NCSSM Applicants 2011/ Class of 2013 Results

Prep School Admissions
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<p>When I was making my decision to attend NCSSM, I did try to get quantifiable information, but the AP stuff is cloudy (we aren’t a “normal” high school, so we can’t be ranked by Newsweek), the list of college admissions from NCSSM is in a rolling five year format, (who does that? And why?) and the whole climate is: “Well, if you really aren’t sure, don’t come here. Plenty of other kids want your spot.”</p>

<p>It’s great psychology because I was like, “No. No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. Please don’t make me go back to my base school.”</p>

<p>I really believed that everything NCSSM did was because that’s how great schools operated. (NO ONE could have told me differently.)</p>

<p>I don’t believe that now. There’s no teacher accountability, no one complains (out loud) for fear of retaliation, there are vice-chancellors everywhere making six figure salaries but they limit Science Olympiad participation because of their budget, and there are just enough really brilliant kids enrolled each year to reflect well upon the school. It’s the perfect situation for NCSSM, but it comes at a high cost to at least 30% of the kids who decide to go there. I’m one out of that 30%. </p>

<p>NCSSM is a business with its own survival as its first and foremost goal, and you’d better make sure you understand the terms before you make any agreements with it.</p>

<p>It is regrettable that I feel I have to make these posts. I would have preferred otherwise.</p>

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<p>I don’t like to think of myself as disgruntled. That makes it sound like I didn’t like the way my burger was cooked.</p>

<p>I think of myself as mislead.</p>

<p>Why don’t other kids post? My siblings all have friends in college who are NCSSM grads. Some of them are just glad to be out of there, some don’t even talk about it. It’s like any high school. What graduate spends much time at all counseling incoming students or discussing their high school on the internet? It’s all behind them. Who cares?</p>

<p>Kids at NCSSM now: Busy, for one thing. </p>

<p>A lot of the seniors at NCSSM would just shrug this whole conversation off. They’ve lowered their expectations by the end of junior year (the administration would call it “adjusted”). They long ago realized that the school was not there to support them, so they learned to support themselves. They looked around and found groups of people or activities that helped them survive. The school just is how it is. Nothing can be done about it. What’s the use in talking about it?</p>

<p>Maybe it’s like hazing. I had to go through it, so you have to also. </p>

<p>And too, there is a certain loyalty that develops. I’m sure a psychologist could answer: What happens to people who are isolated in a difficult environment and asked to survive? They certainly bond and there is tremendous loyalty to one another and maybe even to that rock in the middle of the ocean they’ve washed up on. </p>

<p>I feel it. Even now, I can feel myself tending to forget and forgive. Like any high school, NCSSM has sports games you can cheer at and dances where you can raid the dessert table. I haven’t spent the whole two years crying in my dorm room wishing I was at home with my goldfish (although a few nights). I have great friends here. I’ve tried my best here. I’m sure most kids here feel the same way. NCSSM is our high school, for better or for worse. Even though I have a hundred reasons to run it down, I don’t like doing it. </p>

<p>But some bad things happened at NCSSM this year–unfair, mean-spirited, arbitrary, decisions that hurt kids I know. Things desperately need to improve academically at NCSSM and can improve if the incoming juniors demand changes and accountability. </p>

<p>Until that happens, people need to look at the school objectively, just like they’d look at any college they’re interested in, keeping in mind that they’re 15 or 16 not 18 years old.</p>

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<p>@Shanidar
I stopped for a while because it seemed like you were constantly spreading your negativity across this topic, and I got kind of bored/annoyed at it. NCSSM has been a wonderful opportunity for me despite the hardships I’ve went through. I can honestly say that I’ve hated this school at some points throughout the year, but I have learned so much in just one year. Your experience and my experience are completely different. Perhaps it’s the way we look at failure and what we learn from it that differs us. </p>

<p>@AbsoluteZewoah
I came to NCSSM for computer science, physics, and engineering. I was disappointed to find that NCSSM doesn’t spend as much funds for computer science and engineering (most of it probably goes to Chemistry since they bring in so many awards and stuff). We have a small, but good amount of people who are interested in compsci and are very good at it. The problem is, the compsci department at NCSSM has been male-dominated as you would find anywhere else. I’m probably just assuming things, but guys don’t seem to get stuff started. Next year, there will be a compsci club here at NCSSM, lead by 3 girls and also mentored by our compsci teacher and an alum at Duke. We hope to expand the department ourselves and show what we can do in this area. That’s just a brief overview of what you will hope to find in terms of compsci. (I am also pursuing this area through mentorship.)</p>

