<p>My son is interested in the Texas Academy of Math and Science (TAMS) which is a state-supported boarding school in Denton, Texas for academically advanced math and science high school students who are state residents. It is a two-year program (Junior-Senior years) at the University of North Texas, offering opportunities for students to take advanced classwork and to participate in research. After looking at the school's website and performing all the simple Google and CC searches I could think of, I still do not know that much about it. </p>
<p>I would very much appreciate any information anyone can supply about the school, including information regarding dropout/graduation rates, student life, and which universities the the graduates are admitted to (including in what numbers). I am also interested in finding out more about similar science and math academies in other states.</p>
<p>There are some good things about TAMS. I’m a current TAMSter, and while I did like the experience, there are some major flaws in the entire TAMS system.</p>
<p>First of all, it’s a bureaucracy. What does that mean? The admin aren’t exactly there to help you, they’re there to maintain TAMS so they can–well, keep their jobs. This means they instill fear in you of having a low GPA. There’s generally an atmosphere of paranoia going around TAMS.</p>
<p>Second of all, TAMS life is nothing like your high school life. Expect to handle a lot of stuff yourself; TAMS basically taboos you if you have roommate problems (they’d rather you not talk about it) and if you seem to be struggling with subjects there’s labels of you being stupid. If you have problems, they generally want you to keep it to yourself, which sucks. TAMS though has great PR, which is why dissent among alumni are silenced.</p>
<p>A lot of people lose their personalities at TAMS–they lose their passions. There is so much more to math and science than maintaining a good grade in those subjects; for example, research and science bowl and math competitions and really loving the subject by diving into it. People forget that in the flurry to maintain their GPA. I had friends who danced amazingly and had won nationals at competitions ditch all of that in order to have a 4.0. I don’t know if it’s worth it, but it certainly made them bored and tired during their TAMS year.</p>
<p>My advice sounds cliche but in the long run, but your son will need to stand out from your peers. He can throw yourself for the 4.0 that a large portion of TAMS students will also fight to get, or he can accept a lower GPA and find the cure to cancer or strept or flu. Up to your son, but he can make your experience at TAMS and his last two years of high school count and make it meaningful.</p>
<p>While I can’t help you with TAMS, there are a lot of posts on this board discussing the North Carolina math/science boarding school for 11th/12th graders. Try searching for NCSSM if you are looking for opinions about academies like TAMS in other states.</p>