It was Friday morning when students gathered for the North Carolina School of Science and Math interest meeting. Even though the students were tired, the guest speaker spoke with an eager tone. Students became more involved with the conversation after some encouragement, and wanted to know more about the school and what to do to get in.
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) is a school located in Durham specializing in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). NCSSM offers summer classes available to seventh to twelfth graders, as well as two-year online and residential programs open to eleventh and twelfth graders.
Applications for online and residential programs are currently available to sophomores; Kathleen Hablutzel, sophomore, had NCSSM in mind since she moved to North Carolina. She got to learn more about the school after coming to open house.
“I’ve known about in the back of my mind since I’ve moved to North Carolina,” Hablutzel said. “But I didn’t know what the school was until my 8th grade math class took a field trip there, and we went to open house, and learned about the school and got to see actually what the school was.”
Junior Tala Farah is currently in the online program for NCSSM; she decided to apply because she wanted a greater academic challenge than Northwood could offer.
“I decided to apply because I really like science and math, and I definitely thought I needed the challenge because the classes here are a little bit too easy for me, so I just needed a challenge in my particular field,” Farah said.
Farah noticed differences in her online classes for NCSSM and the classes at Northwood.
“[NCSSM Online] definitely gives you a variety of classes that aren’t offered here at [Northwood],” Farah said. “It’s also offered in CCCC, but I like the challenge of [North Carolina School of] Science and Math.”
Science teacher Leanna Sartwell shared her thoughts on what a student should do if they want to look into NCSSM.
“I would tell them to go and do some of the summer internships, and the summer camps. That gives you an idea of some of the work that goes on there,” Sartwell said. “Schedule a tour with their parents to go to an orientation, or something like that.”
Hablutzel is interested in NCSSM, and is currently applying to both the online and residential programs; she is open to either opportunity.
“I’m going to apply to both the online and residential program,” Hablutzel said. “at least that’s what I’m currently thinking, so I’ll try both and see where I’ll land. Either opportunity would be great.”
– By Jala Gunn
