The application for the 2027-2028 school year opens on October 26, 2026.
Your IMSA journey starts with an application! There is no fee to apply. Follow the steps below to begin your path to IMSA. Our Admissions Team is here to help you feel confident and prepared at every step.
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
IMSA is accepting a small group of non-Illinois students for paid enrollment.
Visit IMSA
Choosing a residential high school is a big decision, and there’s no better way to get a feel for IMSA than to visit campus.
We encourage prospective students and their families to visit our community, explore our learning spaces and meet our students to get a firsthand look at life here. A visit can help you decide if IMSA is the right fit for you.
Step 2: Set Up Your Application Portal
The application portal will open on October 26, 2026. All applicants must create a profile to begin the application process. We recommend that students use their personal email address, rather than a parent or guardian’s email address or a school email address.
This email address will be an important point of contact throughout the application process, so it’s important to use an address that you check regularly and can reliably access. Some school email systems may prevent messages from outside organizations from reaching students. Parents and guardians will have an opportunity to provide their own email addresses later in the application. Be sure to save your username and password, as you’ll need them each time you log in to complete, submit or view your application.
Step 3: Start Your Application
IMSA uses a holistic approach when evaluating applicants, and that approach is reflected in the application process. The IMSA application includes important information, such as grades and test scores, but it also seeks to understand what drives each applicant. Are you passionate about STEM? Are you curious and eager to learn? Can you work well with others? These are all important qualities in an IMSA Titan, and we will use your application to get to know you beyond your academic achievements.
Explore each part of the application below:
Basic Information
The first part of the application covers some basic information about you and your background. You’ll provide details such as your address, parent or guardian contact information, and the schools you’ve attended. Nothing too complicated, just the basics to help us get to know you!
Activites and Awards
The next section asks about how you spend your time outside the classroom. We want to hear about the activities, interests and experiences that matter to you, so be sure to include all the ways you spend your time, not just STEM-related activities.
Whether you play a sport, make music, volunteer, work, care for family members or pursue a passion on your own, these experiences help us get to know you.
You’ll also have the opportunity to share any awards or honors you’ve received.
Parent/Guardian Statement
This section gives your parents or guardians a chance to help us know you better from their perspective, so encourage them to be open, honest, and authentic—there are no right or wrong answers, and no need to overthink it. We simply want to learn more about what makes you unique, your interest in STEM, your readiness to live independently and adapt to a new environment, and any additional insight or information they feel we should consider your application to live and learn in the IMSA community.
Parent/Gaurdian statement must be between 200-300 words.
Standardized Test Scores
Students must submit either an SAT or ACT score as part of their application. Test scores are just one piece of the puzzle in IMSA’s holistic admissions process. They provide a standardized baseline that helps us evaluate applicants from a variety of schools and educational backgrounds, but there is no minimum SAT or ACT score required for admission.
All test scores must be official and sent directly to IMSA Admissions from the testing company. Scores must be received by the application deadline. Scores received after the deadline cannot be considered as part of the application.
SAT
- Students can register for the SAT through CollegeBoard.org.
- Students should take the standard SAT, Math, and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing sections without the essay portion.
- When registering, please use IMSA’s SAT school code #3027 to ensure that we receive a copy of your test results.
- Please note that we do not accept the PSAT.
- View the How to Register for the SAT guide (PDF)
- Below are the following test dates IMSA will accept from this application cycle:
- Saturday, August 22
- Saturday, September 12
- Saturday, October 3
- Saturday, November 7
- Saturday, December 5
ACT
- Students interested in taking the ACT can register through ACT.org.
- Students should take the standard ACT without writing.
- Students are not required to take the Science portion of the test.
- When registering, mark IMSA as your current school (code# 140177) to ensure that we receive a copy of your test results.
- View the How to Register for the ACT guide (PDF)
- Below are the following test dates IMSA will accept from this application cycle:
- Saturday, September 19
- Saturday, October 17
- Saturday, December 12
Virtual SAT Official Practice Test with Northwestern's CTD
- Eligible applicants can take a virtual SAT official practice test that is offered through Northwestern’s CTD Program. Read the CTD practice test registration instructions to get started.
- Testing dates for CTD are as follows:
- October 25, 2026
- January 24, 2027
- February 6, 2027
- Eligible applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
If you started your application after November 1.
If your scheduled exam date gets canceled. Email a screenshot showing that the exam was canceled to admissions@imsa.edu before signing up for the exam.
