I am just trying to imagine … emotional outbreak out here in a week… X_X
The Wall Street Journal named IMSA among the top 40 public and private college preparatory institutions in the world for placing graduates in the U.S. Ivy League and highly selective colleges and universities.
Is this true? Because you guys are saying differently
This forum is about to blow up again in a week or two :)) :-SS
@PlanarStuff Well, I am in 8th grade still and do not know where I am going to fall in Neuqua. I am in the gifted program in my school (1 grade ahead in science, ela, social studies and 2 grades ahead in math) and managed to get straight A’s so far. The thing is in 7th grade I did not try hard for good grades so I had like a 3.4 GPA lol. Now, I actually try really hard and manage to get straight A’s in the gifted program. My problem is like if I had a 4.0 in 7th grade, I would be excited to apply as my gpa is as competitive as everyone else’s. I feel I will be at the top of the class at Neuqua due to my new work ethic, and how my grades have been in the gifted program. Even if I was at the top I would still apply if I had the 4.0. My question is do i still compete with the other applicants due to my low gpa? Like, is it worth doing all the work to get into a school when I do not have a competitive gpa. Also, I will probably be a topper at Neuqua as mentioned above 
Also, I am probably gonna get into that integrated science program at IMSA so if you get in that would rock
For all those questioning whether or not they even want to go to IMSA, this if for you. It is a harder school with more expectations and a different environment. If you doing think you can do well here it would probably be better off staying at your own school. That is if all you care about is college. I understand that it can seem like a looming deadline, but college isn’t as important as you think, especially undergraduate. To me it’s about learning, that’s frankly the point of education. Going to high-school at IMSA enables you to learn infinitely more than at your home school.Life is about learning so if you value the name of the college on your diploma rather than what you actually learned go somewhere else because you could probably stand out more there. At the end of the day its all up to you as to how much effort you want to put in.
Another thing to consider is realism. Are you really going to get into the top tier colleges. To do that I would say you should probably have a GPA greater than 3.8 to start. If you are thinking about MIT then have you taken the AMIE yet? Do you plan to make USAMO at least once? Or how about Harvard. Do you imagine yourself ever being a semi-finalist in an international competition like Intel Science Fair or Google Science Fair. All the other schools have the same insane expectations of you. So are you ready to meet them or not?
Back from scioly. We did better than IMSA surprisingly. @OhBloodyHell and @priyaluvsbooks I heard two students from IMSA got into Harvard this year. Do you know how they did it? International awards? Straight A? I know how the students who got in from my school did it. Just curious how different the paths are. Thanks!
according to Avogadro, IMSA got 10th place at state this year. not bad, considering that their science olympiad team probably doesn’t have the budget to buy the best materials
congrats to stevenson and new trier for their nationals bids
also during regionals i said “good luck at nationals” at this group of stevenson kids as i was walking past them because i knew for a fact that they were going to nationals haha
Oh my bad i tagged the wrong person i meant @javascript
(read my comment 3 posts up)
@OhBloodyHell I want to go to IMSA. The problem is getting into IMSA. Neuqua = toughest admissions for IMSA. With such standards, and my low gpa from 7th grades rip my chances. Ugh, I wish I could change my work ethic in 7th grade (3.4 gpa) as now I get 4.0 all day in 8th grade. My problem is is it worth giving it my all to see me not get in. Do you understand what I’m saying?
@lsutiger25 I did not get into Integrated Science, I got into a different program - IMSA Science summer camp. I am applying for Integrated Science too, but they will mostly accepting underrepresented (black, hispanic), super poor (less than $25 000 annually for a family of 4 people) and rural area people (which I am from). My chances to get into integrated science are not big thought…
It is worth trying to get into IMSA if you want to go there. I also have low 7th grade GPA… I started school a month later and were catching up. Math teacher gave me a D for the one test I took without studying the material and the quarter was over, so I ended up with a D for the quarter. I was not allowed to make up for missing work. I am still going to apply to IMSA next year. I have all As during 8th grade and planning on continue with As. If you do not have 4.0 GPA, they will look for the upwards trend. As long as you have all As now, you should be fine.