<p>In terms of what you are giving up versus what you hope to find here, I highly encourage you to come. Sure you were placed into lower level classes than what you could have took before, but those are not final. Push yourself to study and review math during the summer and persuade the math department to let you take the test over. If you felt like you didn’t do well on the test, let them know why. As for sciences, you will be required to take a physical science course through Moodle this summer. It will help you tremendously. If you want to, I’m sure you can find a way to convince them to move you up. Show lots of enthusiasm and excellence in your classes and constantly remind them that they should move you up. </p>

<p>Also, don’t doubt why you were accepted. Doubt whether or not you are willing to take the challenge and pursue higher opportunities even if you are denied them. My situation was similar to yours. I could have taken so many AP courses back home and dual enroll in college courses, in addition to taking extra courses through NCVPS. I wouldn’t have gotten the same experience though. I wouldn’t have the opportunity to work with bright classmates, go to competitions, lead clubs that I really enjoy, and pursue in Computer Science. If I had stayed home, I would have never, ever gotten a thing called passion or discover who I am. Back home, academics, GPA, and crap like that were of utmost importance. I bet colleges are sick and tired of reading applications with perfect GPA’s and SAT scores and realize how boring the person is through his/her essay. </p>

<p>Whether or not you will thrive in the NCSSM environment is all based on your efforts. People tend to blame other sources for their failures, but in the end, it all comes down to what YOU have done, should have done, or did not do. NCSSM won’t hold your hand and guide you. You will see a pile of resources in front of you and feel intimidated by the kinds of people who take advantage of them. It is up to you what you will do with these opportunities.</p>

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<p>How I look at failure is probably not so different from you, R.U.: It’s only a mistake if you don’t learn from it. </p>

<p>I think where we differ is our level of expectation towards the school and the standards we set for ourselves and for the educators who teach us. </p>

<p>Thanks though for proving my point. You hated the school during your junior year (no doubt because of the stupid policies you endured or the teachers who failed to teach), you saw when you got here that the computer science department was weak, probably much weaker than you were led to believe. You decided to compensate for it. What this indicates is that YOU are a student who takes initiative, but it is just more evidence that NCSSM is lacking, even to the people who vocally support it. </p>

<p>There are high schools across this country where people with equal initiative to yours start clubs to further their interest in a subject or support a favorite class. (God forbid only NCSSM students can start clubs) But rarely, if ever, do kids have to start clubs to try to improve an academic program at a school, especially a school that touts itself as a leader in STEM education.</p>

<p>It speaks volumes about NCSSM that three kids are trying to “expand” the comp. sci. department and “hoping” that change will come as a result. Don’t you believe, that at a science and math school, that should already have been taken care of? While I admire your goal tremendously, I think NCSSM will let you flop around for a year, and once you’ve gone, be exactly the way it was comfortable with being before you came along. How many kids have done what you’re doing now anyway? Three years ago…five years ago…none of us knows because we are only students at the school for two years. Maybe every two years, some group of motivated girls get together to change things in comp. sci. and NCSSM gets a little kick out of it. Hee-hee. There they go again.</p>

<p>But maybe you are right. Maybe the kids should all get together and try to expand the physics department next. Then, after we’ve fixed it, we can do something about engineering. </p>

<p>However, unless we can actually hire qualified teachers to conduct the introductory/junior level science classes, NCSSM will not change. The kids who had advantages coming in will be the kids who maintain their advantage. </p>

<p>You said it yourself. NCSSM underfunds/undersupports/undereverythings Physics and Math. Did you not see how the school changed its mind about having a real AP Physics B class next year? Wouldn’t you think that would be a great place to start expanding the STEM mission if the school really sought improvement? </p>

<p>The high profile competitions do usually relate to chemistry. Therefore it makes perfect sense that a school that feeds off of a successful image throws more support toward chemistry research. But really, is there a single contest in the entire U.S. or maybe even the world that NCSSM does not enter? I do believe there is some little gnome working in the basement of NCSSM who does nothing but search for contests. It’s pretty funny. My brother came home with a six foot tall trophy once from high school. Turns out, his high school team was the only team that entered from North Carolina. The whole thing was a sham, but the team looked great standing next to their individual trophies on the school’s website. </p>

<p>I mean, do you ever get the feeling that NCSSM is…overcompensating? </p>

<p>I also came to NCSSM for STEM. I had no computer science experience and took the intro. class. It was hard because most kids already had experience in computer science. Many kids were not allowed to advance to the next tri of comp. sci, because, like me, they had no previous experience and didn’t have the time or support network to teach themselves. Their dreams of learning computer science at NCSSM lasted thirteen weeks. Don’t you think kids should know this BEFORE they get here? </p>

