Also, once in NCSSM, how hard is it to get research in biology/chemistry? Will there be an advantage if you have previous research experience and 2 papers on your name?
`@betdor - My kid graduated NCSSM 2-3 years ago. We are urban CD9. It wasn’t a smooth ride–but kid loved it and ended up at a well respected uni. Here are my responses to your questions (based on parent’s perspective): 1) Yes, kid would have chosen to go again (but b/c of experience not b/c it vaulted kid into a different level of college than if kid had finished at home school), 2) Kid did a fall sport, and really couldn’t get started on HW until 10:30 given non-computer Superstudy, Happy Half, etc.—that was hard until kid learned to work in pockets of time between classes; best things—friends, finding your tribe, cool art classes, accepting social vibe; worst things—bad food, sleeplessness, questioning core identity when you realize you are “average smart”–not uber smart; 3) Your kid can definitely take more STEM classes—as Eng. and History are consolidated into a single class. PM me with any questions. Your kid’s GPA will take a hit. But, kid did not fit in home high school and really fit at SMATH.
@SairacUchiha --Please don’t go to NCSSM to increase Ivy League chances. Yes, more kids get into Ivy League School than your home school—but you are judged against the talent pool in your school, so the competition is likely greater. Research (NCSSM-based research) chances are slim—but Mentorship chances are great. If you want to do research in high school, there will likely be an opportunity.
@betdor Sorry for the late reply! I also nixed IBECHS in favor of NCSSM. Currently my best friend back home attends IBECHS and I definitely say that NCSSM is a better opportunity.
- Absolutely! The people I have met and the classes I’ve been able to take have definitely been an experience you really cannot find anywhere else.
- The hardest part really was the social adjustment of living away from home and the cafeteria food- it’s free, so it’s not the best. The best part was really being around people who are excited to learn and teachers who are excited to teach.
- The only humanities courses you have to take are: American Studies junior year which is year long but only takes up one of five blocks; a foreign language course sequence (also year-long); and two trimesters of senior english classes. So out of the standard 30 classes only 8 of them have to be english/foreign language. There’s a wide variety of comp sci available here, ranging from Arduino and HTML to Python, Java, and C++.
- There’s a reasonable amount, I’d say that there’s probably around 50? Mostly from Wilmington and the surrounding areas.
Hope I answered your questions and if you have any others let me know!
fyi yall can check out the ncssm sg youtube channel to look at what current students are doing
Thank you for your insight @Skrunch! Really helpful! We are getting ready to go to our second tour this weekend, and he’s starting the application process.
Thank you @admiral12! Your answers are really helpful. He is happy to hear about all the potential for math and computer classes. We are getting ready to do a second visit this weekend. Also, I had no idea that many kids from CD7 went to NCSSM. I was thinking less than 20.
@SairacUchiha Hi! I wish I saw this sooner. Here are stats about NCSSM alumni and where they went to school:
https://www.ncssm.edu/uploads/files/95047622660037082-residential-profile-2015-2016.pdf
NCSSM does the opposite of hurting people’s chances into any school. NCSSM is an amazing opportunity, I can speak on behalf of the online program. Both online and residential students get about (or more) of the same percentage of getting into an ivy or any school in that matter.
@SairacUchiha but I also agree @Skrunch – don’t only apply to NCSSM just for the chance to get into an ivy. Apply because you want to learn and grow as a person.
Hi all - My son’s application is in! Good luck to everyone who is applying. He is in the middle of mid-terms/finals and his robotics build season (First Robotics), plus Science Olympiad so he is not overthinking this, it seems. That is good, as far as I am concerned.
Congratulations to everyone for successfully completing their applications! I’m not sure about you, but I definitely feel like a tremendous weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
I am the mother of a current student. The application process was an exciting time in our student’s life and ours. Our child was a top student at the local high school (not the most or least competitive district.)
I researched her “chances” after she applied. On the surface it seemed like a kid had to be a genius to get in. After a lot of research, I realized she had a real chance of getting in because: 1. she consistently participated in extracurriculars, 2. She had consistently volunteered 3. Her SATs were 100+ over the average at her school-still under 1400.
Her extracurriculars were not science/math heavy. She really did not have a passion for science and math. She just makes her best scores in S/M. She always had to work for her grades. She did not breeze through the local school. She earned it, tooth and nail. She got in. Her friends did not.
Most of the kids at S&M are above average,driven students. She’s making As and Bs at NCSSM. This is something to be proud of!
Is she happy? Well, she lives with over 600 teenagers and the adults in charge of keeping them safe. She gave up her crown at home for this? Some of the students are highly sexualized-meaning they are obsessed with their new found sexual freedom and the acceptance of sexual diversity. Supposedly the student pop has a higher rate of “mental illness” (maybe so but the pressure to succeed and the coping skills of teens may exacerbate episodes.) There is lots of political extremism. Are these bad things? NO! These are big issues in a young adult’s life. It’s a lot to bear for a teen, especially a teen away from home.
She was disappointed that she could not take whatever class she wanted. Many of the classes are prescribed and contingent on the classes you had at your home school. She felt “behind” because she had not taken Chem and Calculus. She was not used to this.
You can never get away from school. 27 acres and an uptown. You can not get away from your classmates.
The workload IS high!!! She is pulling all nighters studying. The food SUCKS! She says the eggs at breakfast are made from powder.
Is she happy? IDK. Do I regret letting her go. No! It was her decision. Is she safe? I think so! She would never be served powdered eggs at home…but she would have to make her own breakfast. Would she be stressed at home? Yep…she was stuck with kids that did not want to learn at home. Is she smarter than the other kids? NO! and THAT is a good thing.
Bottom line is that she wanted to go. It’s not a Unicorn Utopia. A lot of kids choose not to go, stay or even come back their senior year. A lot of qualified kids don’t get accepted.
Good Luck and Good Night! Life is what you make of it. The world’s greats did not go to boarding school. They paved the way.
I had a kid there 3 years ago. 7Tbones, Your post rings very true to her experience.
I just read your post. I meet a lot of alumni who say their years at S&M were the best and worst years of their lives. And that they appreciate the experience more as time passes. There are some volatile posts about the school on the web. I think our children’s experience is more common.
Does anyone know if the essays are the same each year or do they change quite a bit? DS will apply next year.
@yearstogo They pretty much stay the same
@7tbones @admiral12 How difficult is it to place into Science Olympiad and Sci Bowl at SSM?? Thanks.
Also, when is discovery day this year??
@SairacUchiha my student did not complete for the the sci bowl or Science Olympiad.
Discovery dates are listed on the school website. We did not know our district’s D-date until it was posted on the uniapp.
I am posting this for my friend…
He is a minority; African-American Male
SAT- 1410 (680 CR/730 M)
PSAT 10 - 1430
UW GPA: 3.75
W GPA: 4.3
I’m a sophomore in HS, and decided to take very rigorous courses. I got a C in Calc AB…
These are my classes:
Freshman Year
- AP Psychology A/A
- Chemistry I Honors A/A
- Computer Program I Honors A/A
- EARTH & ENVIRON SCIENCE HONORS A/A
- English II Honors A/A
- Mandarin Chinese II A/A
- Pre-Calculus Honors C/C
- World History Honors A/A
Summer:
Civics and Economics Honors A/A
Pre Calc Honors A/A (I retook it)
Sophomore Year
-Advanced Biology Topics Honors B/B
-AP Calculus AB C/C
-Advanced English Honors A/A
summary of EC’s
-Job
-Student Council
-Multiple Awards (swimming, tennis, school, etc)
-Volunteering
Does he have a chance?