<p>I sent in my application for the School in the Sciences to guidance a few days ago, although I can't help but feel cheated... I go to a school with a fairly high concentration of excellent students (one of whom went to IMO), and there is just huge competition for nominations to the NJ Governor's school: at least 8 people whom I know have applied, probably more. What's worse, they've been advertising "NJ Gov School applications are now available in guidance, please see <name> to pick up your copy" on the announcements every day for weeks now, ensuring that there would be a microscopic chance that you would get nominated, considering my school can only send 2 people. </name></p>
<p>Why this nomination process? Why discriminate against students who just happen to live in a highly competitive school? It's the same horrid flaw that's present in single-elimination tournaments: if the best few people get matched up in the earlier stages, then only one can make it to the final rounds and be recognized while someone who might as well be the second best goes home unrecognized, having been eliminated in the first round. It's the same thing with the NJ Governor's school: If twenty people of top caliber compete for two slots, only two actually get them, and the rest don't even get a chance to be considered for governor's school, despite their skills that might have secured a 100% acceptance had they been nominated. </p>
<p>Blog</a> rant here.</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>