Category: College - New Summit Academy Costa Rica

Is a Gap Year for us?

6/8/2022

What if you were guaranteed immense clarity and direction just from taking a simple year off of school to travel abroad? What if it could propel you way farther than jumping straight into college? Would you do it without hesitation?

Danny Recio, Director and Founder of The Bridge Gap Program, took a gap year in South Africa after high school. It was during his time there where he had a “coming of age” experience and found his calling in working with people. All because of his time abroad, Danny went on to start gap year programs - a therapeutic option called The Bridge (a therapeutic community for young men) and a more traditional coed gap program (Si! Gap Program) in Costa Rica, guiding them along their own coming of age experiences.

In this episode of Success is Subjective, Danny joins Joanna to share his journey as he traveled as a young adult, exploring different cultures and how his gap year experience has stuck with him, even a decade later. Listen in for Danny’s insight on the impact the right gap year program can have on a young adult, possibly changing the entire trajectory of their life.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-118-making-the-most-of-your-young-adulthood/id1499891712?i=1000550592741

What You Will Learn

What it was like growing up and going to school in Costa Rica
Danny’s gap year in South Africa
How impactful and helpful taking a gap year can be
When Danny became interested in psychology
Danny’s experience in college in Costa Rica vs the U.S.
Danny’s insight on what can be really helpful for young adults as they navigate their identity and the world around them
How The Bridge Gap Program came about
Danny’s advice on goal setting
Connect with Danny Recio at his Bridge email or his NSA email

Academic Tour of NSA (2020)

4/26/2020

College Acceptances & Merit Scholarships for NSA Seniors!

3/19/2020

This spring has been an exciting time for our seniors! After months of hard work developing and honing their college lists, writing and editing essays, visiting and interviewing, and completing their applications (all while maintaining good grades), their hard work has paid off!

Here is a sample of just some of the schools that have offered admission to our talented seniors.

Our students are also proving that - through their journeys of learning and growth - they have developed into the types of students that colleges want on their campuses. The offers of merit scholarships are proof of that.

Our seniors have, up to this point (and we will surely see more), been offered a total of more than $800,000. Congratulations, seniors!

College Applications at a Therapeutic Boarding School

11/7/2019

Students and parents often ask what a therapeutic boarding school “looks like” for college admissions.

The answer is that – if presented correctly – students’ experiences throughout wilderness and New Summit Academy can make applications stand out and show colleges that our students are more college-ready than many students who haven’t had their experiences.

Think about it. NSA seniors have:

Faced and overcome challenges
Developed an understanding of their learning styles and can advocate for their needs
Lived away from home in a dorm with peers
Cultivated significant international experience and multicultural skills
Developed a resume like no other

If we use essays and letters of recommendation to highlight these facts, our students have an advantage when applying to college.

Need some proof? Here are a few statistics from last year’s college application season:

Percent of seniors applying to college who were accepted and enrolled: 100%
Percent of total schools offering admission: 79%
Acceptances to “Colleges That Change Lives”: 5
Percent of students offered merit scholarships: 60%
Average merit scholarship offered: $75,076.92
Total amount of merit scholarships offered: $976,000.00

Finally, here is the impressive list of schools – as unique as our students – where last year’s seniors enrolled:

Loyola University Chicago, Lynn University, Juniata College, Christopher Newport University, Quest University, University of Oregon, University of Denver, and Lehigh University.

This year’s seniors are in the middle of their application process, so wish them luck!

Spring 2019 NSA Graduation

5/24/2019

New Summit Academy celebrated a very special graduation day this spring, as we proudly sent eight young men into the world, prepared for success.

This graduating class served as leaders and role models for our students, and every student graduated with honors – a feat never before seen at NSA!

These students have been hard at work this past quarter, writing and polishing their transition plans, working side-by-side with their families to come to agreements on their plans, and meeting with the Transition Team and administrative staff to complete a final review. The grads then took one final trip together, celebrating their accomplishments at the summit of Chirripo, the highest peak in Costa Rica.

