- Published on
As fall approaches, so does the busy season for college applications for our seniors. In the past months, students have worked with our college guidance coordinator and their families in identifying characteristics that will lead to continued success in college, ranging from location and size of schools to areas of study, cost, student support, and even available clubs and social activities.
Using these characteristics, students have been guided in generating lists of schools, and are working to narrow these lists down into final choices. At the same time, our seniors have been hard at work completing applications, writing essays, and requesting letters of recommendation. Though busy, this is always an exciting season for students and their families, as they begin to see student success pay off with open doors for their futures. Good luck, seniors!
Using these characteristics, students have been guided in generating lists of schools, and are working to narrow these lists down into final choices. At the same time, our seniors have been hard at work completing applications, writing essays, and requesting letters of recommendation. Though busy, this is always an exciting season for students and their families, as they begin to see student success pay off with open doors for their futures. Good luck, seniors!
- Published on
As the college search and application process at NSA for the fall of 2017 wraps up (and the process for 2018 begins!), our community would like to share some facts and statistics about our graduating class of seniors, off to some amazing opportunities:
-Percent of seniors who were accepted & enrolled: 100%
-Percent of schools offering admission: 77%
-Percent of waitlisted students being admitted: 75%
-Percent of students offered merit scholarships: 73%
-Average merit scholarship offered: $53,904.73
-Total amount of merit scholarships offered: $1,132,384.00
Congratulations, seniors, we look forward to your many future successes!
-Percent of seniors who were accepted & enrolled: 100%
-Percent of schools offering admission: 77%
-Percent of waitlisted students being admitted: 75%
-Percent of students offered merit scholarships: 73%
-Average merit scholarship offered: $53,904.73
-Total amount of merit scholarships offered: $1,132,384.00
Congratulations, seniors, we look forward to your many future successes!
- Published on
As NSA's June graduation rapidly approaches, our integrated Transition team is working diligently with students and their families to prepare everyone for life post-graduation. And as students near their final quarter with us, they begin to work with their families on their Transition Plan: a comprehensive detailing of expectations, rules, education, home life, budgets and more.
Along with working on Transition Plans, this quarter engages students in life-skills workshops each week, including Getting Started at College, Real-World Budgeting, Meal-Planning, Car Maintenance, and Sex and Dating. As we near graduation, plans are refined, feedback is incorporated, and each student must have his plan approved by his Transition team before his final Aventura summiting Chirripo and graduating the program.
Along with working on Transition Plans, this quarter engages students in life-skills workshops each week, including Getting Started at College, Real-World Budgeting, Meal-Planning, Car Maintenance, and Sex and Dating. As we near graduation, plans are refined, feedback is incorporated, and each student must have his plan approved by his Transition team before his final Aventura summiting Chirripo and graduating the program.
- Published on
As the NSA community moves into April, our graduating seniors move into their Transition Quarter. Throughout the quarter, they will be preparing for life after NSA by drafting comprehensive Transition Plans, working out Parent Contracts, practicing more independent living skills in the Transition House, and making a big decision: where to enroll in college!
After months of introspection, dedication to the application process, and anxiously awaiting responses, we can say that our seniors face no shortage of amazing options.
Just a handful of schools offering admission to our students include: Bennington College, the University of Southern California, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, Rollins, Eckerd, The University of New Hampshire, Trinity, Reed and Kalamazoo!
To top it off, our students this year have been offered a combined four-year merit scholarship total of over $1,000,000! Congratulations seniors, we can’t wait to hear about your many future successes!
After months of introspection, dedication to the application process, and anxiously awaiting responses, we can say that our seniors face no shortage of amazing options.
Just a handful of schools offering admission to our students include: Bennington College, the University of Southern California, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, Rollins, Eckerd, The University of New Hampshire, Trinity, Reed and Kalamazoo!
To top it off, our students this year have been offered a combined four-year merit scholarship total of over $1,000,000! Congratulations seniors, we can’t wait to hear about your many future successes!
- Published on
February and March have been exciting months for our senior students and our faculty, as the hard work of college applications is starting to pay off. Our seniors have received decisions from just under half of the schools to which they’ve applied, and the results are fantastic! So far, 94% of schools applied to have made offers of admission. Amazing programs, Colleges That Change Lives, and top universities want our students, and are offering merit scholarships to make them even more appealing.
Schools such as Pace University, Juniata College, Whittier, Rollins, and Loyola Marymount have – to date – offered our students a total of more than $688,000.00 in merit scholarships! Congratulations, seniors, on your well-deserved success!
Schools such as Pace University, Juniata College, Whittier, Rollins, and Loyola Marymount have – to date – offered our students a total of more than $688,000.00 in merit scholarships! Congratulations, seniors, on your well-deserved success!