<p>That small group of “good” comp sci people you mentioned–what percentage of them were “good” before they came to NCSSM? If you can answer that honestly, I think you’d say at least 90%. For kids like me, with ZERO experience and probably one of the hardest junior schedules in my year, I couldn’t spend the time teaching myself programming while also teaching myself multi. and physics and chemistry, plus complete the other goals I’d set for myself. Yes, the “opportunity” to do something was there, but when a student is expected to plant the apples, grow the apples, pick the apples, cut the apples and bake the pie, there are only so many “opportunities” like this one can take advantage of. </p>

<p>Which is why I have suggested narrowing your field if you decide to attend NCSSM. A broad, excellent education, imo, is not possible here because of the degree of self-study required. People should know this.</p>

<p>People should also know that at NCSSM, no one is allowed to learn simply because they want to learn. That’s the biggest joke at NCSSM. Each tri, students are evaluated and if NCSSM doesn’t like how a student has performed, that student will be dropped down to a lower class. It doesn’t matter whether that class meant an amazing opportunity for a kid. It doesn’t matter if the kid is very satisfied to be challenged at their highest possible level. It doesn’t matter that the kid absolutely loves the class and is perfectly capable of evaluating what a C on a transcript means. It doesn’t matter that dropping the kid down means they won’t reach the subsequent classes they are stretching to reach. What matters is appearances. NCSSM can’t have a bunch of C level kids reflecting poorly upon it. People might start asking questions. Better to keep kids at a lower level where maybe they’ll be bored, but make A’s. </p>

<p>Enthusiasm and excellence are wonderful things. I’m sure every kid who arrives at NCSSM has them in abundance. We all do have to go through the same app. process now, don’t we? But enthusiasm and excellence require time and commitment and when a student is NOT being supported in the classroom by excellent teachers, when they are subverted by an administration bent on maintaining appearances, when popularity counts for more than merit in most clubs and the club sponsors are hands-off, enthusiasm can take a bit of a beating.</p>

<p>You say:
Back home, academics, GPA, and crap like that were of utmost importance. I bet colleges are sick and tired of reading applications with perfect GPA’s and SAT scores and realize how boring the person is through his/her essay. </p>

<p>I say: Wow. </p>

<p>Wow. </p>

<p>It isn’t “back home” where GPA, SAT scores, transcript quality, teacher recommendations, essays and extra-curricular’s are important - it is in your future where they’ll matter. Perhaps you haven’t been reading your college brochures? This information is repeated over and over in the “What we are looking for” sections. It’s very insulting for you to insinuate that people are boring because they want to learn. Some people are capable of being both interesting and smart. </p>

<p>I’m worried that you’ve let NCSSM convince you that these things are “crap”. I’m worried that the “adjustment” you’ve made to the school is really just a lowering of standards. Your grades may have dropped, your AP’s may have been disappointing, now all that’s left is to diminish those things in others?</p>

<p>What’s wrong with telling incoming juniors they need to be thoughtful and deliberate and careful? I haven’t flat out told anybody they shouldn’t come here, only told them to make an informed decision. Only told them I would have been better off - knowlege wise, course quality wise, transcript wise, opportunity wise - at my old school. Why do you have a problem with that? You know, or should know that there are scores of kids at NCSSM who regret their decision to attend the school - and not because they don’t have a thing called passion - but because they’ve looked at the outcome objectively and seen it was not what they’d “hoped” for. </p>

<p>Always take more challenges. Always pursue opportunity. Always seek excellence. Just don’t assume that, at a uniform level, you will find these things at NCSSM. Obviously, for some people, it is fine. What hasn’t been obvious for way too long, is that for others, it is actually harmful.</p>

<p>And success at NCSSM is NOT a function of how hard you work. It’s part of the NCSSM company line to make you believe failure is your fault. Please be on your guard. Watch the movie, Knight and Day. Those buzzwords Tom Cruise mentions to Cameron Diaz - yeah, it’s like that. </p>

<p>And don’t let anyone call you names just because you think for yourself. I may be boring, annoying and negative, but R.U. knows exactly what I’m talking about.</p>

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<p>How likely is it that I will get some of the more advanced classes? Like, I’ve taken ap calculus ab/bc, but I am a bit tired from all of the calculus stuff, so I wanted to go more in depth in math stuff that I actually enjoy and save muli for senior year. I have numerical analysis, comb/game theory, and expl advanced geometry. Somehow, I get the feeling that getting all of these is too good to be true. Same for physics. I’ve taken ap physics b, and i really want to take something like ap physics c. But it’s not even on my course card. Is giving students the courses they want something that ncssm has a problem with?</p>

