Prospective Student Pipeline Newsletter #2, 2022-23
January 5, 2023
|
|
The Prospective Student Pipeline is a virtual community for families who want to learn more about The Governor's School for Science and Technology (GSST). By subscribing to this newsletter, you'll get information about what's happening at GSST plus notifications of upcoming events for prospective students.
|
|
Director's Notes: Ms. Vikki Wismer
|
10th Graders - Time to Apply
The application to Governor's School is available now through the end of February. The first step in the process is the completion of an online application. The next issue of this newsletter, which will be coming out soon, will provide specific information about how to apply, but before starting the application, students need to decide which of the three academic strands to apply to. Click on the links below for informational videos on each strand, excerpted from last year's Parent Information Sessions:
Overview of the Application Process
The GSST uses a holistic application process to select the strongest students from the pool of applicants applying to each strand, within each district. Here's an example to help clarify the process.
If Jasmine, a sophomore at Warwick High School, is applying to the Engineering strand, she is competing with all students from Newport News who have applied to the Engineering strand.
Academic factors that are considered include:
- Rigor of courses taken, especially those in math & science, with advanced courses (honors, AP, IB, DE) given extra weighting
- Grades in all courses
- Recommendations from one math and one science teacher
-
Testing: SOL scores and scores from AP exams and PSAT, if available. An official SAT or ACT can also be submitted in lieu of the PSAT.
- Prerequisite courses: Applicants must meet the science and math prerequisites for the Academic Strand to which they are applying.
Factors that are not part of the application:
- Extracurricular activities
- Previous research
- Essays
Virtual Parent Information Sessions for 8th, 9th, and 10th Grade Families
A virtual information session will be scheduled for each school district. To find the date for your district and a Zoom link that will work for all sessions, click here. If you're unable to attend the session scheduled for your district, you are welcome to attend one for a different district.
|
|
College Planning Corner with Dr. Ellen Fithian:
|
|
Long Range Planning for GSST:
One of the key goals of this newsletter is to help families make informed choices about whether Governor's School would be a good fit for their child, and if so, how to prepare to be a successful applicant and student.
Why Governor's School?
All of the home schools that participate in the Governor's School program offer advanced course options (AP, IB, and dual enrollment), so why should a student leave her home high school for half of each day to come to GSST?
The unique features of the GSST experience are several:
- Science courses that are collaborative, lab and project-based. Students put knowledge into action in sophisticated, technology-rich facilities.
- Access to post-calculus courses: Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra and Differential Equations
- Two year Research sequence that teaches students how to do research, use statistics, and analyze data in service of doing an individual mentorship in a career area of their choice
- Community of academic peers - high achieving students interested in STEM
- Unique extracurricular opportunities: STEM-focused clubs and competitions
How should a student prepare for GSST in 8th through 10th grades?
Students who believe they might want to attend GSST should ideally notify their school counselor by 7th or 8th grade to make sure they sign up for the most appropriate preparatory courses. Successful candidates for GSST are generally those who have taken the most rigorous math and science courses available to them. Specific prerequisite courses that need to be completed by the end of 10th grade for each of the strands are as follows:
-
Biological Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, and Algebra 2/Trigonometry (It's recommended that Physics be taken at home high school at some time during high school, but not necessarily by 10th grade.)
-
Computational Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, and Algebra 2/Trigonometry
-
Engineering Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, and Precalculus (Math Analysis)
Students should also make every effort to take the PSAT during 10th grade. An official SAT or ACT can also be submitted in lieu of the PSAT.
Finally, I also recommend encouraging your child to participate in STEM activities that will help him/her gauge their interest in STEM course work and careers. We will continue to post information about these events as we hear about them, so stay tuned to this newsletter for information about extracurricular opportunities, the Governor's School program, and our application process.
|
|
Virginia Space Flight Academy Program
Applications Available January 7
|
Applications will open on January 7 for two programs run by the Virginia Space Flight Academy - Space Adventure Camp and STEM Academy.
Space Adventure Camp
The Base Camp, for students who haven't participated previously, is a week-long, residential program for students age 11-15. Students engage in a variety of engineering projects, including building model rockets and robots and operating drones. Four sessions offered in June and July.
Students who've previously completed Base Camp can enroll in two more advanced sessions: Aerospace or Coding and Robotics, each of which is offered for only one week-long session.
In addition to engineering projects, students tour NASA's Flight Facility Visitor Center and visit an aerial obstacle course and amusement park.
STEM Academy
Online modules for students in grades 2-8 in three areas: Explore the Cosmos, Take to the Sky, and Coding 4 Mars. Modules take place during the school year, lasting four weeks, with an additional two weeks to complete asynchronous work.
What do they cost?
Tuition for Space Adventure Camp is $1199 for Base Camp, $1299 for the two more advanced sessions.
STEM Academy: $250 - $350, including a materials kit valued at $100 - $150. Tuition includes room and board, supplies, and recreational activities.
How can I learn more?
Click here to see a description of the programs, along with the dates they will run in the summer. .
|
|
|
|
Tell a Friend About the PSP! Everyone is Welcome!
If you know someone who might be interested in learning about The Governor's School, or who would benefit from any of the more general information provided here, please encourage him/her to subscribe by signing up on the
|
|
|
|
|
|
|