<p>My son is a very bright, sweet CAUCASIAN child with great grades and tons of life experiences, he volunteers at the hospital and has over 30 hours of flight lessons. Guess what? He did not get in! Perhaps it is because of his race. When we went to discovery day you could not help but notice that we were the minority there. Very curious to see the ethnic background of the candidates for 2014. Sucks!</p>
<p>@LutherSetzer</p>
<p>I guess they haven’t completely done away with it yet, but from what I learned the waitlist is capped at 60, and is mostly made up of people off appeal. Not sure if only the people initially put on the waitlist can go to welcome day, or if they include people who appealed.</p>
<p>@SOD</p>
<p>Don’t forget that stats aren’t everything, how you present yourself helps gauge “fit”, which is important to the admissions committee.
[insideNCSSM</a> - YouTube](<a href=“ks fjcu - YouTube”>ks fjcu - YouTube)
This is a good series of vlogs to watch if you wish to know about life at NCSSM. </p>
<p>@Gabby</p>
<p>Well if you saw that he was in the minority, I don’t see how that would negatively impact his chances. The demographics of the class of 2011 was a majority white at 54%, then 28% Hispanic/Latino, and in third Asian(which in my experience was a large percentage of the applicants) making up 25%. I’d wager that his congressional district was more of a deciding factor than his race. I"m sure he was a great candidate, but the admissions can be a crap shoot even at NCSSM.</p>
<p>@gabby
Why do we have to bring race into this? I agree with quacoh that it was probs your sons cd and not his race. I can also assure you that it is definitely easier to get in to NCSSM and colleges if you are white rather than asian. I have multiple asian friends who were definitely better candidates, but in the end, people of other minority groups or white people got in instead of them.</p>
<p>@gabby: Everything is not about race. There are alot of factors (CD spots, grades, etc.) that decide. They are looking for people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures to create a “melting point” that reflects the diversity of the state of NC. While your son may have had a 4.9 GPA and a 2000 SAT, they may have opted for someone at a lower school with a 3.7 GPA and a 1300 SAT. So, NCSSM has many factors that are out of our control.</p>
<p>Huh. </p>
<p>Looks like I got in (I only found out 3:30 today) which is incredibly surprising, as my SAT score was downright terrible, I come from a high-applicant CD, and I “bombed” the discovery day test. </p>
<p>It’ll be 11 in a 3 hours…not sure what if I should go.</p>
<p>You should go. What did you get on the SAT? (I am also not good at taking test)</p>
<p>@yerhs52</p>
<p>I’m considering it…but I’m not sure. </p>
<p>Also, it appears the deadline is Monday. At least that’s Robert Andrews said. </p>
<p>Though performance may vary. </p>
<p>Sat score: 1880 Edit: Not really terrible, but significantly less than the other guy I know that applied.
GPA: 4.0 unweighted (my first year and a half was incredibly easy, I go to an “Early College”)
No extracurriculars.
I’m located in Good 'ol Brad’s District. </p>
<p>Only reason I considered applying was for the Online program, but through some strange irony, I got into the residential program, which I was not prepared for.
Oh yeah…my current school isn’t the most rigorous in the world. I don’t think I’m prepared for an “NCSSM Challenge”.</p>
<p>@foxh8er Lol. What is Good 'ol Brad’s district? Can I get a number? Lol. Also, what classes did you take? I will be applying next year.</p>
<p>@yerhs52 </p>
<p>I took the “normal” course load for my school. (I go to Wake Early College, and we don’t get any course selections, and almost all of our courses are Honors, though none are AP.)</p>
<p>Freshman Year:
ACA111 - “Community College Writing” AKA - Writing and Seminar.
Honors Earth Science
Honors Civics
Honors Anatomy
Non-Honors Spanish I
Honors Research Methods
Math Integrated II
English I</p>
<p>Sophomore Year:
Honors Biology
Non-Honors Spanish II
Integrated III
Community College Health</p>
<p>I won’t discuss current classes, as they weren’t contained in the transcript or recommendation. </p>
<p>By the way…CD 13 is Brad Miller’s current district…unfortunately not future district…</p>
<p>What would Integrated Math III be equivalent to? I’m guessing precalculus? Also, can you rate me…? Please? Please give me as much advise as possible.</p>
<p>I am currently a 9th grader and I’m going to apply next year. My current activities are: HOSA Club, Latin Club, and History Club. I also “observed” our science bowl team and I will probably compete next year. I will start participating in World Cultures Club, Key Club, be a competitor in Science Bowl, and Environmental Club. I will also do the clubs I did in my 9th grade year. I will volunteer in the hospital during summer time and will probably get well over a hundred hours. Also I volunteered in my 8th grade year by tutoring students. I hope to do this in my 10th grade year except tutor an entire class after school. This will complete 50 hours of community service that key club requires. I would say one of the greatest accomplishments I have had is getting strait As through middle school. Also I hope to start a math club. Also, I have played 7 years of recreational basketball and 3 years of recreational soccer. I have gone to church camps during the summer time for 7 years. I played one year of basic tennis and can thoroughly play the tabla drums. I was accepted to be a part of Duke Tip. I was also admitted into the National Youth Leadership Forum. I was also the 7th and 8th grade science person of the year award. I have also gotten an award by reaching my reading counts goal in 7th and 8th grade. I have also completed 5 levels of recreational swimming courses. I have entered my school science fair 3 times. I have an award in 7th grade for creating and directing the best math skit and got an award for the best use of technology for this skit. I have gotten a Minority Academic Award for 3rd to 8th grade. I have been a part of Academically Intellectually Gifted Students from 3rd to 8th grade.</p>
<p>My classes/grades are (93-100 is an A; 85-92 is a B):
9th Grade Classes:
Geometry Honors-A
Biology Honors-B (92)
PE/Health-A
English I Honors-B (92)
World History Honors-A (currently)
Latin I-A (currently)
Algebra II Honors- A (currently)
Biomedical Technology- A (currently)</p>
<p>10th Grade Classes:
AP Statistics
Pre-Calculus Honors
Civics & Economics Honors
English II Honors
Biology II Honors
Latin II
AP Biology
Chemistry Honors</p>
<p>@Yerhs52
That looks quite good, really, far better than mine, but again, results may vary, according to CD, your grades next year, etc. </p>
<p>I’m still surprised I was considered a finalist, I was anticipating somber reminder of my own stupidity. </p>
<p>Integrated III is Algebra II, by the way. I’m only taking Community College Pre-Calculus this semester. </p>
<p>@Luther
Thanks for the links. I saw similar horror stories when I was writing my essays a couple of months ago (can’t find them again, unfortunately). It was then that I decided the residential program might for me, but I am still open to the possibility. </p>
<p>The problem with my Early College (Wake Early College if I haven’t discussed the matter already) is we have a focus I absolutely hate. We seem to be content with churning out Phlebotomists and Registered Nursing Assistants from Wake Tech, and we don’t get to choose our own full-Wake Tech course load in our Junior and Senior year, which annoys me, as I wanted to take a couple of programming courses “for fun”. Despite this, I like the opportunity of mingling with people I already am comfortable with, and teachers that I genuinely like - my current high school teachers are amazing. </p>
<p>The main impetus behind me even starting the application process was the hope that I would be able to take programming courses at NCSSM, but even that is being nerfed with budget cuts. </p>
<p>Furthermore, I tremble at the thought of meeting people with possibly greater egos than my own. Granted, most students are probably kind, humble, and “normal”, but its bad enough at my own school, which doesn’t contain nearly the amount of “smart people per capita”. </p>
<p>Currently, I’m leaning on declining the offer, but, again, I’m open to the possibility.</p>
<p>@foxh8er Well, my CD seems pretty mild difficulty. A person got in with up to Pre-calculus honors in their second semester and biology and chemistry honors. I think I have a good chance if you made it without wanting to. Lol.</p>
<p>Gabby2244: The school is over 50% white and we know white males who were accepted. But yes, it is intended to be a melting spot school on all fronts (geographic, ethnic, interests, etc.). Maybe it came down to your son and a great flute player or swimmer? Maybe there were too many talented, bright, kind boys for your district and others stood out over him? There are SO many factors that go into admissions that it is hard to make sense of it. It is impossible to know whether your son did not get in because he is white.
Our daughter did not get in. Life it tough. You don’t always get what you want. But there is a reason for everything and you press on. That is the lesson we are taking from this. It is VERY hard when your child works for something and does not get it, especially when you believe they are qualified. But this will not be the last time…college admissions, jobs, graduate school admissions and researsh opportunities…believe me, they will have to take more than one hit in life; with some they will see the reason for it, with others they will not. As adults, we know this.
