Youth Should Never Be A Barrier To Learning.
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The Early Entrance Experience
Testimonials From Those Who Have Lived It
This page contains observations and remarks regarding the
Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing
Comments below are sorted with most recent submissions first.
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Matriculating into the academy was probably one of the most academically egregious things I have ever done. When I enrolled, I did not realize that by the simple act of signing a form, I was signing over my rights. Not just my rights to lack structure, which I absolutely did not mind losing, but my rights of free speech and free expression. Had I known the academy was anything like this, I would have never considered it. Never.
Academically, I learned nothing. Socially, however, I learned many things. First of all, never challenge authority. Never. You must always remain in the backseat when it comes to authority. If they messed up your transcript, and put you two semesters behind in classes that you already passed with an A, you must deal with it. Say nothing. The first week at the academy proved to be the most stressful. When I enrolled, I was told that all of my college credits, and everything I had privately studied [I was homeschooled] would be considered in my academic placement. Verbatim, I was told that all of my college credits would be transferred, and I would be placed in classes that would challenge me. I was also told that I could take electives my first semester if I tested out of mandatory classes. It was an entirely different story once I arrived. By Wednesday of the first week, everybody but I had received their class schedules, student IDs, and student numbers. I did not. I was in the middle of dealing with the admins downstairs because the academic coordinator lied to me and told me that they would now not allow me to be placed in anything higher than Calculus 1 and Chemistry 1. I had already taken Calculus 1 (college course where I had received an A), homeschooled myself through Calculus 2, and was ready and prepared for Calculus 3 and differential equations. In chemistry, I had already taken Chem 1 (college course where I had received an A), homeschooled myself through Chem 2, and was more than prepared for Organic Chemistry. The way they had it set up, I was going to be placed two semesters behind in my mathematics and science courses-- something I was told was not going to happen. I would be graduating in two years, and would be behind more than a year, considering the pace with which I worked before I came to the academy. The academic coordinator and I would never come to be good friends. I asked her if there were any way whatsoever for me to get into calc 3 by testing out of calc 2. "No. Not gonna happen. No other academy student is going to begin in anything higher than calc 1 this year," was her reply. Looks like I was going back into calc 1, right? WRONG. This is where the non-college credit course in Missouri academy politics comes in. I knew something was amiss. Something about this entire situation was not right. From what I had read in the brochure, the academy was a place where students came to excel academically and socially. Doesn't it seem that they would want their students to be matriculated in the highest courses? Another, more influential student was going into chem 1. He, apparently, didn't test high enough to get into chem 2. Little did I know that would have an effect on me later on at the academy. I presume this was the reason why I wasn't allowed to place into chemistry 2. By now, it is the first day of class. I still lack a class schedule. I still lack a student ID. I still lack a student number. I don't even know what classes I am supposed to be in. I follow around the other students almost mindlessly. I sit in calc 1, bored. I don't even know why I am here. I sit in biology while the teacher drones on about powerpoint. I sit in chem 1, once again. Rumors begin circulating that the above-mentioned student is being allowed to test out of calc 1. I come to find out that these rumors are true. Upset, I race down to the front office to confront the academic coordinator. I pull her into the Dean's office to have a discussion. Right there, she rescinds all of her previous statements, says that she "told me no such thing," and says that I can test out of calc 1 only. There's a catch: I have to test out by Thursday, in a course that I hadn't studied in a year. It is Monday now. With that, I decided that I would begin studying Tuesday, and test out on Thursday. I suppose they weren't going to accept my previous credits, huh? Long story short: The academy made provisions and allowed the other student to prepare over the summer prior to coming to the academy to be placed into whichever advanced classes he deemed fit. I, on the other hand, was not given an option to do so until I argued for it. The other, more wealthy, influential student had prior notification about the courses he was to be allowed to take, whereas I was only allowed two days to prepare for a subject that I hadn't studied in almost one year. I finally placed into calculus 2 (not calculus 3, because I was not allowed to go THAT far), and was not even given the option to test out of chemistry. During the first semester, I received room arrest because I came back during the weekend (not a closed weekend; just a weekend I decided that I wanted to go home) to complete a project in the computer lab-- ROOM ARREST FOR DOING HOMEWORK. This, along with many, many other things, pretty much made my decision clear: I left the academy, continued homeschooling, and am currently attending an Ivy League university with a full scholarship. If you are a gifted, talented student (beyond the normal spectrum), it is my advise to you to NOT consider the Missouri Academy of Mathematics, Science, and Computing as a replacement for your high school curriculum. There are many other ways of achieving a great high school education and succeeding independent of the academy. |
- A P, Student |
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The main complaint is a feeling of restriction and a large amount of what I see as pointless discipline. The handbook, available online, lays out all the rules and they are enforced. The explaination we get for the rules ( like PDA, network cutoff, several sign-ins and curfews) is that parents would not allow their kids to be here if the rules weren't in place. The curriculum is challenging. You can't take electives without a GPA of 3.0. This makes it hard to get some of the requirements for other programs, for example, 4 years of foreign language. The computing part of this program is dissapointing, according to some other students. (i haven't taken any computing classes yet) Turn in an application and talk to current students. When you get some students to talk to, make sure to get non-CL second years or just look up the xanga blogring. In conclusion, parents . . . your kids are well taken care of, prospective students . . . It's worth it but it takes some sacrifice, you will be treated as though you are immature at times and you really have no other choice except to accept the rules. good luck |
- Matt C, Student (Class of 2006) |
| I have a son at the Missouri Academy. He just finished his first semester there and it was a success. My son never really fit in with traditional schools and it became miserable for him. Since he has started at the Academy, he is delightful to be around again. I feel that the Academy gave me back my son! It is the first program that ever really spoke to his needs. I can't recommend the Academy enough for students who are looking for a challenge. |
- Chris Grass, Parent (Class of 2006) |
| I love the Academy. High School was a nightmare I'm glad to be through with. Classes are really fun, but stressful. I have to work for my grades, which is exactly what I wanted. The Norhtwest is a really pretty campus and I feel safe being here. |
- Ashley L, Student (Class of 2006) |
| I'm very pleased with the program itself and the results that I've had. The Academy is a good change of pace, where popularity ladders are based on intelligence rather than clothes, and everyone can find their own niche. The community is a much tighter-knit group of students, and I would recommend MASMC to anyone who is looking to surround themselves with people who are more mature and open-minded, or anyone who wants to speed up the transition from high school to college. |
- Holly Stillman, Former Student (Class of 2002) |
| Well, I love the Academy, I feel like home whenever I am there. The classes are very fun to be in, and I have learned much more in one semester than I would have ever learned in four years of high school. It is awesome. |
- Michael Jelavich, Student (Class of 2005) |
| I love being a Misery Academite because I'm not the biggest nerd here. That's what second floor guys are for. To make me feel better about myself by comparison. The girls are really hot too. |
- Adam Peetz, Student (Class of 2003) |
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This page was last modified 21:32 Saturday, January 14, 2006
