In addition to its two-year residential program for high school juniors and seniors, NCSSM offers a dual-enrollment online program for students seeking high-level instruction to supplement whats offered at their home high school, and open-enrollment courses taught via interactive videoconference -- all offered without tuition charges to NC residents; and many summer programs. Clearly, kid has opportunities at NCSSM that were not possible at the old school (and it was a large, metro high school.) of students and parents agree that the teachers genuinely care about the students. 4 comments 9 Posted by During the 3-6 hours of sleep I managed between classes and homework, I would have gruesome, terrible dreams that I only realized were not normal when I stopped having them 3 months after graduating. Reaching, overloading, striving: do not do this at NCSSM. They are responsible for getting themselves up in the mornings and going to class on time, washing their own clothes, keeping their rooms clean, and participating in work service across campus for example,work in the cafeteria, on the grounds, or in the science labs. The bill states that "No new recipients shall be funded after June 30, 2009. Theres more coming. I do not expect to be more unhappy for such an extended period of time ever again. Passion at NCSSM You may have it when you arrive, youll be lucky to have it when you leave. There are a ****load of rules at NCSSM and a very rigorous disciplinary system that some innocent students may get trapped by and certain guilty students may get away with. Interest clubs require very little start-up money (maybe nothing) and there are professional societies, especially engineering societies, that specifically seek out under-represented and low income schools and kids to assist. There are also 21 varsity sports and many more intramural sports. Its unfortunate that you have to stop learning in one area to excel in another, but that is the whole point of attending NCSSM niche learning, and showing that youve taken advantage of that on your college app.
,I am taking the SAT again soon and I am sure it will go up ~100-300 points. "[13] These workshops focus particularly in science and mathematics education. A. You were accepted into a T15 school. Question and Answer should be clear. However, for the perspective student: do yourself a favor and STEER CLEAR of this school. If you took "Chemistry," the Chemistry at NCSSM will be much more in depth and different. Im NOT saying the teachers at NCSSM dont look great on paper. My biggest issue is the lack of consistency across the same class. Apparently, the student, the family and base high school were able to save the kid. But it is correct to say that you will probably kill yourself for two years, endure emotional torture and physical discomfort, and make absolutely no difference in where you end up attending college. Many of these students have great experiences at the school. At my old high school I was highly ranked, had straight As, and was seemingly on track to go to a very prestigious school. and our I have mixed feelings about having attended NCSSM. This is an invaluable service for resource-constrained districts that are unable to provide teachers for a small handful of students interested in taking advanced STEM courses. [15], In 2019, Navami Jain was selected as a finalist in the Regeneron Science Talent Search competition. While not officially branded as such, many residents of North Carolina consider NCSSM to be a counterpart to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts due to their shared status as specialty residential high schools, with NCSSM focusing on science and math and the School of the Arts offering extended study in the arts. So if you want to send her to NCSSM just for harder academics, think twice. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is the nation's leading advocacy group that fights to protect Social Security and Medicare. Thanks, everyone!
,I think that really depends on if its worth it. Although NCSSM is a public school, enrollment is selective, and applicants undergo a . I dont know if you are a minority, but a strong PSAT score will help you win scholarship money as a National Hispanic Scholar or as a National Achievement Scholar, so its worth it to focus on it. What were his/her extra-curriculars or background? I love this school. But thats okay because Im a cat.
, Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. Now personally, I believe NCSSM is worth the change, and I should go for it. Assuming the schools computer system continues to malfunction, theyll not only try to complete homework using spotty computer service, theyll deal with the requirements of Super Study where computers are not allowed. But it is doable. Is there a cost associated with attending? [10] The student population of NCSSM is designed to be a demographic reflection of the population of North Carolina as a whole; additionally, a certain number of slots are reserved for each congressional district. The mission of the NCPSSM is to protect, preserve, promote . Skrunch(Questions College Confidential) and NCSSMAlum (Answers College Confidential). Do people really need to leave their old schools to do this? The friendships and opportunities I've experienced here are on a completely different level from what I had at my old school (and I was from Chapel Hill). When I visited, math teacher Linda Henderson was teaching AP Calculus AB. Thank you for sharing your experience with us! A. After this point, however, my experience became more and more like the one I described above. Alisa Herr is the former chief technical officer of EducationNC. If you say AP classes are too easy (cause some of them are really easy), get her to take harder ones like AP Euro or AP physics! When everyone else is content to just sit back and let things continue the way they always have, you have the grit to say, That isnt enough for me. The NCSSM Ryden AI Program presents an @ncscifest event: A(I)rtistic Investigations a booth-style event that investigates the intersection of technology and the arts. The students who attend NCSSM Online have the opportunity to participate in school activities like clubs, student government, community, and summer programs. NCSSM has evening classes and the club president will set up meetings at whatever time works best for him/her. SeeTheDawn and I have been obsessed with this school for the longest time. ,Youre doing the right thing with your coursework and grades. (919) 962-1000 Our content must be republished in full. Only 3 APs are offered at my school, along with only about 6 clubs that accomplish something in the community (Im in three of them). 4) Q. A tuition fee was considered for the 200203 school year in the midst of a state budgetary crisis, but it was never implemented. Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. Dont be frightened into believing it will destroy you. They also need better gym hours open. Congratulations on the well-fought victory. Going to NCSSM has shown me all the opportunities there are out in this world and helped me start to explore them as well. (Heres another one of those times when youll look at people taking easy classes and wonder what you were doing pushing yourself). I got accepted into residential but idk whether or not it would be worth it. What killed me, however, was that I was blocked out of many of the best extracurricular activities because of grades. For example, I know 20+ kids at NCSSM this year who applied to college as political science majors, business majors, or other majors in the humanities and social sciences, and who are certainly not pursuing STEM fields (myself included). When she applies to college, theyre gonna want to see lots of AP classes and passion from her extracurriculars. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you. If its a decent base school, youll learn just as much with far less stress, earn more AP credits (and believe me, Im wishing now I had what my sibling earned from our base school), and on average, be around a higher caliber of teacher/administrator. The original headline of the article must be used. Be prepared for that going in. At NCSSM, its helpful to have a background in research already to attract the attention of the teachers. The first left after one month, never thought about it again, and also ended up at a top 15 college. Years later it became a model for many schools around the country, and now NCSSM has a second campus to serve even more high school students. All this to say, the NCSSM students were incredibly prepared for the rigors of upper-level physics work. I was able to do a year-long biology/environmental research project with my favorite teacher, be an RLA on my hall, and be part of a multidimensional and diverse group of students and faculty. The suspense is killing me. In the end, its about politics, not education. Protect yourself so that when those college acceptance letters come out, you arent standing there asking: What just happened? On paper, you look like a very solid, all around student. It accepts rising juniors from across North Carolina and enrolls them through senior year. The execution is a nightmare. There are nerds, gays, druggies, jocks, gleeks, slackers, and of course, some of the top performing kids in North Carolina. Do they take any credits from your original high school? Niche users from this school are most interested in the following colleges. You are away from home, probably for the first time, and the classes are not easy. Any recommendations re classes/teachers/advice for those coming after you. Oh, btw, how does a student whos never had access to research opportunities prepare an appealing proposal? Raking leaves is relaxing, but youll probably be thinking the whole time Im one of the smartest juniors in the state and the best use of my time NCSSM can come up with is me raking leaves? What are my chances and what are things that I could maybe improve on?
