<p>Has anyone on the waiting list gotten a focus account? I would like to see my class placements…</p>
<p>My bags were packed, and I was measuring for dorm room curtains as soon as I got accepted into the residential program at NCSSM. I had the typical feelings of euphoria that it seems most others in my situation have felt. Now that the dust has settled, and now that I have had time to consider what all this means, I am finding myself feeling a little conflicted. I am still excited, but my emotions have been tempered by the reality of it all. I don’t hate my life or my home school. In fact, I kind of like it. I know what an incredible opportunity NCSSM represents. I know it might make my life better than it might otherwise be. I also know it might not. I have read every fact, opinion and myth about NCSSM that I can find. It is decidedly a mixed bag. I have read the emotional overreactions so eloquently spewed by the lovers and the haters, and I have formed my own opinion in that department. However, that is not where I want this discussion to go. This thread is clearly populated by some very passionate, intelligent and convincing individuals. It is my hope that one of them can offer a purely factual analysis using quantifiable measures of why NCSSM may or may not be worth the (non-financial) cost. Will I improve my SAT scores, get into a great school, or earn a scholarship by attending NCSSM? I imagine so. Can I do all these things living in my home town? I don’t really see why not. Are my prospects for greatness substantially increased by moving to Durham? Again, let’s set the intangibles aside for the sake of this discussion. I have read repeatedly that NCSSM is what you make of it. Isn’t that true of my high school as well? This whole situation is emotionally draining. If there is anyone out there who can lay out the Joe Friday (just the facts) case for NCSSM, I would be most appreciative.</p>
<p>@hesitantunicorn
“It is my hope that one of them can offer a purely factual analysis using quantifiable measures of why NCSSM may or may not be worth the (non-financial) cost.”</p>
<p>^I think that’s impossible to determine. A financial cost is quantifiable, but a non-financial cost is not. Beyond not being quantifiable, it varies wildly from person to person. Knowing that you like your home high school gives it the possibility of being high, but there isn’t a definitive way to measure what your emotional/social reactions will be without it actually happening to you.</p>
<p>As far as straight facts go, I can tell you (Citing the NCSSM profile that they have on their website: <a href=“http://www.ncssm.edu/sites/default/files/Profile%202012-2013_web.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ncssm.edu/sites/default/files/Profile%202012-2013_web.pdf</a>) that the class of 2012 had a mean math+verbal score of 1292 at admission and 1378 at graduation. The median also rose, from 1300 to 1390. Keep in mind that these scores don’t include the writing portion of the SAT. I don’t have data to compare that to the mean or median rise in SAT scores at your home high school between the sophomore and senior years. The profile also lists where they go to college, from 2008-2012 (though we must note that for a few of those years the tuition grant was still in place). You can calculate percentages from that for your institution of preference by taking the number admitted to that school and dividing that by the total number enrolled (as NCSSM boasts a near-100% enrollment rate). Thus, you get the percentage of NCSSM students admitted to the school, but that’s also impacted by how many apply - if they don’t apply, they can’t be admitted. This also applies to your home school. I don’t know where to get information about scholarships for either school.</p>
<p>The best way to figure it out would be to get that data, and from people who went to your school and chose to go to NCSSM and those who chose to stay home, then using the percentage change from a perfect score between when they applied for NCSSM and applied for college, and also which colleges they went to and which, if any, scholarships they got. At the end, though, they aren’t you, so it’s just data-enhanced guessing to compare the two options.</p>
<p>Sorry if some of it was unclear. I hope it helped.</p>
<p>You are probably have high SAT scores and good grades already thats why NCSSM wants to take you and kept you in the Waitlist. I believe that you are in win/win situation. Say you got 1370 in SAT Math & Reading and all As or just one B in 10th grade. If you stay in your home school you will definitely improve your SAT scores and say will get all As or mostly As and 1 or 2 Bs in junior and senior year. You will definitely get in at least to UNC Chapel Hill. Thats where most of NCSSM students end up ultimately. So you will not miss anything in that case. If you are very good will do better either you go to NCSSM or you stay in your home school. So no worry be happy and enjoy the summer. By the way keep doing what you have done so far in your freshman and sophomore year. There is only one NCSSM but there are so many colleges waiting for you. Good luck all of you.</p>
<p>Anyone on waitlist and in online?</p>
<p>Not me…I am kicking myself for not applying to online, I wish I had because this waitlist situation is looking pretty grave.
