I’m applying to residential and online but preferably residential. @oralsurgery01
Hi all!
I’m a sophomore in CD 4 applying for NCSSM. Personally, I think my résumé is impressive, but my SAT scores are not good. Like not impressive at all, probably at or below average of my school. Do you think the SAT scores will be the factor that doesn’t get me accepted? (especially since my district is competitive) I heard that they first look at your school grades, then SAT scores and if they’re not good enough…they just toss you aside?
I also have another question - have you guys started asking your teachers about recommendation letters? This is my 3rd high school and I asked two of my teachers from my former school and they haven’t responded, and I don’t think I made a very good impression on my current teachers. And I’m not sure if my first high school teachers even remember me. Any advice? 
One last question…My classes are not as rigorous as many of yours are. I’m only taking 2 AP-credit classes, compared to those in my grade who are taking like 4. I’m behind on my graduation requirements and prerequisites because of transferring so much (out of state and in state). Do you think NCSSM will take that into consideration?
Thanks guys.
Hey, I’m applying to both, but I prefer residential
@lliiaa I actually have not actually started asking my teacher to actually give me the recommendation but I have already told them to be expecting it. What was your SAT score? You couldn’t have done worst then I have.
I am curious as to whether everyone on this topic thinks I stand a chance. I’m a sophomore from CD 8 and I attend Union Pines High School. I am involved in Cyber Patriot, FTC Robotics and Science Olympiad. I also volunteered for my school’s mock election earlier this year. We had a Relay for Life team that I helped with, but it lost its funding and was closed. Outside of school, I attend a youth group weekly and I am a Life Scout in Boy Scouts. I’m working on getting my Eagle rank and Supernova Award, although I will have neither by the application deadline. I ahev maintained an A average in all of my courses since starting high school, which are listed below:
8th Grade
- Earth & Environmental Science
- Math I
9th Grade
- AP Biology
- Honors Biology
- AP World History
- Math II Honors
- Math III Honors
- English I Honors
- Health/PE
10th Grade
- Honors Pre-Calculus (summer between 9th and 10th)
- AP Chemistry
- Honors Chemistry
- AP Calculus AB
- English II Honors
- Civics & Economics Honors
- Latin I
- AP Calculus BC (planned for next semester)
- Latin II Honors (planned for next semester)
- Principles of Technology I Honors (planned for next semester)
I have already taken the SAT and I got a 1420, with 680 for Reading Comprehension and Grammar and 740 for Math. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 4.5625 weighted, although I will be at 4.5 at the end of the semester due to the fact that AP classes are averaged in at the end of the second semester. I am currently ranked 1 in my class, and I will be tied at the end of this semester.
What are your thoughts? I feel pretty confident, but I am not sure how I am in comparison to other applicants.
@lliiaa try to work on your SAT score so that you are above the average seniors at your school. I think 100 points above the average senior is what they are looking for…or so I have heard. Also, because you moved a lot recently, and it has been affecting your classes and what not, you can put that in that notes sections about the adversities that you faced.
The notes section in the application
Does anyone know what the transcript we have to send them looks like? Is it just our final grade in each class or do they see each 6 weeks grade for all semesters
I believe high school transcripts are standardized at the state level. If your transcript is anything like mine, it will have your final course grades, class rank, weighted and unweighted GPA and anything else that really belongs there. I doubt it applies to many here, but I believe it also includes disciplinary infractions by the student.
Hello All! I am a (male) member of the class of 2018 from CD 6 currently (I applied from CD 2 however) and I was a member of this thread last year and just remembered about you guys. Feel free to ask me questions about applying (I’m not going to give out my stats but I am willing to rate chances and would love to talk about student life) even though I might not check for responses too frequently (I’ll try to be active through when applications are due) I notably came off the waitlist 3 days before school started (it is possible- don’t give up!) and was still prepared for NCSSM very well. Nice to meet you all and best of luck in your applications!
@smath08
I remember just showing them my final freshman year (Idk about semesters), and first semester sophomore year grades. It will probably also have your GPA and disciplinary infractions but mine didn’t have attendance
@AJM777 Did the transcript of first semester sophomore grades show just the semester grades or also the grades for each quarter?
@SomeGuy9 I came from a private school so I couldn’t say with 100% accuracy but I don’t think quarters would be on your transcript- talk to your counselor to double check though
I have a question (although I am not sure if anyone knows the answer to it): Is there a reason why on the application they ask us “On what date(s) have you taken or plan to take the SAT?” other than, of course, to know how many applicants took the tests on those specific days?
Does this mean that they are going to separate us by how many SAT’s we take when accepting/declining/waitlisting applicants (e.g. they compare the scores of someone who took the test two times more closely with other people who took it two times)?
I am probably just over thinking this all, but I was just wondering…
@purplejuice- I also found this part confusing on my application (I’m guessing they ask just to look at trends and stuff) but I strongly doubt that how many times or when you have taken the SAT has any effect on an admissions decision.
@pineapplepen I have not taken it yet, but my expected score is around 1320. I heard that NCSSM only picks, if possible, students with over a 1400 to protect their average SAT score and further scholarship qualifications of their students in the future. 
Do you know if this is true?
@purplejuice Thanks for the tip! And I don’t think I am 100 points above the average senior unfortunately… I’m at or below average of my school’s average SAT score.
do any of you know if Intro to Engineering / PLTW teachers count as science teachers for the evaluations?
They said at open house that they really prefer an evaluation from a core science teacher, like bio or chem
Hi! It seems I’m jumping in this discussion rather late, but I’ve been feeling anxious lately, and because I’m applying from the western end of district 11, I have nobody to talk about applying to NCSSM.
Heres are my stats:
Freshman Year:
Biomedical Technologies–100
Career Prep (a mandatory “class” at my school)–100
English I Honors–95
Health and PE–99
Health Team Relations–97
Math II Honors–98
Physical Science–98
PT I Honors–100
Sophomore Year:
Career Prep (yep, I have to take it EVERY year here)–100
Chemistry Honors–102
Math III Honors–100
English II Honors–97
World History Honors–100
(Next Semester)
Biology Honors
Chemistry II Honors
AP Statistics
Pre-Calc Honors
At my school, I’m the first sophomore to ever take Honors Chem II, Honors pre-cal, and second to take AP stats. But I self-taught the first half of Stats, which is why you don’t see it listed in my first semester. Any class that isn’t at least Honors was mandatory, or more rigorous courses weren’t offered. Heck, they wouldn’t even let me take Honors Biology my freshman year. With this said, my point is that I literally don’t have a math class to take senior year; my school only offers one more math course: AP Calc, so I’m a little screwed if I don’t get into at least online.
On to my SAT scores:
Composite–1390
Math–700
CR–690
My school’s average SAT score (from the little data that I have–my school is a lowly Appalachian school, Swain County High School) is 1070, so my score is 320 above.
From what I understand, my sister (Class of 2017) was the first student from Swain County to make it into NCSSM in 1-2 decades.
Finally, I’m 1st in my class, but my school doesn’t release GPA, but if I remember correctly (I calculated it a while ago), it’s around 4.4 or 4.5.
Sorry for the word vomit, but if anyone could give advice or anything of the sort, I would greatly appreciate it. (I’m not going to list EC, etc. because I don’t want to this post to be longer than it needs to be).