I wish the best for your son and hope that if you appeal and he DOES get in, he will go with an open mind and not look around at non whites and assume that he deserved the original Finalist spot over them.
I am truly happy for the kids on here who did get in. Whatever the reason, they got Finalist and hopefully will make an informed choice of whether or not to accept it.
T</p>
<p>When is it a good time to actually start a registration. Can you REGISTER for the SAT while you are in the middle of your application or do you have to wait until you are done with the application. Also, could you register frthe SAT before you start your application and ten take te SAT in the middle of your application?</p>
<p>@yersh: Personally, I started the application process during winter break. It gave me alot of time to think about my responses. So, I would recommend that. </p>
<p>As for the SAT, as long as you take it between October and January of your sophomore year aand send it through the College Board, you will be fine. They receive it electronically, so it will pop in on your status page when they get it.</p>
<p>Sent from my ADR6350 using CC</p>
<p>Thank you for the exact type of response I wanted. I think I will complete it during thanksgiving break because I would like to take the SAT in December. Also, I want to complete it during thanksgiving because I was thinking about asking my English teacher about maybe looking over my essays so I know that everything will be grammatically correct and will sound nice.</p>
<p>I was accepted into NCSSM online. Anyone know about this program in comparison to the residential school? I want to take AP Physics so that I can hopefully earn the college credit to finish my CORE 44 (actually 46) while in high school. Anyone else doing community college and AP course combinations to earn the CORE 44?</p>
<p>Hey Luther! What college did you go to after you went to NCSSM? Just wondering.</p>
<p>Another side of heading to boarding school (I went many moons ago, though not to NCSSM…which is another beast we all know!). You do gain time and freedom in some regards. For those in charter, magnet or private schools who have long commutes, you get that time back. No more riding the bus for over 1 hour each way. Your classes are where you live. You also get back many of the hours you spend (and your parents spend) driving you back to campus on evenings and weekends for sporting events, plays, practices, etc. In addition, you back some of the hours you may spend commuting to and working at a part time job, as you will not hold a job (other than the unpaid campus required work of a handful of hours) while boarding. Meaning, you get back the 15 hours a week you may have spend in a lifeguard chair or slinging burgers. This is a plus to some kids (but a negative to those who want and need spending money).
My daughter’s friend is doing an analysis of whether to accept her residential spot and factoring in also that she will gain the freedom from her parents’ rule that she must go to church with them on Wednesday evenings and every Sunday…and will chose instead when she wants to go. She will also get back time driving her sibling to soccer practice 3 days a week and waiting for him (which she must do in exchange for use of the car on weekends). But, realizing that she will miss out on his games and bonding time with him.
I encouraged her to read this thread and others for the flip side of things. For me personally, managing my money and doing laundry were actually harder than I thought they would be and took more time than I expected. I did not mind the ‘study hall’ in the evening and have passed the practice on at home now to one of our children who struggles with time management. But other students HATED it and truly did not need it.
You all have a lot to consider and I agree the NCSSM online is a nice options. Residential will be wonderful for some (my own would like that option), but it is wise to look at all sides of the coin and as Luther says, ask questions on Welcome Day! In the end, be proud that you have the choice to make!
T</p>
<p>@LutherSetzer- I am working to complete the CORE 44 so that I have options in regards to going to state schools. My main pick right now is Appalachian, but I wanted the option to go to NCState and have my courses transfer without issue.</p>
<p>My mom is a high school counselor so she has done a lot of the leg work for the CORE 44. So far, I have completed:</p>
<p>CIS 115- Computer Programming, ENG 111- Expository Writing, COM 231- Public Speaking (did it online, crazy), PSY 150- General Psychology, and I am taking MAT 175- PreCalculus right now.</p>
<p>I am presently taking AP Government for the POL 120 credit and AP US History for HIS 131. I plan to take MAT 271- Calculus at my community college next fall (my school doesn’t offer AP Calculus- could have taken through NCSSM, but want the CORE 44 before I leave high school). AP Physics will hopefully give me PHY 151 and 152. Taking AP Computer Science this coming year for the extra math/science electives and AP English 3 for ENG 112/113.</p>
<p>All I should have left my senior year is ART 111 and ENG 231 to finish the CORE 44.</p>
<p>AP Calculus is the only one I struggled with deciding whether to take it online, but I was concerned with taking math online. I would rather stick with sciences and humanities. Want to major in Computer Information Systems and International Relations so NCSSM humanities will be great.</p>