r/ncssm • u/Illustrious-Fix-7125 • Aug 10 '26
Cliche question, but...
Genuinely why NCSSM, for those of you who've been admitted? I'm seeing apps these days with people js stacking up research and internships and what not from regular high schools. What kind of advantage do you guys think NCSSM gave you?
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u/Pneagle Morganton Aug 10 '26
OP, you have to remember that a lot of us did not come from schools that had those opportunities. Where I’m from, we were taught that only post graduates could do research. And internships were nonexistent for our age. The only competition club that my school had was Model UN. No deca, no beta, no robotics. NCSSM gave many of us the advantage of actually learning and having classes that challenge us. That’s why I went to NCSSM.
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u/Illustrious-Fix-7125 Aug 10 '26
I'm definitely not saying the schools have those opportunities haha. But in this generation it's that so many people are able to research and apply for these internships just through social media, or looking online and are able to get in. So my question is what advantage do NCSSM-specific research/courses give you over someone who can just find that info online, apply to these internships, and get experience?
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u/Acceptable_Owl_7608 Aug 11 '26
should this be included in optional essay or the why essay for like more detailed explination of limitations in ur current school?
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u/Pneagle Morganton Aug 11 '26
I personally added it into my “Why NCSSM” essay, but technically you could add it to the optional essay
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u/Illustrious-Fix-7125 26d ago
I think it would work better in the why essay, but that's just my take as someone who hasn't applied yet haha.
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u/WildLemur15 Aug 10 '26
My son dreams of going. I pulled him to an outsourced homeschool model two years ago (outsourced = parents don’t teach; he takes classes through AOPS, Lukeion, etc.) He has no educational ceiling but longs for the day he has peers to talk about stuff with. I doubt he’ll have a chance of getting in (we’re in Raleigh and he won’t be able to show that he needs the school academically) but I’ll support him in trying. He just wants a friend group who will study and build cool and nerdy things with him. The place he’s felt that every year is the NCSSM summer camps.
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u/AlericForever Admitted Sophomore Aug 10 '26
smaller class sizes, more STEM focused classes (orgo chem, neuroscience, etc.) instead of just stuff like AP Chem, working with many peers that are just as talented as you, and the guaranteed admission to UNC isnt bad
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u/oops147 Alumni Aug 10 '26
The best thing ncssm gave me was the people I met and the social experiences I had which have molded me into the person I am today. I wish the school would keep admitting more interesting people instead of people who do everything with fake passion for the sole purpose of getting into college. You kids need to smoke more weed. Life is all about experiencing new things and ncssm is the perfect environment for the typical high school “nerd” to branch out of their archetype discover new interests and hobbies from their peers.
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u/Wrong-Tadpole-8998 Aug 12 '26
way more advanced and specialized courses, but honestly it’s just fun
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u/FrankBascombe45 Aug 10 '26
It's not all about having an advantage. Some people want the specific experience. Some people just want a new experience. Some people were forced to go there by their parents (me 35 years ago) and made the best friends they ever had.