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<p>It’s likely you’ll get the math classes you requested. Many juniors have what you’re hoping to have, but keep in mind that seniors have first dibs on classes, and schedules have a tendency to change as people test in and out of classes. The block scheduling has a way of affecting things, too, but hopefully, everything will work out for you. </p>

<p>There are juniors taking Phys C this year, so you should also be able to do this if your AP PHYS B scores were good. They may ask you to test into Phys C though if your AP results were borderline, so be prepared for that. I’m not sure what the cut-off was - maybe a 3?? You should call and ask why the class isn’t on your schedule. If they say because you are borderline, this way you’ll know for sure, and you’ll have the entire summer to study. </p>

<p>Always be ready to appeal. You don’t want to have to re-take AP Phys B, especially when that class is Web based. </p>

<p>And when the fall comes around and you’re waiting for your schedule to finalize, ask to sit in on the class if the wait goes beyond a few days. The trimesters are too short to miss 2-3 weeks of class waiting for the schedules to get settled. </p>

<p>NCSSM does not offer every class every semester which makes planning a little more difficult. If you see a class being offered and you know it’s one you absolutely must have, you might want to jump on it, especially if you have other classes in mind for your senior year.</p>

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<p>Because I’ve Seen all these reviews of NCSSM, I’m beginning to become very skeptical on whether I should go to NCSSM or not. Currently, I’m a applicant and does not whether or not I’ll get accepted or not, but if I do should I go? My school offers Alg. I and II, Precalculus, Geometry, Chemistry, Biology, Physical Science, and Physics. No AP classes. College classes are very limited. Someone mentioned “It could be a very bad mistake to go”. How can I know if going there is a good idea? I’m pretty much top of my class, but I go to a private school with a small populated high school. If this is a bad decision, please, and i do mean PLEASE! stop me from going. Please don’t reply with, “it’s ur big decision”, because I don’t know what to decide at this point. Any good advice?</p>

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<p>There will be more than a few kids who get into NCSSM but do not take the spot, for a variety of reasons. Moving to an unknown and tackling change are hard. At this point, I would set aside your worry. Wait until the decision of whether or not you are accepted is announced so that you know whether you will even have a choice to make. I am sure there will be a NCSSM Class of 2014 Results thread started soon enough for students to respond to this year’s decisions and, for those who are accepted, for them to ponder whether or not to attend. Hang in there.</p>

<p>If you want to do something constructive now, do a pros/cons list of going, reach out to current NCSSM students (if you know any) and tell them of your fears and concerns. Also, talk to your current guidance counselor and find out how to prep for the AP exam in courses next year even if you cannot take AP classes since they are not offered. Look also into online AP courses. Gather more facts, then if you are accepted you will have a better sense of whether you should grab the spot. That is my advice.</p>

<p>T</p>

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<p>Thanks for the sound advice @taben1112.</p>

<p>My daughter is in the same position as you @wowimconfused. One thing to note: most of the complaints on this thread come from one current student and one who graduated many years ago. It would be wonderful to hear from some other current students, recent graduates or even teachers at NCSSM. I also feel that if accepted, the Welcome Day will be very helpful in making your final decision.</p>

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<p>Allowing my child to attend NCSSM was a mistake. M.C. would have been better off at our local school, even though it would have meant taking less “prestigious” classes. My wife and I knew we were giving up two years with our child, but figured the after high school opportunities would make the sacrifice worth it. They haven’t. In fact, I think NCSSM lessened the chances for a top tier school. Hard to take when kids from our local high school have done just as well or better than M.C., college wise. </p>

<p>Some kids go to NCSSM and do great. It helps if a parent is a scientist of some sort. Almost every kid who wins an award credits their parents for exposing them to research opportunities previous to NCSSM. M.C. didn’t have that background, but we hoped and believed NCSSM would make up the difference. It did not. Opportunities were less as M.C. could not compete with advanced classmates who were ready on the first day for research and academic team spots. This would have been fine if the quality of education in the classroom had been outstanding. Rather than outstanding, I’d call it spotty - as seems to be a common thread in these posts. A few excellent teachers did not make-up for the very average, or even poor teachers. M.C. is a tougher kid now, but that isn’t enough for me to endorse the school. There are great kids at the school and M.C. has many friends, but that isn’t why M.C. attended. For the average bright kid who hopes to catch up to what kids with more science opportunity have had and be supported by predominately strong science teachers, sadly, in our experience, NCSSM is not the place. Others may feel differently. It would be very nice to hear from other, non-science background parents on this. </p>

<p>There are obviously people who are happy with the school, and I’m not interested in arguing with them. For us, the school was a disappointment. Best of luck in your decision.</p>