If you are unable to find an exam within 45 minutes of your residence, email a screenshot showing the nearest options to admissions@imsa.edu before signing up for the exam.
- If your family qualifies for the Federal Free & Reduced Lunch Program or is experiencing financial hardship, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Please complete this brief Google Form before registering to receive your waiver code.
SAT/ACT Accommodations Request
- To receive testing accommodations for the SAT or ACT, any requested accommodations must already be documented in the student's current IEP or 504 plan and processed directly through their home school case manager. Because applicants are not enrolled IMSA students, IMSA cannot approve or authorize these accommodations.
Counselor Form and Transcripts
Your school experience is an important part of understanding who you are as a student. The counselor form helps us learn more about your school, including the classes, programs and opportunities available to you. This is also where you’ll request that your official transcript be sent to IMSA Admissions. Together, this information gives us helpful context about your experiences and accomplishments and helps us see your application as a whole.
Starting January 4, students can send the Counselor Form to their current counselor (or school administrator who oversees transcript requests). It's important to note that counselors will need to upload official transcripts from the last 2.5 years. Instructions on how to send official transcripts are included on the evaluation form. As a reminder, IMSA cannot accept transcripts from students or their families; all transcripts must come from the school itself.
If you have sent the request to your counselor and they have not received it, visit our Application Troubleshooting FAQ’s page for assistance.
If you attended another school prior to your current school, and your current school does not have those transcripts from the prior school, please use the "Previous School Counselor Form (Optional)" form to request those transcripts from your previous school.
Teacher Evaluation Forms
Your teachers see you in action every day, and their perspective helps us understand who you are as a student beyond grades and test scores. Teacher evaluations give us insight into how you approach learning, come prepared for class, contribute to discussions, work through challenges and collaborate with others. Their feedback gives fuller picture of how you learn and the qualities you would bring to the IMSA community.
Starting January 4, students can send their teacher evaluation forms to their current teachers. Applicants are required to submit three Teacher Evaluation Forms from the following subjects:
- Math Teacher
- Science Teacher
- English Teacher
Student Essays
The essay portion is your opportunity to let your personality, perspective and voice shine through. This is a chance to share something about yourself that we may not learn from the rest of your application. Be thoughtful, be genuine and, most importantly, be yourself. We want to hear your story, your ideas and what makes you uniquely you. Essay prompts can be found in the application.
Essays must follow the following structure:
- Essays should be 300-500 words in length.
- Please make sure they are typed (double-spaced in MLA format).
- Format them as a .pdf, .docx, or .doc to upload them to the portal.
- All essays must be your original work.
Optional Statement
The optional statement is just that - optional. You may use this space to clarify something in your application, share information about circumstances that may have affected your academic experience or application process, or let us know about any supports that would help you thrive at IMSA. If you have nothing to put here, that's ok! You can leave it blank.
Step 4: Connect with Admissions
Before the application deadline, connect with the Office of Admissions to ensure all your application materials have been received. You can contact the Office of Admissions by email at admissions@imsa.edu or by phone 630.907.5028.
You can also contact your admissions counselor directly. Counselors are assigned to you based on the first letter of your last name.
| Last Names A – H | Last Names I – O and Out-of-State Applicants | Last Names P – Z |
| Hye Min Yoon hyoon1@imsa.edu 630.907.5059 | Clarissa Jimenez cjimenez@imsa.edu 630.907.5569 | Simone Moore smoore@imsa.edu 630.907.5564 |
Students should log into their application portal to see what items are completed. The admission staff continually updates all checklists manually, so we appreciate your patience during high-traffic times. Click here for more information on understanding your application portal, along with troubleshooting tips.
Step 5: Submit Your Application
- Illinois Application Deadline: February 5, 2027
- Non-Illinois Application Deadline: January 15, 2027
Once you’ve completed all sections of your application, you can submit it. Your supporting materials, including evaluations, transcripts, test scores, and counselor forms, may still be in progress when you submit. However, all required materials must be received by the application deadline for your application to be complete and considered for review.
Once you’ve submitted your application, the next step is the hardest one: waiting! Take a deep breath, and know that your application is now in the hands of our Admissions team as they evaluate every application.
- Illinois applicants – Admissions decisions will be released on April 5, 2027.
- Non-Illinois applicants – Admissions decisions will be released on March 8, 2027.