Over SRIP, I was booed in the PFM for saying the humanities department needed more funding.
Why the booing? There is no need for students to be divided over the financial decisions that the school administration makes. Several of the research in science (RSci) groups required access to expensive materials, like Madagascan roaches ($20 per roach) and hard-to-pronounce chemicals (remember to check if it’s toxic before buying), and the students in those groups were bemoaning their experiments, wishing they had chosen a simpler research topic instead. That would be much easier, right?
As someone who grew up doing humanities things, I argue that it is a lot of work to get through as well. There is a different type of difficulty to humanities work, but between the STEM-dominated campus of NCSSM and the general negative stigma that surrounds the humanities, it’s easy to wonder if the RSci students were right.
Many people claim that entering the STEM field deserves a lot of credit due to its arduous nature. The level of memorization, technical skill, and repetitiveness required for STEM is seen as a testament to their difficulty. As minorities are increasingly overcoming social barriers and gaining opportunities to rise in STEM industries and fields, there’s no reason why the sciences shouldn’t be held in high regard.
Another common thought is that a STEM career provides you stability with less effort compared to the humanities. Minority groups making strides in a humanities-based subject still encounter issues, which are often exacerbated because of the limited chances to display their work. Depending on who you ask and their personal academic experiences, you’ll get a very different answer as to whether pursuing STEM or the humanities is more important.
But instead of wasting our time debating the relative worth of the two fields, we are unconsciously devaluing both by overlooking their individual and combined merits.
STEM has helped progress our society structurally, technologically, and medically. It provides us with a solid understanding of ourselves and how we interact with the world. This knowledge allows us to use our resources to the best of our capabilities, benefiting the parts of the world that need fixing.
The humanities, in their own way, support society the same; the humanities preserve and innovate the human experience, letting us see where we came from and where we are now. They enable people to creatively express their thoughts and celebrate shared experiences, highlighting the human connection in a world that grows further apart each day.
These two fields represent so much of humanity on their own that their combination is truly fascinating. The key to communicating STEM is rooted in the humanities. The key to knowing what the humanities need to address lies in STEM. A prime example of this combination is the COVID-19 pandemic: STEM worked on getting vaccines while the humanities were used for effectively and accurately communicating that research, as well as serving as comfort in a dark, depressing, and isolated time.
All in all, this is not to say it’s wrong to be proud of your field or be competitive with others across disciplines. But it’s important to differentiate between open-mindedness and an unnecessary comparison between the sciences and humanities. Why compare two things that really can’t and shouldn’t be compared? This mindset undermines the other and draws attention away from the real social issues that they should solve.
Everybody says that interdisciplinary academics is the goal, but they neglect to see that each of the different subjects makes a whole unit, not incomplete fragments. After all, a growth mindset is always better than a fixed mindset.
Do you like science? A fiery passion to get in the lab or see what your future career could be?
It might be time for an internship.
High school students, primarily seniors, are expected to do a great deal: college applications, community service, sports, clubs, classes, and now, internships. At the college level, internships can dramatically increase employment potential, as a 2024 report of internship programs by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that 52.7 percent of interns received a job offer (although this conversion rate is less than it was pre-pandemic). At the high school level, internships are still catching on — a 2020 study by the American Student Assistance cites that only two percent of high school students had completed internships.
High school students are looking toward the future with a mix of hope and uncertainty. While the prospect of taking on a high-level internship sounds exciting, it may also be a large investment of time and effort, as well as a source of stress.
The good news is that NCSSM offers their flagship Research and Mentorship programs (including the Summer Research and Innovation Program, or SRIP, directed by Dr. Sarah Shoemaker and the NCSSM Mentorship and Research office), which ⅔ of the student body is involved in, offering semester-long to yearlong opportunities to get ahead of the game. Finding an internship can be complicated, especially when you’re independently seeking out a research opportunity or choosing one in a field you’ve never been in but fits your goals.
Beyond securing an internship position, ensuring that you’ll get the experience you’re hoping for is yet another consideration – it’s hard to know what exactly to expect before you begin.
What types of internship opportunities are available for high school students?
If you have a field you enjoy (regardless of how broad or specific a topic), the first step in your internship journey is deciding what type of internship is right for you. There are two primary options for high school student internships: a research internship where you work with a mentor or a structured academic program.