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<p>NCSSM Applicant Chances
hey guys,
i applied to ncssm for class of 2014 and i was hoping if some people can help me give me some chances of me getting into ncssm. I live in CD 4, wake county</p>

<p>Classes:
ALL courses except for spanish 1 and 2 are honors and above</p>

<p>Freshman Year:
Anatomy and physiology A
Research methods A
Spanish 1 A
English 1 A
College Writing Seminar Course A
Earth Science A
Civics and Economics A
Integrated Math 2 (like alg 1+ 2)</p>

<p>Sophmore Year:
Integrated Math 3 (alg 2 with some precalc) A
Biology A
Chemistry rigth now A
English 2 right now A
Spanish 2 A
College Math 171 (Precalc) right now A
US History A
Phsycology (online) A
College Health A</p>

<p>GPA : 4.77 weighted, 4.0 unweighted, class rank 1</p>

<p>EC’s:</p>

<p>School Clubs:
accepted into NHS for junior year
President of HOSA
Student Government
Tobacco Reality Unfiltered
Student Ambassadors</p>

<p>Sports/Activities:
Won top 15 in 3-4 state tournaments in chess
won top 50 in nation in chess
2011 Wake County All Star U16 cricket team (played against atlanta here and there)
Invited for 2012 North Carolina State All Star U16 Cricket Team</p>

<p>Leadership:
Volunteer Coordinator (3rd in command) for a cultural youth group of 100 plus members
Executive Leader for 2 years for a local chapter of HSS organization (hindu organization for expansion and unification of the hindu community)</p>

<p>Outside School:
Cary Teen Council
Om Squad (the cultural group mentioned before)
Teen2Teen Advisory Board (Local Library)</p>

<p>Awards and Recog:
2011 Gold Prez volunteer service award (PVSA) for 250+ hours in om squad
2011 Silver PVSA award for 175+ hours of community service for Cary teen council
Teen Volunteer of the Year for the entire Town of Cary
Won 2nd in state for 2010 eCYBERMISSION contest
won 2nd, 15th, 7th, 6th in state chess tournaments in NC and NY
countless chess awards and tournament wins (too much to list, but did for ncssm)</p>

<p>600+ volunteer hours for the entirity of high school so far</p>

<p>SAT: 1900</p>

<p>So what do you guys think? good chance? Bad Chance?</p>

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<p>I do think there is a great deal of merit to suncoast’s point about the vaunted “research opportunities” available at NCSSM. Nearly all of those spots are taken by students with previous research experience–scores try out and a handful are chosen. If you are a rising junior that has taken nothing above pre-calc or honors biology, the odds are heavily stacked against you. Many students from the Triangle area will come to NCSSM with tons of AP’s, including calculus and advanced science courses. Many have already had extensive research experience due to their parental connections.</p>

<p>I think a legitimate criticism of NCSSM is that it gives the impression during Discovery Day that these opportunities are abundant at the school and your average Joe or Jane has a legitimate shot at them. Nothing could be further removed from the truth.</p>

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<p>Regarding the opportunities or lack thereof at NCSSM…is some of this a case of kids getting their first real experience of being thrust into a competitive pond? For instance, you may have a child who is a great soccer player and heads to a division 4A high school thinking they will continue to shine AND get a chance to play against and with other high quality players. However, they find that they do not even make the team or make it and sit on the bench. It is a HARD lesson, but at some point we all realize that there are always others who are smarter, faster, better, stronger, etc. We also learn that life is not always fair.
The result? Sometimes the child swtiches gears and finds that the school play is a place to find a home rather than the soccer field. Or he finds that he will run cross country, which is no cut, and move on from his glory days of middle school soccer. Others switch schools hoping to shine elsewhere, perhaps in a smaller, less sports competitive pond. Others, without support and parenting and maturity, simply crumble and don’t get back up.
So, for those who don’t get what they went to NCSSM for or what they thought they would accomplish, is it all because NCSSM mislead them, or is it because they are having their first reality check?
Believe me, my kids have each hit a brick wall at times and as hard as it was to watch and sometimes as unfair as it seemed, they came out on the other side stronger and with more confidence that they could handle big ticket let downs. As a parent, I too realized that they would be okay.
I would love to here from former and current NCSSM students and parents about lessons learned from the tough aspects of NCSSM.
T</p>

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<p>Oh. My. God. </p>

<p>This is the exact attitude I’ve been talking about that exists at NCSSM. It is the kids’ fault when they don’t succeed at the school. </p>

<p>The school promotes an ideal of excellence in education and opportunities in education…basically fosters a dream of a school where kids from outlying counties can come and be exposed to the classes, teachers and people they did not have access to back home.</p>