- Published on
Updates like these make all of the efforts worth it:Hi, Kelly,
Life is fantastic right now! I am settled in to my dorm (my roommate is awesome) and have had two days of classes (already five hours spent on homework). I have met up with a lot of my old friends and I am hanging out with another NSA grad often, he’s doing great as well. We went on the same backpacking trip and saw a bear less than 15 feet away, walking toward us! It was a really fun trip and we had perfect weather with a full moon and blue skies.
I had a full time job this past summer as a dish washer with 50-hour weeks (roughly). I managed to go to three concerts through all of that: Rebelution, Guns n Roses, and Blink 182. At the Blink 182 concert, I caught the drummer’s drumstick!
I was sick right when I moved back (figures) but it only lasted a week and I’ve been healthy ever since. There already parties almost every day up here and I’ve managed to stay sober so far so that’s good, still having fun though.
I have no idea what I want to study but I think that is a good thing. I feel comfortable on campus and around all these people, everyone is really friendly up here.
I know I’ve said this before, but in times of reflection, I think I should say again that I am forever grateful for NSA and how it helped me turn my life around. Without it I would not be in college right now and maybe not even have a high school diploma. Then there’s all the emotional knowledge and wisdom I’ve gained, but I won’t go on about that (although it’s really important/advantageous). But the most important skills I learned at NSA were how to live with people, solve conflict, and open up as a person. I am so comfortable around everyone here, and it helps others be comfortable around me. It’s quite an experience to look back on, and I wouldn’t change a thing if I could.
Thanks for all your hard work.
P.S.
Feel free to share this with people and I will write a letter to Martin ‘cause he deserves one and he helped me so much.
Life is fantastic right now! I am settled in to my dorm (my roommate is awesome) and have had two days of classes (already five hours spent on homework). I have met up with a lot of my old friends and I am hanging out with another NSA grad often, he’s doing great as well. We went on the same backpacking trip and saw a bear less than 15 feet away, walking toward us! It was a really fun trip and we had perfect weather with a full moon and blue skies.
I had a full time job this past summer as a dish washer with 50-hour weeks (roughly). I managed to go to three concerts through all of that: Rebelution, Guns n Roses, and Blink 182. At the Blink 182 concert, I caught the drummer’s drumstick!
I was sick right when I moved back (figures) but it only lasted a week and I’ve been healthy ever since. There already parties almost every day up here and I’ve managed to stay sober so far so that’s good, still having fun though.
I have no idea what I want to study but I think that is a good thing. I feel comfortable on campus and around all these people, everyone is really friendly up here.
I know I’ve said this before, but in times of reflection, I think I should say again that I am forever grateful for NSA and how it helped me turn my life around. Without it I would not be in college right now and maybe not even have a high school diploma. Then there’s all the emotional knowledge and wisdom I’ve gained, but I won’t go on about that (although it’s really important/advantageous). But the most important skills I learned at NSA were how to live with people, solve conflict, and open up as a person. I am so comfortable around everyone here, and it helps others be comfortable around me. It’s quite an experience to look back on, and I wouldn’t change a thing if I could.
Thanks for all your hard work.
P.S.
Feel free to share this with people and I will write a letter to Martin ‘cause he deserves one and he helped me so much.
- Published on
Preparing students for a successful transition from New Summit Academy is a crucial step in helping them succeed in the next stages of their lives. A huge part of this help comes from their work within the NSA Transition Program - an intensive process which engages students, families, and a "Transition Team" in planning and preparing for life after New Summit.
The planning begins well before students' final quarters, when they work with their families to create drafts of their Transition Plans, which will be refined and edited for months before final approval. These comprehensive plans include expectations about education, finances, family and house rules, socializing, and more. Throughout the Transition Program, students also engage in life-skills workshops of their choosing, including topics such as College Level Skills, Planning for and Preparing a Meal, Independent Travel, Budgeting and Finances, and Sex and Dating.
The planning begins well before students' final quarters, when they work with their families to create drafts of their Transition Plans, which will be refined and edited for months before final approval. These comprehensive plans include expectations about education, finances, family and house rules, socializing, and more. Throughout the Transition Program, students also engage in life-skills workshops of their choosing, including topics such as College Level Skills, Planning for and Preparing a Meal, Independent Travel, Budgeting and Finances, and Sex and Dating.
A Transition Family Workshop engages students and parents in face-to-face plan creation, a time guided by the Transition Team when expectations and boundaries can be clearly communicated. As students near graduation, their Transition Plans are reviewed by their team, with further edits and suggestions taken into account before they are approved for their final Aventura: summiting Costa Rica's highest mountain, Cerro Chirripo. As students descend with complete plans, they have the skills, confidence, and support needed for continued success.
- Published on
As our largest graduation ever quickly approaches, it is a perfect time to reflect on what makes up a student’s experience graduating the New Summit Academy program. While attention is often given to exciting Aventuras, engaging classes, and Personal Growth, it is important to understand the results of these programmatic aspects.
In other words, what does the resume of a New Summit Academy Graduate look like?