Independent Research Internship
In an independently organized internship, you’ll most likely find yourself cold-emailing professors and requesting a position with them. Once you successfully find a mentor, you’ll usually work together to plan out the length of your internships, what your responsibilities and tasks will be, and how they’ll support you throughout your work.
One key pro of an independent internship is the greater freedom and flexibility for more self-designed work, as you’ll play a role in scheduling the internship timeline, coordinating tasks, and communicating what you hope to accomplish through the internship. This gives you a chance to develop individual projects with meaningful results, which makes you eligible to submit to science fairs, competitions, or research journals.
However, the biggest downside is also connected to that strength. If you aren’t already well-versed in the field of research, it can be a struggle to develop and coordinate your tasks and goals.
Formal Internship Program
With formal internship programs, you will have to apply and be selected to participate in that opportunity, which is typically affiliated with universities and other organizations (private and nonprofit) and has a designated timeline, subject matter, and faculty/mentors. Most importantly, they can be a great way to build academic skills and learn advanced subjects.
Once in, the opportunity to build connections with that school/organization is wide open. Some of these programs are held on-site at the university, meaning you’ll be able to experience college life: living on-campus, working at university labs and classrooms, and interacting with current students and professors. Programs usually have an established reputation and history, so mentors and people you network with may show you a good face. Sometimes, these programs may increase your chances of acceptance or at the very least, consider your attendance as demonstrated interest.
However, while you can sit back and trust the program’s structure after you get in, getting accepted is the hard part. You’ll be in a competitive application pool. These applications often have extensive requirements such as submitting transcripts, writing essays, and obtaining letters of recommendation. Even when you get in, you’ll have limited autonomy over deciding what, how, or when you want to do something.
Tips for finding the right internship program for you
Draw from past results and experiences. Interested in STEM? Check out past science fair winners and their projects, mentors, or other experts. Read about how they got there, and always be willing to reach out and ask for a chat. Consider which specific fields of study are most engaging to you.
Be prepared to make multiple attempts. When contacting researchers, remember that they are still working people. They may be overwhelmed with professional emails or other unsolicited emails like yours. If you don’t get a response, it’s not a personal affront; they may not have internship openings open.
Don’t reach out without doing your research. Research work will always be oriented toward a specialized topic. Just because you have a general interest in a field does not mean your internship will necessarily touch on your specific goals.
Be open-minded and resilient. It is far more common for labs to accept college students or post-docs, as opening the lab to a high schooler can be a risk. What makes your request special? Why should they trust you and your research knowledge/skills? Do you know what you’re doing? These are the questions you would want to answer in your requests.
Drinks and vibes at Cloche Coffee, Durham. (Teresa Fang/Stentorian)
Every season is study season. As such, there must be accommodations for hardworking high school students. Not just any back alley folding table, nor empty classroom or the desk in your dorm will do; a change of scenery will provide a chance to tune into your assignments with no distractions.
With a cozy atmosphere with good vibes, a clean feeling, and the convenience of drinks and snacks just one step away, studying at cafes calms you down while offering a sanctum to lock in at the same time. Here is the Stentorian’s review of the best studying spots around Ninth Street, in our new column Zooming Around Durham (or ZAD for short):
Food: Joe’s salted caramel latte has always been my go-to drink, and this Joe Van Gogh upholds that. Their lattes have a rather strong coffee taste but manage to be easy-going at the same time. In my opinion, the Chapel Hill Joe Van Gogh makes more characteristic lattes than anywhere else but maybe it’s because I am biased for my hometown.
Vibes: The design of the store lets in lots of natural light, and has an indie vibe because of the decorations and paintings from local artists on the walls. It has an innovative coffee-shop combo of wood tables and a colorful behind-the-counter. There are a few small outdoor tables to allow for conversation. The lofted study area is especially aesthetic and really makes you feel locked in to your work.
Price: Though the lattes with syrup are a bit pricey at around $6 per 20 oz cup, the milk choices do not cost extra. Joe’s tends to put a lot of ice in lattes, so make sure to drink it all before the ice melts.
Overall: 4.6/5 – NCSSM students are only 6 minutes away from an excellent study place. Though the student discount no longer applies here, if you know how to ask around the barista, you can score a free drink voucher.
Food: I wish I got one of the food items, but I got the normal iced caramel latte and chocolate cookie. The latte is an excellent blend of espresso and milk. There is no sandy aftertaste when you get to the bottom of your drink, as you usually do with these types of drinks. The cookie is reminiscent of home.