<p>The whole point of NCSSM is supposed to be about create a learning pool. Not a competitive pool. It isn’t supposed to be about exposing what a kid doesn’t know, it’s supposed to be about exposing the KID to what they don’t know. </p>

<p>I could participate in Science Olympiad at my old school, but not here? Why? Because NCSSM makes you compete just to get on the team. How could I compete with kids who have aeronautical engineers and physics professors for dads? Thanks, NCSSM, for pointing out that I need more engineering skills. Say. Do you think you could teach me? No? Oh, sorry. What was I thinking?</p>

<p>And how does anyone know if a kid could be great at physics or advanced math if the kid hasn’t ever been exposed to courses in those subjects yet? Isn’t that the whole point of a SCHOOL?</p>

<p>This isn’t soccer or theater - this is about TEACHING kids who maybe haven’t been taught anything before. These kids are supposed to “switch gears” out of science and math when they get here…when the very reason they came was to be taught science and math? </p>

<p>There’s something really wrong with that. </p>

<p>Basically, Taben has stated the school’s unspoken position. Promote the smartest kids. Take them to tournaments. Use them as a resource and media opportunity every chance they get. Make the other kids whose dream it is to learn, THINK they can become these kids, and then once they get here, it will take them a year to realize they will be lucky to hold on to the mid-range colleges they dreamed of attending. But of course, then it will be too late for them to do a thing about it – not if they want a halfway decent recommendation and a transcript that doesn’t look like they couldn’t hack NCSSM. </p>

<p>It’s sad the number of kids who took the hardest classes at the school, who stretched themselves and challenged themselves, who bought into the whole advertising campaign of the school, who arrived here ready to learn and found out they were undersupported and actually discouraged. </p>

<p>Life is not fair, but education is supposed to be. Yes. NCSSM misleads the average student. Big time. </p>

<p>I wasn’t going to comment anymore, but seeing that line about kids “crumbling” here made me sick. NCSSM is a BOARDING school. It’s the job of the hundreds of staff running around here to NOT let kids crumble. Do you even know some of the kids who have “crumbled”? I do. They aren’t weak. But most of them over-extended themselves and some of them needed just the smallest amount of support. How were they supposed to know there was so little help at the school? How were they supposed to know NCSSM would sniff blood in the water and start circling? </p>

<p>And, my God. At the opposite end of the spectrum are kids who have plenty of money, nearby familes where they can go home EVERY weekend, and who are either taking far, far easier classes than they are capable of or who have supportive parents who help guide them. Don’t even compare the kids who are struggling here with them.</p>

<p>The bottom line is that every kid should improve who comes here. That is not the case. At all. A certain number of kids will be written off. (And the school doesn’t even care, although they do a great job of pretending). It’s just the cost of doing business.</p>

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<p>Shadir: I am sorry if my tone came off as accusing the student. I was/am actually trying to understand what goes on at NCSSM. Is it kids who have never ‘fallen’ having a hard time accepting that they can and will fall on occasion and that has never happened to them before; or is it that, as you seem to be saying, the school misleads the kids, pits them against one another, and then does nothing to help those who are misplaced?</p>

<p>So my follow up question is this; where, if at all, is the ‘help’ at NCSSM when doors are closed on a student and opportunities are not granted?</p>

<p>On another board, maybe a year ago, a student posted that NCSSM was the best thing to ever happen to him because he had to learn to fight for what he wanted, to survive getting a bad grade now and then, and to keep in self esteem in check even when he watched other students get opportunities he wish he could have gotten. There were others that disagreed with him on the whole.</p>

<p>Interesting point you make also about how family dynamics impact ones situation at the school. It is all a HUGE learning curve for those from the outside looking in. So though my post clearly frustrated you (not my intent), I appreciate the response as it helps the dialogue and understanding.</p>

<p>T</p>

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<p>NCSSM is a machine. The machine produces jobs for the teachers. The machine’s fuel is the students. The first thing is to fill the tank as full as possible. I’m sure there’s a number for how much space a 17 year old needs for mental health, but we aren’t talking about students, we’re talking about fuel, so fill the tank to overflowing. </p>