Also, on a completely different note…someone who was accepted into NCSSM from my school got a couple B’s this semester but since NCSSM looks only at 1st semester grades he was fine. Sorry…I’ll admit I’m extremly jealous that he got in…but it really bites that I got better grades and wasn’t accepted.</p>
<p>Don’t give up! some of the smartest people at science and math came from the waitlist… <em>cough cough</em> allan jiang <em>cough cough</em></p>
<p>Hi there, has anyone still on the waiting list been able to access the Summer Science Prep course? I know that it shouldn’t take long to complete, given that it’s mostly review, but I’d like to go ahead and get a jump on it :)</p>
<p>People on the wait list aren’t supposed to take it…only after you get in. I contacted NCSSM about that earlier this summer because I was worried about it too.
Still haven’t gotten a call. Guess I won’t be going to NCSSM :’(
My dreams are absolutely crushed. I am almost ready to write my full name on here and be like “NCSSM PLEASE ACCPET ME” lol.</p>
<p>Most of the calls will go out from August 10th through the last day as some kids will not show up or some reason they want to leave NCSSM. My son is indifferent whatever outcome
and so do I. He will do equally well NCSSM or No NCSSM. Many of you will do the same. Good luck!!</p>
<p>Do you know of anyone who has gotten in since Aug 10th??? And are they still determining acceptance based on districts??? Thanks, hope to hear a response soon</p>
<p>My child got an email today that the waitlist has closed–without a call for us.</p>
<p>Good luck to all of the other waitlisters that didn’t get a call and the ones who are now Unicorns!!</p>
<p>So, the closing email for the waitinglist has been sent out. I know to a lot of you, including myself at first, it seems like one of the best opprotunities for your academic career has been lost. To tell you the truth, there are more great things out there available to you than you can shake a stick at. You should ask your guidance councelor about the extra programs they can offer to you. I’ve been given information on some amazing programs that I wouldn’t have had the chance to attend if I had been accepted. Anyway, this isn’t the end of the road, and if you put in the effort, you will be successful where ever you are. 
Good luck guys!</p>
<p>I definitely know that the Ivy League will consider unicorns immediately. There’s a veracious 20% chance to get in!
Any advice for someone in CD 4 with 2 Bs? Considering everything else is perfect (and I mean PAHFECT <em>southan accent</em>)?
Oh wait…I’m in class of 2016…poop. Oh well, advice buddies?</p>
<p>Define “Pahfect”</p>
<p>Hm…lots of leadership positions. Involvement in four clubs. Second place in National Chemistry Olympiad. Lotsa math and science awards. Great essay. Erm…I tutor for free? There we go.</p>
<p>Second place for chem olympiad in what. The nation? Your school? Regardless, you will probably be fine. CD 4 got split up last year, so it’s slightly less competitive. I know of students who got accepted with a few Bs. Yes it makes it harder, but if your SAT scores show that you are academically capable, and your essays/ECs show your interest/leadership you should get in.</p>
<p>The state. Oh, and I’m I found out I’m in CD 13. So whoop! There’s pretty much a 94% chance of getting in.</p>
<p>I’m in CD 1. Do you know how competitive the district is?</p>
<p>What is my chance of getting in next year (class of 2017) if I’m in CD 4? Currently, I am in Student Council (secretary), and Forensics (debate). In forensics, I am tied for 13th in the state. I have roughly 200 hours of volunteer service at the hospital documented and another 60ish undocumented at other organizations, so I qualify for the Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award. I also tutor kids free of charge. One of the things I have done and plan on continuing is helping to sponsor 6 orphans in Syria, India, Bangladesh, and Ghana. I have a 4.5 weighted GPA. So far, I have had all A’s in my entire life, no B’s or lower. As a freshman, I have taken World History Honors, Biology Honors, Spanish 1, English 1, and Math 2. My online course from MIT on math starts today and my Kyoto university Biology class starts tomorrow. I haven’t taken my psat nor my sat yet, I plan on taking both next year. What can I do now to improve my chances of acceptance? What should my sat score be? Should I join more clubs or groups? How am I doing so far?</p>