Vibes: This cafe and bakery is popular with NCSSM and Duke students, though still has an exquisite, woodland but also industrial vibe that is unique among all stores on Ninth Street. The atmosphere is artsy but also not loud and dim – perfect for calm, after-school studying.
Price: Only one size is offered with lattes, and this one was $5. It is worth it, considering the quality and international reputation of the coffee shop.
Overall: 4.5/5 – The only thing that would make this better is extending the hours; closing at 7 pm makes studying here for long times nearly impossible.
Food: This milk tea shop makes it clear from the title that their emphasis is not on the TEA; milk-based drinks take up half the menu, not counting milk teas (since these don’t use real milk). These milky drinks are heavy on the stomach but hit the spot when needed. Sweetness levels are not the same for each drink, making it a gamble to order your favorite item. It does not help that you can’t ask the cashier about the drinks, since customers order from a kiosk.
Vibes: Opening the door to the smells of warm boba makes this place unique on this street of bars and restaurants. However, it is not a prime place to study because of the loud music and empty store. There seem to be only 1-2 people in the store at all times, either the barista behind the counter staring at you or a customer sitting beside the kiosk, staring as you order.
Price: The prices of all the drinks on the menu are not worth the labor behind making them, and this is coming from a former Möge Tee barista. At $6 for a large milk tea with boba, it’s expensive for what it is; there are much better options for the same price here.
Overall: 2.5/5 – The drinks are not as good as they should be, and this is an anxiety-increasing place to stay for a long time.
Panera Bread — 13-min walk
Food: Staying here for dinner, I ordered the French onion soup with a portion of a baguette while my friend ordered a Cinnamon Swirl bagel. We both ordered some drink but forgot what size or type of drink. Luckily, our selections did not matter because we took a large-sized cup and had infinite refills. Though the infinite drinks part was good in helping us stay refreshed and satisfied with our studying, my soup was small, salty, and unfilling. When ordering from Panera, make sure you judge if the price is worth the portion size.
Vibes: Very good. There is indoor and outdoor seating, but in this cold weather, the outdoor seating was not completely set up. The inside is ambient and cozy, with enough space you won’t have to worry about Duke students taking up everything. There are also enough people there to feel comfortable.
Price: The food items are overpriced, but the bagel and drinks seem okay. Being a MyPanera member makes frequenting Panera more worth it.
Overall: 4/5 – Good, comfortable place for long-time studying and getting a little snack. It closes late enough for NCSSM students to catch the loop from Harris Teeter back to school on Wednesdays.
Food: I got the salted honey iced latte since it was a unique house-made syrup flavor. There is no surprise at how good it is. There is a rather milky flavor that complements the accented honey and salt flavor. If you don’t like coffee but still want to drink it, the lattes here are up your alley.
Vibes: Inside the cafe, good jazz and lofi are playing in the background, making it a cozy place for productivity. Outside, there are picnic tables on a small porch overlooking Duke’s track field. A good place for gossip.
Price: $5 for the 20oz, which is pretty typical. This is on the cheaper side of lattes.
Overall: 3.5/5 – The location and ambiance of this spot make studying here a beautiful experience, only if you beat the Duke students at getting a table first. Otherwise, you can order and pick up your coffee in around 10 minutes and walk back to school/another place to study.
Food: Superb boba. Superb food. My go-to is jasmine milk tea with boba, and it never disappoints. The sweetness levels are adjusted according to what you ask for, and the amount of ice has never been an issue. While the drinks do vary in temperature sometimes, the full drink is fulfilling.
Vibes: If you like K-pop, you would jam it out in here. If you didn’t, you would jam out anyway because of the boba. The tropical-style decorations, entertainment, and variety of seating options make hanging out a very memorable experience, although the music can be a bit loud and people tend to gossip here rather than do work.
Price: With boba, the cheapest large milk tea you can get is less than $4.
Overall: 3/5 – In terms of being a study spot, Quickly is not the ideal place to memorize anatomy and physiology or rack your brains over physics. However, it does have the best boba and popcorn chicken in this part of town, making the 20-minute trek worth it.