In other words, what does the resume of a New Summit Academy Graduate look like?
Resume of a New Summit Academy Graduate
Service:
Students perform over 100 hours of community service (many much more!), on projects ranging from working with children at Hogar de Vida to protecting endangered sea turtles in the Osa Peninsula.
Students perform over 100 hours of community service (many much more!), on projects ranging from working with children at Hogar de Vida to protecting endangered sea turtles in the Osa Peninsula.
Academic Achievement:
Graduates have succeeded in a college-preparatory learning environment, and have not only developed impressive critical thinking skills, but have learned how they learn to take charge of future success.
Graduates have succeeded in a college-preparatory learning environment, and have not only developed impressive critical thinking skills, but have learned how they learn to take charge of future success.
International Travel Experience:
Costa Rica is a rich classroom for learning independence and cultural sensitivity, and students also have opportunities to travel to Panama, Nicaragua, Belize, Peru and Guatemala!
Costa Rica is a rich classroom for learning independence and cultural sensitivity, and students also have opportunities to travel to Panama, Nicaragua, Belize, Peru and Guatemala!
Real-World Skills:
Students engage in classes and workshops to prepare them for independent living, which include cooking courses, car maintenance, budgeting and finances, dating 101, and resume development.
Students engage in classes and workshops to prepare them for independent living, which include cooking courses, car maintenance, budgeting and finances, dating 101, and resume development.
Global Citizenship:
Our Global Citizenship program engages students in the study and application of ethical decision making in areas of Social Justice, Human Rights, Sustainable Development, Digital Citizenship, Conflict Resolution, and more.
Our Global Citizenship program engages students in the study and application of ethical decision making in areas of Social Justice, Human Rights, Sustainable Development, Digital Citizenship, Conflict Resolution, and more.
Professional-Level Certifications:
Our Health term includes all students earning their Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) Certification, and summer Aventuras may have them earning open water SCUBA certifications!
Our Health term includes all students earning their Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) Certification, and summer Aventuras may have them earning open water SCUBA certifications!
Cultural Immersion:
Costa Rica provides an opportunity to develop cultural awareness through our Spanish Language program, cultural events and celebrations, and weekly homestay program.
Costa Rica provides an opportunity to develop cultural awareness through our Spanish Language program, cultural events and celebrations, and weekly homestay program.
College Applications:
Graduating seniors apply to and – no surprise considering their resumes – are accepted to colleges which provide them with a chance to continue their success. This fall, our seniors will be attending: St. Louis University, Montana State University, Southern Methodist University, Central Washington University, Western State Colorado University, The University of Vermont, and Fordham University.
Graduating seniors apply to and – no surprise considering their resumes – are accepted to colleges which provide them with a chance to continue their success. This fall, our seniors will be attending: St. Louis University, Montana State University, Southern Methodist University, Central Washington University, Western State Colorado University, The University of Vermont, and Fordham University.
The class was offered a total of over ONE MILLION DOLLARS in scholarships this year.
It’s amazing what a resume can do!
It’s amazing what a resume can do!
- Published on
The beginning of May is an important date for seniors who have been accepted to college: the first of the month marks the deadline for enrollment for most schools. Our seniors have made their decisions, and have enrolled in fantastic schools which fit their learning needs and goals, including Western Washington University, Goucher College, Central Washington University, and Fordham University.
To make this month even more exciting, our students reached an impressive milestone: our seniors enrolling in the fall of 2016 have been offered an incredible combined scholarship amount of over ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Congratulations!
To make this month even more exciting, our students reached an impressive milestone: our seniors enrolling in the fall of 2016 have been offered an incredible combined scholarship amount of over ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Congratulations!
- Published on
As we begin the first week of March, more college decisions are coming in for our seniors at New Summit Academy. All seniors apply to a range of schools, including a core list, a fallback school where they know they will be accepted, as well as a handful of “reach” schools – where acceptance is a longshot but always a possibility.
Of the 33 responses students have received thus far, 94% of those responses have been acceptances, and the two which weren’t are waitlist decisions – so they might turn out to be acceptances as well.
Just as encouraging as our students’ phenomenal acceptance rates are the merit scholarships being awarded. With many responses still pending, our students have been offered a total of $356,500 in scholarships so far!
One scholarship was even awarded to a student for “having broader cultural perspectives” – a sure nod to his unique Costa Rica experiences. Students, families and staff can all look forward to even more exciting college news in the coming months!
Of the 33 responses students have received thus far, 94% of those responses have been acceptances, and the two which weren’t are waitlist decisions – so they might turn out to be acceptances as well.
Just as encouraging as our students’ phenomenal acceptance rates are the merit scholarships being awarded. With many responses still pending, our students have been offered a total of $356,500 in scholarships so far!
One scholarship was even awarded to a student for “having broader cultural perspectives” – a sure nod to his unique Costa Rica experiences. Students, families and staff can all look forward to even more exciting college news in the coming months!