enrolled Class - Region
 Central – 10.1%
 Chicagoland – 74.8%  East Central – 4.2%  Metro East - .8%
 Northern – 6.7%
 Southern – .8%
 West Central – 2.5%

330

Hi! I am applying to IMSA as well. My SAT scores were low though, 610 M and 620 CR. I’m retaking it. I live in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood in the southern suburbs. I’m Asian. For STEM activities, I did math bowl for 2 years and I tutor Algebra 1. Top 3 other activities are student council president, NJHS president, and mock trial. I have a few awards like gold and silver in state science fair. I have straight A’s. What are my chances?

331

@speck01 I say you have a good chance of getting in, what city do you live in? Because if your in 203-204 then it’s harder to get in.

332

I’m not comfortable with mentioning my city but I live an hour away from Aurora/Naperville area. @floridagators100

333

About 1-2 people apply to IMSA from my high school every year and about 1 person get into IMSA every year.

334

@speck01 Ok you are basically in… 4.0 with 610 and 620 in a deserted location usually is good enough for IMSA. Just make sure you don’t flunk essays and teacher recommendations.

335

I feel that everyone is qualified or over qualified in this chat. What we are worrying about where we live so for the people who live in the middle of nowhere, like me, they don’t have to worry that much.

336

I have this fear that their admissions practices will change a lot starting this incoming class. From the IMSA people I talked with, I gathered that the cuts were really bad this year so they have to curry to the legislators. We can only do what we can and hope for the best. My stats are pretty solid but it sucks to be an Asian male. I think our group is the most competitive.

337

Lol you know what sucks more. Being Asian male and living in aurora-Naperville area :confused:

338

Do you think it’ll hurt me if I’m an immigrant/non-native speaker of English? I don’t want them to look at my application’s personal info and go “Well, clearly this person isn’t proficient enough in the language to understand things in the classroom”. I’m just really scared about that. Like, an irrational level of scared.

@survivorfan1 Oh god, that’s kind of terrifying. Although, you just reminded me:

Is there any current IMSA student group that we can talk to/ask questions? I stalked their BigSibling ask.fm but still have a handful of small questions about things and I’m sure others do too.

339

Quite the opposite red. They will more be like “wow this person is so hard working he is immigrant and is working hard to come here”

340

This might be a stupid question but, I just want to make sure. For the IMSA gpa they use your English grade. Honnors Lit is considered English right? I am asking because in middle school I had a English class and a Lit class but, now I only have a Lit class.