Im a freshman too looking to apply to NCSSM. I have the nearly the same course list as you except i’m on a full year schedule so I am taking Chemistry, and AB Calc next year. I went to a program at the school itself and they said that they like the rigorous class load, but they also look for how you are as a person since we’ll be up on the campus by ourselves. So if we could just prove that we have the integrity and capability to keep up with their standards, I think we should be good
I’m also a freshmen planning to apply next year. You sound extremely prepared, and I think you have a very good chance of getting in, in my opinion. I definitely think you will be at the top of the list.
As for me, I’m taking Math 3 Honors, PE, Spanish 3 Honors, English 1 Honors, Biology Honors, and Band. I’ve accomplished a lot with my instrument back at my hometown (I recently moved to this state). I’ve been in District Honor Band for 3 years, placed 2nd at competitions, completed 7 levels for music and theory testing (out of 10 levels), and I’m always either 1st or 2nd chair in the school advanced bands.
Next year I will be taking Honors Chem, APES, AP World, AP Stats, English 2 Honors, and Spanish 4 Honors. I’ll be taking Civics over the summer ('cause of my transfer) and PreCalc over the summer also (Honors Chem and PreCalc is required in order to take AP Chem or Calc AB later).
I created a club outside of school - a volunteering club where we teach music, art, and other extracurriculars at elementary schools, or online.
I’m also planning to join SciOly and an international science competition club. I’m still adjusting to this new school and environment. I’m starting to discover clubs. I’m also planning to join a math club.
I always get straight A’s. Some high and some lows.
As for my SATs- I have to work on them. They aren’t as high as yours, and I have quite a room for improvement. I lack scores on critical reading.
You’re right – the caliber of accepted applicants certainly varies between districts. Yours is definitely one of the most competitive, if not the most competitive, districts (Enloe, smh).
I’d say your transcript is solid, as long as you get straight As or close to straight As. (My transcript was similar, and I was accepted from a highly competitive district.)
Your SAT could use some work – most SSM students I’ve talked to from the Cary/Morrisville area have scores around 2200+. But you’re pretty close! I’d definitely recommend taking it again before scores are due.
Finally, I think your ECs are decent, but not stellar. Some of the people you’re competing against have conducted research at well-known labs at Duke/UNC/State, founded nonprofits, captained their varsity sports teams, qualled for NSDA nats (assuming you know what that is because you do debate! I do too), etc etc. Don’t feel bad or discouraged, because your ECs are certainly better than the average high school freshman’s, but keep in mind that a lot of really qualified students apply to NCSSM, especially from your district. You’re a freshman, so you still have time – try to do something important with your summer or first semester of next year, or at least get some kind of club leadership.
Overall, I’d say 50-50 chances of acceptance at this point. But if you make the most of your sophomore year, your chances will definitely go up. Best of luck!!!
Man this thread brings back weird memories and how times have changed.
I am NCSSM Class of 1983 - the second class ever. I would say 90% of the class had just completed Geometry, most everyone cold sat the SAT because it was just an item on the list of things we needed to do and probably 20% of the kids had 2.5-3.0 GPAs because they were just bored with their classes. It seemed the big thing to get in was the weekend when they brought up the semifinalist or whatever and put us through a bunch of IQ tests and an interview. There were obviously a number of high achievers (like the current president of Williams) in the cohort but not like it is nowadays.