THE COVER PHOTO FOR VOLUME XLIV, NO. 1. TERESA FANG – STENTORIAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
By Teresa Fang, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief
HEAR YE! THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY OF INFORMATION TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
This is the cover story for Volume XLIV, No. 1 (August 2024) issue, the first issue of the 2024-2025 academic year and the second issue in NCSSM history to have business ads and color-printing.
Over the past 40+ years, the North Carolina School of Science and Math (NCSSM) has worked to create lasting bonds between its students, faculty, and the subjects taught at the school through a world-class STEM curriculum and robust humanities and arts program. Since its founding, NCSSM has been a one-of-a-kind institution that has served as the model for 18 such specialized schools around the globe.
Zooming in on a prestigious reputation, the school is also home to one-of-a-kind memories and lifelong friendships. Especially at this time of year, summer always brings about an abundance of memories, central to the stories and sense of community NCSSM fosters for its students. Most importantly, all the resources are accessible on Blackbaud, Canvas, or a general Google search.
However, as most students find themselves particularly close to one or two departments or groups as the school year progresses, navigating the first week (or month) of NCSSM can be daunting. Icebreakers, club fairs, onslaught of applications… the list of things a student can do here is endless.
The Research Groups
Students who’ve been on a tour of NCSSM with the student ambassadors, will likely remember two things: the ambassadors’ blue jackets, and the different research groups (“RScis”).
One of the first departments established at NCSSM was Biology, located on the 3rd floor of the Bryan building (“3rd Bryan”). Accordingly, the first-ever research group was the Research in Biology group (“RBio”), led by Dr. Amy Sheck, who was initially a Biology instructor before becoming the current Dean of Science. Originally, the group was extremely exclusive, taking on 1-2 students per year. Because of its success, research groups quickly expanded across disciplines to become what we have now with six year-long research groups, each led by seasoned instructors in the fields: RBio, RChem, RPhys, RMath, RCompsci, and RHum.
Being part of a research group is fulfilling, but tough to get in, as many students apply when applications open in late September. But once in, a journey will quickly begin. Every year, the research groups send out droves of projects for competitions and conferences. In the 2024 competition season, 24 percent (15 out of 63) of the total awards at the North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair (NCSEF) were swept by NCSSM-Durham students; at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), 3 out of the 5 NCSSM students representing North Carolina won Grand Awards.
STEM Departments
While the NCSSM namesake includes “Science and Math,” the total number of STEM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Computer Science, Engineering) courses offered is 131. Compared to the 155 total courses in the humanities (Art, Drama, English & Social Sciences, Music, and World Languages), there is a fairly balanced STEM and Humanities program at NCSSM.
Biology courses often look like a mix between classroom instruction and lab work. Offering 20 diverse courses taught by seven instructors, the biology curriculum is quite flexible for different interests.
Chemistry offers 18 courses, all providing opportunities to get hands-on experiences while dressed in fancy lab garb. While most juniors and seniors get assigned to the AP Chemistry courses as their required chemistry credits, it’s always fun to branch out to more niche chemistry or cross-discipline subjects like organic chemistry.
Physics is one that students tend to either love or hate. While most students say that physics courses are the hardest in the whole school, it depends on a student’s interest level, the specific course taken, and the teacher. But pay attention to the curriculum: for example, the problem-solving process that the 10 instructors teach is a universal skill. Just because you ran up 9 flights of stairs to get to your classroom on time does not mean you have no energy left for physics class.
Tucked away in a cozy space (and in classrooms in the ETC and Hunt), the Engineering and Computer Science classrooms look like a mix between a Lego building garage and a lecture hall. Offering 37 total courses, some cross-disciplinary courses include Biomedical Engineering, Satellite Design, and Cryptography, this department also hosts the school’s rocketry and robotics teams including the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC).
The math department also offers 37 courses, taught by 14 instructors, taking nearly the entire Watts building for classrooms. The math courses have a special block, the “O block,” as the only tutorial hours where students can work directly with the instructors. Around exam week, an influx of coloring sheets plaster the hallways and teachers pass out goodies with words of encouragement, letting students know that learning about numbers is a very human language.
If this range of classes wasn’t diverse enough, the STEM department is looking to create more classes tackling current technological advances and climate issues, according to Dr. Sheck. As students become interested in fluid dynamics and climate change, keep your eyes out for potential fluid dynamics and climate change courses in the future.
