@survivorfan1 I don’t want to argue with you. I’m just saying things based on what I’ve heard. I’m not telling anyone to take what I say to be certain, in fact any “facts” on this thread should be taken with a grain of salt because you can’t be positive what’s true and what isn’t. Also, I’m not saying that’s all I’ve heard I from. It was just examples. I know other people who got in with low SAT Scores, I’ve spoken with administrators who work with admissions, and other people who have gone to/been to Harvard before. These are just the kinds of things I’ve heard. (Also, I should have been clearer but I meant to say I’ve heard Harvard’s education isn’t that great for an Ivy League school.)
“Qualified applicants are ranked numerically in accordance with SAT-Math in descending
order from 800, recalculated GPA, RCE, and SAT-CR, respectively.”
"The following information is reviewed to determine the applicant’s RCE score.
- Evaluations by eligible science, mathematics, and English teachers,
school counselors, and administrators from the student’s local school.
Additionally, applicants have the option of submitting a recommendation
from a non-school individual who can speak to the applicant’s talent,
interest and demonstrated engagement in math, science and technology. - Awards won or recognitions received for accomplishments in science
fairs, mathematics projects, competitions, extracurricular activities,
community service projects, and personal interests and hobbies. - Applicant responses to essay questions on the application for admission.
- Demonstrated evidence of strong interest and talent in mathematics
and/or science, and a desire to pursue a Science/Technology/
Engineering/Mathematics (STEM) career"
“For each eligible applicant, the foregoing information (1-4) is reviewed by Review
Committee teams, and each applicant is rated along five dimensions: potential
for mathematics reasoning, potential for scientific reasoning, communication
skills, interpersonal relations, and skill application. The applicant’s ratings in
these five dimensions are then used to determine the Review Committee
Evaluation (RCE) score. All scores are contextually based, recognizing the
differences in opportunities available to students from different districts and
regions of the state. The RCE score will reflect their evaluation of applicant
engagement in Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) and their
qualifications for the IMSA environment.”
Quoted from https://www.imsa.edu/sites/default/files/upload/admissions_policy_ja_.pdf
Not sure if the order of these 4 scores implies the order of importance of criteria considered.
@Bamboolong I’m a lil out of it atm but I believe that the order does mean what’s important. I.E: Math then GPA then RCE then SAT-CR. If I recall correctly, the teacher recs and the essays are the most important parts of the RCE.
So your saying SAT M is the most important thing on your application?
@YoloSwagMaster According to IMSA, that is what they ranked as the first thing they say.
*look at
I’m trying not to refute that because people are refusing to listen to me, but you guys are REALLY overthinking that. Whatever the website says isn’t strictly what admissions uses.
I mean ofc they aren’t basing it off of SAT Math scores or anything. Like for example, you got in with 1600. That put you at a lower chance of getting in obviously. But, you probably had everything else in your application perfect, which gradually got you to the admitted class. The SAT math is just the thing that they use to get a general place for you, and then arrange you accordingly. @notarapper
Would being in Mensa improve how your application looks?
If anyone is at Stevenson for regionals atm, shoot me a message!
I am at JJC for regionals 
I placed first in individual!! Goin to state!
@YoloSwagMaster Good Job!! =D>
Hi everyone! I’m also applying this year and I’ve stalked this forum for a while. I’m not really comfortable sharing everything about my application, but I’ll give some background information as well as some of my concerns.
So I’m an Asian from the D204/203 area which is very privileged and competitive. I’m currently a freshman in honors classes with a 4.0 GPA. My SAT scores are in the 600s with CR+M totaling in the low 1300s.
I’m worried about my application since I don’t take full “advantage” of my school’s opportunities. I’m only in 2 STEM related clubs and I have NO STEM awards. I should have okay essays and evaluations, but I know that students who are in a lot of extracurriculars with lots of awards probably show more interest and passion for science and math. So my questions are:
- Are the numbers (SATs, GPA) more important, less important, or equally important to the activities, awards, essays, evaluations, etc?
- Will strong participation/awards in fine arts or sports extracurriculars make up for a lack of STEM awards and activities?
- Do demographics and geography also make a difference? Are there a limited number of people they accept at each school? I know quite a couple of people at my school applying and I personally think they have better applications.
I’m just asking these questions (sorry if they’ve already been answered) to ease my nervousness about everything. Everyone here has great applications from what I’ve read and I hope we all get in!
@coolcatz1 Assume class of 2019 is identical as class of 2017, then
your SAT (M+CR) is 10-15% higher than average applicants.
your SAT (M+CR) is 3-10% higher than average enrolled.
your chance is 42% as an asain freshman.
your chance is 38% as a chicagoland applicant.
@bubblemaster3000 DO ME DO ME!
GPA: 3.8 (7th grade: 3.4 8th grade: 4.0 9th grade: 4.0).
Courses:
7- Gifted ELA, Algebra 1, gifted Science
Over summer to 8th grade- Geometry
8- Gifted ELA, Honors Algebra 2/trig, Gifted Science
9- Honors English, Honors Pre-Calc, Honors Biology
SAT: 2010 (720 Math, 680 CR, 610 Writing)
Location: Aurora
ECs:
- Science Olympiad
- MUN
- Math counts
- Student Council
- Tennis (6 years)
- Track and Field (Got 8th in conference for hurdles )
Awards:
- Er my team in the chapter competition for math counts won?
- State Science Fair Gold TWICE
Imsa Related Events:
- 2 hour tour
- Preview Day
- IMSA IJAS BRUNCH
Teacher Recs: Good
Essays: Great
@bubblemaster3000 Thanks for the percentage estimates, and I don’t mean to be rude but those numbers don’t really help my case. The admissions officers do not just think of applicants by their SAT scores from what this forum has said. They also care about other parts of the application, such as essays and extracurriculars. I know my demographics and geography might make me have a lower “percent chance”, but I was wondering exactly how important extracurriculars/awards are and if strong activities/awards in sports or fine arts could balance out a lack of activities/awards related to STEM.
@floridagators100 I think your application is very strong in all aspects! Seeing great applications like yours is making me worried about mine :-SS
honestly i feel like if you are dedicated enough to reach out to a forum, you must be pretty dedicated to going to imsa, and i’m sure the admissions officers will see that through your essays. i’m sure most, if not all, people in here will get accepted, and i hope we all do.
@coolcatz1 i’m not totally sure about if it equals out, but you have shown interest in stem through your extracurriculars, and taken advantage of other opportunities at your school, so hopefully that would even out? your grades and SAT are great, and if the rest of your application is too, that category probably won’t drag you down.
@coolcatz1 Statistically speaking, you have about 40% chance. And you should feel good about that. I only have 10% chance to get in.