Thoughts on Going to a STEM School?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Specifically this one</p>

<p>[Massachusetts</a> Academy of Math & Science at WPI - Welcome](<a href=“http://www.massacademy.org/index.html]Massachusetts”>http://www.massacademy.org/index.html)</p>

<p>What are your thoughts on going here? I’m a hard worker and love the STEM subjects as well as art. I’m thinking of attending but I’m not sure what advantage this school will have for admissions to top colleges.</p>

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<p>Their college matriculation list for 2013 is here: <a href=“http://www.massacademy.org/Images/CMS/Academy/College_Choices_Class_of_2013.xlsx[/url]”>http://www.massacademy.org/Images/CMS/Academy/College_Choices_Class_of_2013.xlsx&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

<p>RPI, WPI, UMass Amherst Commonwealth College (i.e., the honors college at UMass Amherst) (and others) The list is heavy on colleges strong in STEM, which one would expect.</p>

<p>The school’s booklet lists accepted and enrolled students, which shows an interesting pattern. <a href=“http://www.massacademy.org/Images/CMS/Academy/MassAcademy-booklet-web(1).pdf[/url]”>http://www.massacademy.org/Images/CMS/Academy/MassAcademy-booklet-web(1).pdf&lt;/a&gt; The students do seem to prefer colleges with strong STEM programs. Thus, I would assume a good student at WPI would be able to get into “top colleges” handily, but that their list of “top colleges” would be the subset of “top colleges” with good STEM programs.</p>

<p>As the school is run by WPI, many of the students may choose to continue at WPI, as they’ve completed courses at WPI by graduation. I don’t know if they are then sophomores or freshmen at WPI. As many STEM careers require graduate school, remaining at WPI for college may be a rational choice, for both academic and financial reasons.</p>

<p>From a brief glance at the NEASC report on the academy, it’s glowing:<a href=“http://www.massacademy.org/Images/CMS/Academy/MAMS20Final20Report2041709.pdf[/url]”>http://www.massacademy.org/Images/CMS/Academy/MAMS20Final20Report2041709.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Is it worth it to move half way between high school to attend it?</p>

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<p>Do you mean, changing schools between 10th and 11th grade, effectively switching high schools halfway through? </p>

<p>Admissions are competitive to the school, according to the website. Only you or your parents know if it’s feasible to move house for a school–and that’s a family decision. Whatever your current school, it looks like a fantastic option–highest SATs in the state, instruction at the college level, and free.</p>

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<p>I live 20 minutes away, that’s not the problem hehe</p>

<p>Could I still do as efficiently in public school? Same high SAT &PSAT & ACT scores and such.</p>

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<p>Could you do as well in public school as far as test scores go? Sure. This school switch would be about the experience, the level of instruction, and being surrounded with peers who love STEM subjects as much as you do. As far as getting into a top college, I’d imagine that your experiences in the school would give you lots to write about in your essays and talk with in your interviews. More importantly, you might discover a new passion or subject area you hadn’t considered before.</p>

<p>But as a fan of science, you know that there are to many variables for random internet strangers to actually give you an answer as to whether or not you should switch. But for what it’s worth: I don’t think it would hurt you for college admissions.</p>

7

<p>+1 for Albion’s comment!</p>