<p>NCSSM also needs A LOT of fuel, so every chance to make cuts to the cost of the fuel is taken. NCSSM supports many students, that’s true, but it doesn’t make sense to invest the same in all of them. So the fuel gets graded. The cheapest fuel is the students who emotionally need NCSSM, mainly to get away from difficult home lives/social situations at their school. There are some hurting kids at NCSSM, but that’s good for NCSSM because that means NCSSM can pretty much do whatever it wants to them, including ignoring them completely, and the kids will just take it because anything is better than what they left behind. In general, I think there is good support for non-standard student types at NCSSM from within the class ranks, but don’t get too idealistic. These are still high school kids at NCSSM, and they can be every bit as cruel and petty as kids in Average High, USA. Everyone, to some extent, feels the cut-throat environment at the school, and when there’s a chance to relieve that stress by pointing out “the really different kid, the true outsider”, believe me, it happens. Even the “nice kids” fall for it. Like the psych experiment where people delivered shocks to test subjects. Peer pressure. Also, students are working hard here, and there isn’t always time to get involved in other people’s pain. Some of these vulnerable kids get into drugs, alcohol, cutting or sex. (This is when NCSSM is finally forced to notice them) Some take the easiest possible schedule or play video games all day or Facebook all day. Some just want to be left alone, put in their time, keep their heads down until graduation, and then live the lives they have been waiting to live for 18 years. Perfectly fine with NCSSM – the easiest fuel of all. </p>

<p>The middle grade fuel is the bright-eyed, solid students who come from Littletowns, N.C. whose high schools don’t have what NCSSM appears to have. The NCSSM campus is nice. The website is full of accomplished students (your face goes here >). This fuel is very important because NCSSM must obtain fuel from every county or else the state will wonder about the machine. This fuel is also important because these kids “just know in their hearts” that NCSSM has to be better than the school they are in now. It just has to be. Look around. Can all these people be wrong? And look at the students on stage talking about how much they love the school!!! (by the way, not a random sampling). <em>Happy sigh</em> There really is nothing like fuel that goes into the tank all by itself.</p>

<p>The thing is, NCSSM knows these kids are being used. The kids come here, are tested, and find out that there placements are all out of line with the “high quality courses” NCSSM offers. These kids find out that they will have to re-take some sophomore level classes and sadly, will not be able to take the advanced courses they came to NCSSM for. The progress they were making at their “lower quality school” is sacrificed to feed NCSSM’s fuel appetite. These are the kids who most often end up leaving. They realize their old teachers were better, their transcript quality was better, their grades were better and being away from home isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. NO. They don’t CRUMBLE. They’ve just got enough guts to say, “This isn’t what I thought it would be” and then do something about it. </p>

<p>The upper middle grade fuel is also bright-eyed students with transcripts full of A’s, and in addition, their SAT scores are very attractive to the NCSSM machine. A lot of these kids are from the Triangle and are used to tough competition. They have a work ethic and a track record that tells them that if they “just work a little harder” everything will be okay. That ethic doesn’t always work at NCSSM because a lot of the teachers don’t teach here. The staff doesn’t support them, and the administration doesn’t care. Everything they are and everything that has always been valued by them gets turned upside down. They are not the super smart kids anymore, but they want to be. That’s why they came to the school – looking for that “greater challenge”. These are the kids who most often would have been better off staying at their old schools. Now that the college admissions have all been released, these are the kids who realize that the two years of blood they put into the school didn’t get them one step further than they would have gotten at their old schools, and maybe, there’s a very good chance NCSSM hurt them. </p>

<p>Then there is the highest grade fuel. Basically, these kids don’t need NCSSM to do anything except stay out of their way. They are already accomplished and usually have parents who are very accomplished. On paper, they are amazing. In real life, they are laser focused. They are beautifully packaged, and though some of the fuel grades I, II and III kids have worked just as hard as and are just as worthy in terms of SAT scores and course difficulty, these are the kids who, 99% of the time, get the Stanford and MIT slots. They are highly polished, assertive, savvy and, they are the fuel that NCSSM runs the fastest on and is willing to pay extra for and support. They are the poster students for NCSSM. They are the bait that makes the switch work. </p>

<p>If you do decide to come to NCSSM, here’s my advice:</p>

<p>Suck up to everyone as much as possible: seniors, teachers, SLI’s, coaches, pretty much everyone you meet. The people with a conscience here know they are hurting kids left and right, (and BTW, there are people here with no conscience) so naturally, they gravitate toward the kids who are smiling, up in their faces, and telling them how amazing the school is. </p>

<p>You only have a year before you start filling out your college apps and you’ve got to stand out. If you think your teacher will remember you after only one trimester – with classes only a couple of times a week, think again. Don’t cut off your relationships with old teachers who liked you. It may turn out that a teacher who had you for a year in 10th grade knows you far better than a teacher who has known you for 8 weeks your junior year. </p>

<p>Let me repeat: Classes are trimesters and not five days a week – plan on making up the difference through self-study. PLAN ON SELF-STUDYING. Khan Academy is good. Use AP study guides. A lot of kids work in groups. Some teachers get their homework problems right off the internet. The answers are right there, too. That won’t help you on the test though, so don’t become dependent upon that. </p>

<p>Adults with their own agendas – just a reminder: when you interview for the R.A. position and are asked : Is homosexuality a choice? say, “NO!”</p>

<p>Anonymous class surveys – are not. </p>

<p>The kids who do the best don’t pretend like NCSSM is summer camp. They manage their sleep schedules. </p>

<p>The SLI’s – Luck of the draw. Will range from negligent to amazing to insane. Suck up if you want a good room assignment your senior year and a shot at R.A. </p>

<p>Stock up your room with food or bring money, because while the cafeteria has good days, the bad days are really bad. They often run out, so get there early. Don’t be shy about getting food if no one is there to serve it. </p>

<p>Go home as often as you need to, no one will give you a hard time. But you’ll find that on weekends, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know people in a less pressured environment. Some people do well keeping to themselves, but the average person needs group support to make it here. </p>

<p>Have a plan B if you come to the school, just in case you hate it.</p>

<p>There will be sex, drugs, homosexuality, and all kinds of different things you’ll have to deal with here. You’ll need to be much stronger emotionally than the average junior. </p>

<p>If there’s something you don’t like about the school – be tactful. Nobody here likes criticism, even justified. If you want to start a club, don’t say _____ sucks, and I want to change it.</p>

<p>Some things will be very wrong. They will bother you–don’t sacrifice your college ambitions to do what is right. Just go along to get along. NCSSM rewards followers. They reward the people who embrace their programs. </p>

<p>Don’t take hard classes your junior year. Many of the hard classes are not hard because of content, they are hard because the teachers are terrible. If you come to NCSSM intending to push yourself and you start making B’s, ALL that will happen is colleges will think you couldn’t handle the “more challenging” academics. (No. They will not admire your work ethic.) It will de-value all the work you have done prior to NCSSM. It will fill colleges with doubt. THEY DON’T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE SCHOOL IS LIKE, so play the game. Even though you might end up learning less at NCSSM, you’ll be learning an important life lesson—how to fake it. </p>

<p>Watch your back – A strong junior year with lots of accomplishments matters. You’ll be coming into the school blind, thinking you are a big junior who has earned their place, but seniors here get the best things and juniors get the scraps. Basically all opportunities will be competitive. (research/Science Olympiad/club positions) MAKE YOUR OWN opportunities if you have to. DO NOT RELY on NCSSM to help you fill out your accomplishments. The teachers ARE NOT involved in the student groups, so if you are just an average, nice, non-bloodthirsty type, watch your back and learn to defend yourself. </p>

<p>Communication - the school does not communicate much with parents, so you need to take this on yourself. The stuff your mom and dad handled before, you will need to handle. The school sends out tons of emails. Turns out ignoring them is bad. </p>

<p>Independence -as above, the school prefers to deal with kids and not parents on issues. Don’t be intimidated. It’s easier to bully kids than parents. If you need your parents, tell them. </p>

<p>Your academic advisor may not know what they are talking about. Don’t risk alienating anyone or “appearing to be a problem” just politely find someone else to talk to. </p>

<p>People will be cheating. Deal with it. They’ll get away with it. It won’t be fair. </p>

<p>Work assignments – some kids do nothing, some kids do nine hours of work during finals. It won’t be fair.</p>

<p>If a class does pod work, get in a smart pod. An average student who gets in a dumb pod will make a C. The same kid with the same amount of effort who gets in a smart pod will make an A. Whoever said NCSSM was fair? </p>

<p>Research – fight for it. One kid FOUGHT for it this year with good results and NO SUPPORT from anyone at the school. </p>

<p>Find a hot spot. </p>

<p>Housekeeping :(</p>

<p>Super Study :frowning: </p>

<p>If you are going to do something bad, do it in a large group. Alone, you’ll be expelled. In a group, the incident will be kept top secret. NCSSM won’t give up that much fuel. You’ll get a pass if you swear to never speak of it. </p>

<p>All just my opinion.</p>

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<p>^^ that. was. amazing.</p>

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<p>Didn’t get accepted. Maybe I don’t meet up to their standards? Whatever the reason may be, trying to decide whether to go or not is gone. Yes I appealed, but there’s really no chance anymore. I guess it won’t meant to be…probaly best anyway…</p>

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<p>^^^
@wowimconfused…there is a NCSSM Applicants 2012/ Class of 2014 Results thread you might want to post on or read. There are others who did not get in and a general sense that there is no real method to the madness. Don’t be too down, the appeals’ results are not out yet. There are also some on the thread who are debating whether to take the spots they were offered. There is still hope!
T</p>

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<p>Just wondering if anyone has been put out of their misery yet or is everyone still hoping for a miracle? Good luck to those still waiting.</p>