I’m planning on applying to NCSSM next year as a sophomore, which means I’m a freshman at the moment. The admissions process requires an SAT score to be submitted, and of those who made it into NCSSM, I was wondering what your SAT scores were? I know someone who scored a 2330 and someone who scored an 1700 on the SAT; however, they both were accepted. Is the SAT a big part of the admissions process? If not, what IS the main part that is looked into?
I would love it if anyone has the chance to reply!
This rubric can be found online from the NCSSM website:
Grades: 10
Rigor of Program: 5
SAT Verbal and Math: 3 + 3 (or 4 + 4)
NCSSM Math Test: 3
Essay: 2
3 Teacher Recs: 2
Interest in Sci/Math: 2
Community Involvement: 3
Leadership: 2
Total: 35 (or 37)
This was before the the SAT added the essay so it might be 3 + 3 + 3 now. Having a score 100/200 points above your school’s average is good (especially for math). Remember that you are only being compared to applicants from your district, unless you are on the wait list. The wait list doesn’t abide by the policy of only comparing students to the other students in that district (for reasons that make sense, just think about it a little). Obviously they put a lot of weight on grades, and if your scores aren’t that great, don’t worry as long as the rest of the application is great. You can interpret the “(or 4+4)” however you want, but I think a 3 would be 200 points above school’s avg and 4 would be like 750. The 2330 probably got fours for each section. Obviously you should study and get as high a score as possible, but it shouldn’t be your top priority and you shouldn’t consider it your “hook” because it isn’t relatively important compared to grades and activities.
@plainpotato Thanks, this really helps. Also, how would one describe “Leadership”? I realize that there are roles in extracurricular activities such as clubs, but is there more leadership roles that NCSSM would desire its applicants to perform?
Interesting…Why are grades so overly stressed? That might explain a lot, since I had like 3 B’s when applying. Imo, things such as essay, interest, etc would be just as important, if not more important.
@iLackCreativity Just wondering, since you implied that you applied to NCSSM, did you make it in?
Yes, from the waitlist though. I think my involvement of math helped out a ton, everything else was pretty average, except maybe the SAT (2150).
Hey im a sophmore from CD10 and i want to know what you think my chances are of getting in to NCSSM are. I would love to have reccomendations on how to improve my chances as well.
Freshman Classes:
Honors World History
Honors Physical Science
Honors Geometry
Honors Chemistry
Honors Pre Calculus
Overall unweighted GPA 4.0
Sophmore Classes:
Honors Biology
Honors Civics
Honors Calculus (Joint course with AP Calc)
AP Enviormental Science
Spanish 2
PE
AP Calc
Honors English II
Volunteer Expeirences:
200 Hours at the Food Pantry
100 HOurs at the Soup Kitchen
Volunteen at Hospital over the Summer
Acedemic Awards:
First in my class as a freshman
Duke TIP
JHU CTY
Math Olympiad Champion (8th Grade)
ACSI Geography Olympiad Southeast Regional Finalist
AMC 10 (First place in my grade at testing site)
Athletic Achievments:
Part of NC ODP state soccer team
Varsity Starter since freshman year
Player on one of top club teams in the state
MVP of Varsity soccer team (freshman year)
SAT Score: Math: 700, Reading: 660, Writing: 640 CR+MA=1360 Overall: 2000
Extracarriculars:
Junior Beta Club
Club Soccer
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Mu Alpha Theta
Beta Club
National Science Honor Society
Interact Club
I would aprreciate the feedback. Thanks!
I’m applying to NCSSM too! We have a NCSSM Class of 2018 Future Applicants thread setup here so come on over and post if you haven’t done so already!: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1779922-ncssm-class-of-2018-future-applicants-p1.html 
is a Score of 1860 worrying?
(Reading: 670, Math: 620, Writing: 570)