,A good thing to do would be to have a look at the application to NCSSM. Is kid learning more? They were an amazing two years, and I am immeasurably thankful for them. 1-3 Credits: If you are coming in without the full 2 Years Worth of a Language, then you will need to continue your language requirement in the same language based on placement. NCSSM also offers a variety of external programs focused on educating teachers and students outside of the school across North Carolina. Balance is easy for them. This year, the school celebrated their 35th year. It will not be repeating. This site features two existing historic buildings, which will be renovated, and ample space to construct a new academic commons building, a dormitory, and a student wellness and activity center. Helps kids build independence for an easy transition to college. I'm from rural North Carolina, and I had access to so many opportunities at NCSSM that I could not have had otherwise. Also, a lot of the information on this page is very outdated: I think for the most part, NCSSMs students are tolerant, but I think they could benefit from a gay rights group. Giving up 1.5 hours a night to study hall might be no problem for the students whove chosen the easy route, but for kids who are taking two classes with web assigns, its significant, especially when the assignments are due at 11:00 p.m. "[3] I was not able to participate in the research and mentorship opportunities I had hoped would build my transcript. They get enough high quality, highly motivated, very savvy kids to not have to put any more work into them. Basically all those kids become engineers. Overall, NCSSM has provided me with great opportunities in the humanities; however, when it comes to STEM, some of the courses are very rigorous. There are many ways to invest in NCSSM. Overall, I would give this school a two or three star rating. Do you think your time at NCSSM had a role in this? Privacy Policy. ], the Foundation has raised in excess of $25 million in private support from corporations, foundations, alumni, parents and friends of NCSSM. If you hear of or see something youd like to have or do at your school or have for yourself - go up and say to someone - How can I get that?
,Most people dont realize until they are seniors that there are kids at their school who know things - who maybe have had older brothers or sisters whove shown them how things are done. Because states calculate graduation rates differently, use caution when comparing this data to data from another state. You said it yourself: IF the teachers like your proposal. Hunt Jr.; former governor, senator, and Duke University president Terry Sanford; and author John Ehle to give outstanding students in North Carolina the opportunity to become leaders in science and math industries in the state. NCSSM Online is a two year sequencedonline program that provides advanced, high-caliber STEM courses to students while they are still attending their local high school. Does NCSSM take kids with no previous research background and develop them into competitors for Siemens or Intel or any of the other high profile competitions No. You are doing well with your extra-curriculars and awards - You are definitely a strong candidate for NCSSM right this very minute, but just try to imagine how AWESOME it would look on your NCSSM application when it asks you what youve done that shows an extended interest in a subject and you say, I wanted an environmental club at my school, there wasnt one, so I made it happen, not only for myself, but for the other kids in my community.
,Youll show NCSSM, and colleges, too, that you arent going to let obstacles stand in your way.
,One of the questions on the application is demonstrating how youve shown a distinct desire to do more in an area, I think specifically math and science. If you understand what the school desperately needs, you can better shape yourself to appeal to them. In addition to the competitive academic criteria, the school selects students based on congressional district and gender. I would certainly have made the decision to come again, if I could. Living in Durham is also a great experience and a lot of fun. In the 2014-15 school year, 90 counties were represented. My whole point is, if you cant take more quality classes, if you arent going to be guided into research opportunities, if your grades will suffer because of the lack of academic support, why come to NCSSM? Its super hard to get a teacher to teach AP Eng Lit and AP Calc AB and AP Stat are only offered online. The school is known to place upwards of ten students a year in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. In the end, I did end up getting into a very prestigious university, but this success cannot be attributed to NCSSM. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. You certainly wouldnt be on this blog. A. Damn dude Im going to ncssm this year now Im scared. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Have you taken the time to read NCSSMs policy on core classes? The difficulty is compounded by housekeeping at 10:30 p.m., after the socially active kids enjoy thirty minutes of Happy Half. It pushes students incredibly hard, harder perhaps than is wise, but we also receive an unparalleled education at no cost to our families beyond transportation. Id do it, too. Does the school take kids and polish them? I feel like you have omitted some important details there. Honors English 2 What is something you are likely to continue to excel in that will reflect well on NCSSM as you move into your junior and senior years? A.I can only speak for myself on the first part of this. I would agree that NCSSM is harder than collegeonly because you not only have hard classes, but also work study, hall duties, super study and hall activities. But like it was for UNC, maybe it's the same for Duke. At NCSSM there are 3 levels, Inquiry, General, and Above. I highly recommend this school, I myself am very pleased so far with the efforts they've made for us, our education and our ease of comfort while on-campus. You are competing for slots against the kids in your high school for slots in top colleges and as your peers advance due to solid instruction and learning opportunities, merging back into a program where kids have stayed on track is hard. Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents. There are also people who share good and positive aspects of the school, and those people shouldnt be discounted or considered any more than those who mention the bad. [8] Teachers at NCSSM have also won awards, with music instructor Phillip Riggs winning the Grammy Music Educator Award in 2016.[9]. Before taking opinions from random people on the Internet about a school that will provide you with loads of resources and opportunities, PLEASE try to visit the school and talk to students and Student Government members in person! of students and parents agree that students at this school are creative and artsy. Find the one that's right for you. I know so many people who were, say in Chess Club, but had to drop it because of the timing. Absolutely not. In 2003, the NC Legislature approved a bill granting tuition costs for any university in the University of North Carolina System to all graduates of NCSSM, starting with the class of 2004, as an incentive to encourage NCSSM's talented students to stay in North Carolina. Awards won by this team include[17], They also presented at ROSCon 2018 in Madrid, Spain.[18]. Even after all of this, I still do not know if I REGRET going to NCSSM. The NCSSM-Durham Class of 2022 represents a diverse cross-section of the state. No one from my school has been accepted to Duke. You end up working in a lab at Duke, UNC, NC State, or NCCU and youre pushed to enter research competitions such as Siemens-Westinghouse or Intel Science Talent Search; the problem is that working toward getting a paper ready in time to submit to those competitions is completely at odds with whats usually necessary to help the lab of which you are part further their research; moreoever, many of the students successfully doing this research couldnt even tell you the difference between a markovnikov and anti-markovnikov product (a very basic regiochemistry principle in Organic reactions). This is the percentage of students that scored at or above proficiency levels on their state reading/language arts assessment test. ! It really is like a top secret - I didnt understand it because I thought I was maximizing my opportunities, too, but there are layers of opportunity out there. I know Math and Chemistry is one of them, but what are the rest? Because states implement these tests differently, use caution when comparing this data to data from another state. and Homeroom Rep), Marching Band (1st year, 3rd out of 6th chair trumpet), and HOSA (Youngest President in school's history). How will that be measured by colleges in applications? The second left after one year and later went to the state school he wanted. Due to the expansiveness of the internet and the potential of added feedback, this list will never be exhaustive. SSEP Student Researcher (Experiment sent aboard the ISS)/ Presented at the Smithsonian and Kennedy Space Center County Impact Through Education Award Recipient National Junior Honor Society and Beta Club member State qualifier for VEX EDR robotics (team) Current: DECA (first place overall in PMK at district and highest test score) NCSSM also lets you retake the tests at the start of the school year and will move you up or down if you are placed incorrectly in the first few weeks of school. NCSSM is very much what you make of it. The school has done well in the national rankings for many years, including being listed as the 4th best public high school in the United States and the second best in North Carolina by Newsweek[6] and being listed among The Washington Post's 2014 "top-performing schools with elite students."[7]. Largely because of the rules and restrictions on daily student life, but also because of the insane amounts of homework (I get much less at the top 15 university I go to now), discouraging academic environment, and awkward social scene, my two years spent at this school were absolutely horrific. I wanted to ask you, when your son was here, did his grades fall? During the 20132014 school year, NCSSM housed approximately 680 students.
,I heard that there are placements exams on Welcome Day. It definitely changed my life and taught me to be curious in all academic areas and to value the importance of activities outside the classroom and growing as a person. Many people did do well in the graduating class this year, but I am in agreement with posts on this topics from other grads of the school: The students who went to top schools would have gone there without NCSSM. That bill was amended in 2005 to allow students to use additional tuition monies awarded to cover "costs of attendance." An Oceans Science team? I didnt come from a big high school, but I personally knew three upperclassmen who were doing research at our local college. A lot of kids who come here dont have previous experience with gays or even minorities. NCSSM served as a model for 18 similar schools, many of which are now members of the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS).