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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:
Need some proof? Here are a few statistics from last year’s college application season:
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!
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
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
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!
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Marco is New Summit Academy’s Medical Coordinator. Marco joined our team this year, and is already an indispensable part of NSA. After earning a degree in Nursing from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, Marco served as a nurse in the States for three years before returning to Costa Rica, where he also earned his nursing license.
Marco’s organization and kind demeanor means that our students (and sometimes our staff!) receive the highest-quality medical attention, and Marco’s empathy for our students shines through in his interactions with each of them.
Outside of work, Marco enjoys playing golf, hiking, spending time at the beach, and spoiling his dachshund Roxy.
When asked to describe his work at NSA, Marco put it perfectly: “Once you get the true meaning behind what NSA does for our students, it makes you extremely proud to be part of the team."
Marco’s organization and kind demeanor means that our students (and sometimes our staff!) receive the highest-quality medical attention, and Marco’s empathy for our students shines through in his interactions with each of them.
Outside of work, Marco enjoys playing golf, hiking, spending time at the beach, and spoiling his dachshund Roxy.
When asked to describe his work at NSA, Marco put it perfectly: “Once you get the true meaning behind what NSA does for our students, it makes you extremely proud to be part of the team."
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A few weeks ago we had one of our quarterly Global Citizenship Workshops.
This time we discussed Sustainable Development and how Gender Equality can help us reach it. Thanks to Juan Diego, our biology teacher, for organizing it.
"I wanted to show my students the true meaning of feminism and gender equality - allow them to discuss and understand its value, to not feel threatened by it."
- Juan Diego Rodríguez
AWARENESS
Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong…it is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideas.
- Emma Watson
RESPONSIBILITY
We do a great disservice to boys on how we raise them. We stifle the humanity of boys. We define masculinity in a very narrow way. Masculinity is a hard, small cage, and we put boys inside this cage.
- Chimamanda Ngozi
ACTION
Physical strength used to be the most important thing for survival. Today, we live in a vastly different world. The person more qualified to lead is not the physically stronger person. It is the more intelligent, the more knowledgeable, the more creative, more innovative. And there are no hormones for those attributes.
- Chimamanda NgoziLEARN
LEARN
It is always wonderful to align and interact with students as they venture - with open minds and a curiosity to learn more - into the “gray areas” of global citizenship.
TAKE AWAY
"Although we mainly focused on gender equality in this particular seminar, teachers were not limited to female vs. male but rather expanded the discussion to the broader societal messages about who we are expected to be based on our gender, how that makes us feel about ourselves, the systems that are set up to benefit one over another, and how we can all relate to some form of inequality. By empathically connecting with how they themselves might have been set up for failure in some way, and recognize underlying systems of oppression, students were able to “see” perspectives of “others” they had not seen (or had been too defensive to see) before."
- Heather Tracy
This time we discussed Sustainable Development and how Gender Equality can help us reach it. Thanks to Juan Diego, our biology teacher, for organizing it.
"I wanted to show my students the true meaning of feminism and gender equality - allow them to discuss and understand its value, to not feel threatened by it."
- Juan Diego Rodríguez
AWARENESS
Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong…it is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideas.
- Emma Watson
RESPONSIBILITY
We do a great disservice to boys on how we raise them. We stifle the humanity of boys. We define masculinity in a very narrow way. Masculinity is a hard, small cage, and we put boys inside this cage.
- Chimamanda Ngozi
ACTION
Physical strength used to be the most important thing for survival. Today, we live in a vastly different world. The person more qualified to lead is not the physically stronger person. It is the more intelligent, the more knowledgeable, the more creative, more innovative. And there are no hormones for those attributes.
- Chimamanda NgoziLEARN
LEARN
It is always wonderful to align and interact with students as they venture - with open minds and a curiosity to learn more - into the “gray areas” of global citizenship.
TAKE AWAY
"Although we mainly focused on gender equality in this particular seminar, teachers were not limited to female vs. male but rather expanded the discussion to the broader societal messages about who we are expected to be based on our gender, how that makes us feel about ourselves, the systems that are set up to benefit one over another, and how we can all relate to some form of inequality. By empathically connecting with how they themselves might have been set up for failure in some way, and recognize underlying systems of oppression, students were able to “see” perspectives of “others” they had not seen (or had been too defensive to see) before."
- Heather Tracy
It’s rewarding to watch each generation become more and more aware, more complex, and hopefully more activated to make a difference.
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After our eldest dog "Spy" passed away, students begged for a "new puppy." Knowing how a new puppy with 32 "masters" would turn out, we decided to contact our local animal rescue foundation and ask for an already-grown dog.
Our "dog committee" went to meet her at the shelter and immediately fell in love.
We had a "name voting ceremony" where these two came out in 1st & 2nd place, so yes... We gave her a middle name.
Welcome to your new home at NSA Luna -Laika!
Our "dog committee" went to meet her at the shelter and immediately fell in love.
We had a "name voting ceremony" where these two came out in 1st & 2nd place, so yes... We gave her a middle name.
Welcome to your new home at NSA Luna -Laika!
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Few schools are able to offer true cultural immersion experiences for learning language and developing interpersonal skills and cultural connectivity. At New Summit Academy, students are engaged in a once-in-a-lifetime project-based learning opportunity.
Our school has been working with our local retirement home for years, offering activities and connections for its residents. Recently, our Immersive Spanish teacher, Daisy, decided that we should be doing more. The project that students collaborated on developing is one that will provide the home with photographs and stories of its residents.
The first steps involve the students developing deeper relationships with the residents, so the class is visiting the home weekly, engaging in fun activities including music presentations and hands-on arts and crafts. As the students and residents bond, stories shared in their conversations will be recorded and paired with portraits taken by our Photography class to decorate the halls of the retirement home.
What an incredible opportunity for New Summit Academy’s students!
Our school has been working with our local retirement home for years, offering activities and connections for its residents. Recently, our Immersive Spanish teacher, Daisy, decided that we should be doing more. The project that students collaborated on developing is one that will provide the home with photographs and stories of its residents.
The first steps involve the students developing deeper relationships with the residents, so the class is visiting the home weekly, engaging in fun activities including music presentations and hands-on arts and crafts. As the students and residents bond, stories shared in their conversations will be recorded and paired with portraits taken by our Photography class to decorate the halls of the retirement home.
What an incredible opportunity for New Summit Academy’s students!
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Juan Diego (or “JD”) has taught Science at New Summit Academy for more than a decade. In that time, he has created a classroom environment that is rigorous but fun, and is successful because of Juan Diego’s ability to create strong relationships with his students both inside and out of the classroom.
JD’s Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology classes engage in dynamic, project-based learning, and JD’s classroom, filled with models of cells and DNA, catapults and trebuchets, and even a hydroponic growing system that sustains and is sustained by fish, is proof.
Outside of the classroom, JD participates in Integrated and Recreational Aventuras, runs a morning workout group for students, is the staff leader of the video game club, and is the go-to teacher for the latest comic books.
When he isn’t working, Juan Diego loves cooking, walking his dog, spending time with his family and friends and, during football season, cheering on his beloved Green Bay Packers.
JD is an integral part of the community at NSA, and we look forward to many years to come.
JD’s Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology classes engage in dynamic, project-based learning, and JD’s classroom, filled with models of cells and DNA, catapults and trebuchets, and even a hydroponic growing system that sustains and is sustained by fish, is proof.
Outside of the classroom, JD participates in Integrated and Recreational Aventuras, runs a morning workout group for students, is the staff leader of the video game club, and is the go-to teacher for the latest comic books.
When he isn’t working, Juan Diego loves cooking, walking his dog, spending time with his family and friends and, during football season, cheering on his beloved Green Bay Packers.
JD is an integral part of the community at NSA, and we look forward to many years to come.
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New Summit Academy continues to offer its students once-in-a-lifetime travel and immersion opportunities!
This past month, students and staff traveled to either Peru or South Africa, engaging with local cultures, performing community service, marveling at the beauty of these nations, and having some fun! Here are just a few of the activities that students experienced in their travels:
-Whitewater rafting the Apurimac River
-Learning how graffiti is used for positive social change
-Working in the Sacred Valley alongside the Amaru indigenous community
-Spotting hippos and rhino while on safari
-Hiking through the Andes on the Auzangate trek
-Exploring Machu Picchu
What a month for New Summit Academy!
This past month, students and staff traveled to either Peru or South Africa, engaging with local cultures, performing community service, marveling at the beauty of these nations, and having some fun! Here are just a few of the activities that students experienced in their travels:
-Whitewater rafting the Apurimac River
-Learning how graffiti is used for positive social change
-Working in the Sacred Valley alongside the Amaru indigenous community
-Spotting hippos and rhino while on safari
-Hiking through the Andes on the Auzangate trek
-Exploring Machu Picchu
What a month for New Summit Academy!
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September brings Costa Rica’s Independence Day, and NSA students celebrated in style. Daisy, our Cultural Coordinator, planned the yearly Desayuno Campesino, or Farmer’s Breakfast, to mark the occasion. Staff arrived to campus early to pitch in (along with some early bird students!) to prepare homemade corn tortillas, eggs, gallo pinto, plantains and, of course, lots of Costa Rican coffee. Our teachers and Nurse Marco even donned traditional dress and coaxed students onto the dance floor! Thanks to Daisy and everyone who helped to make this year’s celebration so special.
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Laura Céspedes has joined Lee Nadeau (Admissions Director) to form a dynamic Costa Rica - USA duo to provide the highest quality of service to our collaborating referral sources and families. You will not be disappointed with their warmth, care, attention to detail, knowledge, and professionalism in walking alongside our applicants as they navigate the stress and anxiety of this important step on their journey.
Laura grew up in NSA's home community of Atenas and has been involved with New Summit Academy most of her life through family connections, community service and cultural activities, the homestay program, and working at a local hotel where many NSA parents stay during their visits.
After graduating from her bilingual high school, Laura had the opportunity to volunteer in South Africa with Usiko for three months.
This experience made her more aware of all the different realities in the world and gave her a different perspective on language, culture, and social work - for the better!
Once she came back from this journey, she decided to resume her studies by majoring in Psychology and also studying Publicity. Laura is currently finishing her degree while also working with NSA to improve her knowledge in the field. Our students have already taken to her warm personality and stop by her office to distract her :) and share their day to day experiences. Lee and Laura will make a great first impression for New Summit Academy.
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As of 2019, New Summit Academy passed the high standards set by the Outdoor Behavioral Health council and the Association for Experiential Education. We are so proud of all of our staff and students who made this a possibility.
A special thanks goes to Andy Myers, Experiential Education Director, and his amazing team - especially Eric Cano, Miguel Varela, Tom Hutten, Sam Forti, James Mas, and our other departments - Personal Growth, Administration, and Academics - who all made this possible with their never ending quest for high standards!
Congrats, NSA!
A special thanks goes to Andy Myers, Experiential Education Director, and his amazing team - especially Eric Cano, Miguel Varela, Tom Hutten, Sam Forti, James Mas, and our other departments - Personal Growth, Administration, and Academics - who all made this possible with their never ending quest for high standards!
Congrats, NSA!