Some of our recent graduates will return to finish high school, while our senior graduates will be attending Juniata College, The University of Denver, Lehigh University, and the University of Oregon.

Congratulations to these amazing young men; we look forward to their many successes!

Successful College Application Season at NSA

4/15/2019

Our talented seniors at New Summit Academy have received all of their college decisions this month, and most have made the exciting decisions of where to enroll.

This process began last May, when students and families began developing comprehensive lists of characteristics that they believed would lead to continued student success.

Using these characteristics, individualized lists of schools were developed for each student, and the intensive process of honing these lists began.

Alongside this process, students worked on resumes, essays, requesting letters of recommendation and – sometimes at the last minute! – submitting applications that highlighted their strengths and their growth processes over the last year.

New Summit Academy is proud to share some of our College Application stats for the fall of 2019!

Seniors accepted to college: 100%
Acceptance rate of all colleges applied to: 79%
Total Merit Aid Offered: $970,000.00
Acceptances into Colleges that Change Lives: 5

The impressive list of schools – as unique as our students – where our seniors have enrolled or intend to enroll:

Loyola University Chicago, Lynn University, Juniata College, Christopher Newport University, Quest University, University of Oregon, University of Denver, and Lehigh University

Thanks to all of our supportive families and consultants whose participation helped to make this such a successful season!

College Admissions Update

2/11/2019

Later this month and into March, our seniors at NSA will be receiving mail and emails with exhilarating news about college acceptances and merit scholarships.

Already, in early February, the excitement is growing as decisions come in almost daily. So far this month, we have had students accepted to some incredible schools, including:

Juniata College
Quest University
Portland State University
University of the Pacific
Hofstra University
University of Virginia Wise
Western Washington University

From the schools that have responded to date, we have an acceptance rate of 84% and, even though we have only heard from about 50% of schools applied to, our talented senior class has already racked up $460,000 in merit scholarships. Congratulations NSA seniors!

A New Year’s Reflection at New Summit Academy

1/1/2019

NSA's staff and students are all excited to begin another spectacular year and want to share a reflection of some of 2018's highlights:

8 Global Citizenship workshops, investigating student-chosen topics related to Social Justice, Diversity, Ecological Stewardship, Conflict Resolution, and more.

4 Homestay Picnics, thanking our dedicated and caring Atenas hosts for taking our students into their homes and making them a part of their families.

28 successful Aventuras, including Integrated, Recreational and International Aventuras to Peru and South Africa!

Hundreds of hours of community service at Hogar de Vida, with Osa Conservation, and in the community of Atenas.

New clubs driven by student interests including a Fishing Club and a Birdwatching Club.

Nearly 100 college acceptances, including outstanding schools like Tulane, Marquette, Trinity, Loyola of Chicago, Whittier, Juniata, and Eckerd College.

Over 1.1 million dollars in college scholarships offered thus far!

20 successful graduates of high school and/or the New Summit Academy Program, ready to take on the world with new skills and confidence!

Thanks to all members of our NSA family for your support as we look forward to an incredible 2019... Happy New Year!

First College Acceptances Coming In!

12/18/2018

NSA’s seniors have been hard at work on applications, essays, and resumes, and are beginning to see results.

Students who submitted applications in the early rounds have received some of their decisions, and have been accepted to some great schools, including Goucher, Loyola of Chicago, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Portland, and Christopher Newport University.

These schools have so far offered more than $115,000.00 in merit scholarships to these talented seniors!

College Application Update

9/13/2018

NSA’s seniors are hard at work in the college search and application process. In the past month, students have worked with our College Guidance Coordinator and their families to identify the characteristics in a learning environment that will lead to their continued success.

Those characteristics have generated an initial list of schools that students are investigating, as they also work to complete applications, brainstorm and write essays, and develop resumes. Stay tuned for future updates in this exciting process!

This website was made by a collaborative effort between two students (SK and JA) and NSA staff.
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