It is not worth applying to IMSA if you are not sure if you will go or not. But it is my opinion.
@PlanarStuff - that’s what I worry about IMSA - all the budget cuts eating into its competitiveness. I always assume that they will always be better than us in math and science competitions but scioly is the latest event where we did better. It seems counterintuitive but I am now leaning towards going to imsa because I don’t think it will be as competitive.
@lsutiger25 - on the idea of doing your best - I think it is always in your best interest to always do your best regardless of what the goal is. If you mess up now because you do not think you will make it to imsa, in a few years when you apply to college you will regret not doing your best. Frankly, in my opinion, it may be better to stay at your home school because you have to be independent and self-motivated to do well at imsa.
@YoloSwagMaster - that Wall Street survey is pretty old. I think there are still students at imsa who do very well but what I heard is that there’s just a few of them who got in everywhere crowding out the other students.
Anybody knows how competitive is SEAMS program? Is it the same competitive as IMSA (33% acceptance rate) or no? I just want to figure out my chances to get into SEAMS this summer to plan my summer. Applications to other camps I consider will be closed on May 1, the decision about SEAMS will be made in mid May… Is SEAMS designed for underrepresented population only? Any info would help!
@javascript so last year I was invited to go to SEAMS (sadly I couldn’t go) and I was told it was directed towards underrepresented student. Regarding the competition for getting in, all I know is that no one else I knew was invited. Hope this helps
@ck1012 Thanks for letting me know.
I am reading carefully the program description and there is nothing about a shift toward underrepresented students. This is why I asked. It is said in the description:
"SEAMS serves students in the summer after their eighth grade year. This two-week, residential experience is designed to improve students’ mathematics, science, and English skills, and prepare students interested in attending the Academy for the application process. Group inquiry and problem-solving are a primary focus in the academic curriculum. In addition, the residence hall experience focuses on interpersonal skills development. The SEAMS program is held at the Academy and students participating in the program live in IMSA residence halls.
PROMISE-SEAMS classes will be held June 19th - June 29th, 2016 at IMSA. The application process is competitive and the cost for the program is $50. All applicants will receive notification of their invitation decision in early to mid May. Parents are responsible for transportation to and from IMSA at the start and completion of the program"
There were questions about race and average family income during application though… However, nothing about prove of free lunch eligibility.
I guess, I will call IMSA tomorrow to clarify the info.
@javascript Yeah I think you got those two flipped. Integrated science is like best applications get accepted. SEAMS targets the unrepresented people. Thats why I applied for only integrated science as I am from Naperville
@lsutiger25 This is a quote from IMSA website about Integrated Science program, which require a prove of free lunch eligibility: “Serving underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students who have talent and interest in mathematics and science is a high priority of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. We believe that we must actively recruit from all regions of the state of Illinois. In addition, we believe we must address the challenges of underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students through contact and intervention in the form of academic enrichment programming – this is one of those programs. The Academy continues to create and develop a culturally rich and inclusive environment that affirms and celebrates individual differences”
@javascript Hm that is weird. Both SEAMS and Integrated science is to target underrepresented students. Summer @ IMSA normal programs do not require an application; these camps just require you to call immediately when they open. No identification if the person going to the camp is smart or not. But, SEAMS and integrated science do see if the person going to the camp is smart or not. However, this camp also looks for the underrepresented students. So, I am guessing that Integrated science is basically like applying to IMSA as IMSA also looks for the underrepresented students.
@lsutiger25 I applied for SEAMS, and it was like applying to IMSA using the same imsa.admittor link. It required 3 essays, transcript for 2 years, principle form, 1 teacher recommendation, parents recommendation and math/science and other extracurricular activities.
Integrated science application is due May 1 and requires one essay, 1 teacher recommendation, does not require GPA report, but does require free lunch eligibility.
Just IMSA science (not Integrated Science) can be purchased if you are fast enough. It was sold out in a matter of seconds. I was on a wait list and get transferred into program a week ago.
May be you applied to SEAMS that was due April 1?
@Isutiger25 I got in from neuqua so I will say one thing. I thought it was worth it because I think life is about learning not what college you go to