TERESA FANG – STENTORIAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Humanities Department
Be careful not to underestimate the Humanities programs, however, as it spans 155 courses taught by 18 instructors. This year, we also have a new Dean of Humanities, Dr. Javier Pabón, filling up the position left by Dr. Elizabeth Moose, who retired last June after 31 years of service to NCSSM.
While many STEM students can compete in prestigious competitions, Humanities students also do and more, demonstrating the power of human thought, shared experiences, and creativity. They tend to make up the majority of Ivy League admits from NCSSM, as Ivies today increasingly require students to be multifaceted. It’s one thing to learn, but it’s better to learn about how to think. Besides that philosophical reason, it’s also good to provide a break for the left brain to focus on reading, making art, playing an instrument, etc.
Counseling
There are many counselors geared towards different things, such as typical high school counseling, college and career, wellness, and academic accessibility. If you need anybody to talk to or answer questions about programs and scholarships, you can count on NCSSM’s 8 counselors, along with the Dean of Counseling Ms. Lori Newnam, and Program Assistant Ms. Pam Oxendine. Don’t know who your counselor is? In the first 2 months of school, you’ll be required to meet them.
ITS and Campus Safety
Contrary to its name, the Smart Bar is not a bar nor a place to get snacks. However, it is the place to go to consult the Information Technology and Systems (ITS) team for all your tech needs. From configuring microscopes to laptops, installing a free Adobe Suite, or providing you alternative devices while your computer is getting fixed, feel free to send in a ticket for all your requests or visit the ITS Wiki for more detailed how-tos. ITS also has a campus service where students can shadow the team and hold down the fort when the staff is off campus.
One of the most friendly faces on campus is Mr. Brian Wiggs, the Director of Campus Safety. With a team of uniformed officers, a dedicated cop, and Emergency Blue Light Boxes on campus 24/7, NCSSM always keeps its eyes out to guard against potential threats, from inclement weather to renovation alerts and drills. If you do not feel safe going somewhere outside, an officer can escort you. While on campus, make sure to keep your Student ID, which has all the important phone numbers on the back, and fob with you. Off-campus, make sure you have signed out with Orah on your phone.
PFM and Library
After its completed renovation in fall 2023, the PFM (the full, unabbreviated name remains a mystery) brings a stark contrast to the dining halls of our alumni, replacing the red brick walls with white paint and modernizing the general vibe with hanging lights and sofas. During Alumni Weekend last October, alumni wandered the dining hall with awe and pointed at new furniture and their old favorite seats. The only constants through the years seem to be the clay artwork at the back of the hall and the different PFM days – Taco Tuesday, Fried Chicken Wednesday, Fish Fry Day, etc. Other than serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same times every weekday (weekend times are different), PFM also holds special events like BBQ on the Bryan Lawn, Super Bowl dinner, and Senior Breakfast.
As a given, the library is a hotspot for students to work independently or for group projects, utilizing all sorts of seating options from rocking chairs to medium-sized study rooms. While it can be loud after 4 p.m., the library is a chill space for working in between classes, or just to have a little conversation with our librarians (Mr. Sharron Johnson is everybody’s best friend).
Athletics
One good thing about participating in athletics at NCSSM is the welcoming atmosphere; if you’ve never done a sport before but have always wanted to try, now’s the time to do it with no judgment.
As a 2A school, NCSSM offers 21 varsity sports while the Intramurals program has a 95% participation rate among the student body. A member of the Super Six 1A/2A Conference, we play against East Wake Academy, Falls Lake Academy, Franklin Academy, Raleigh Charter, and Research Triangle High School. Outside of the conference, NCSSM plays against public and private schools in the Research Triangle Area. If you pay attention to the game schedules on Instagram and the GoUnis website, maybe you can watch NCSSM play against your home high school!
NCSSM Student Government and the Student Advisory Board also host a variety of fun events that are not regular sports games, such as after-check Volleyball Lock-Ins and the Watermelon Run. Individual dorms sometimes organize after-check gym events as well.
TERESA FANG – STENTORIAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Student Life & Residential Living
While applying to NCSSM, you probably watched a few “A Day in the Life of an NCSSM Student” blogs on YouTube. Every student has their own perspectives and favorite moments at NCSSM, and we encourage you to make your own.
With 19 residence halls and a Community Coordinator (CC) and Residential Living Assistants (RLAs) in each, students are taken care of both in their life as a student and their life as a neighbor and independent adult-to-be. On the weekdays and weekends, halls may organize field trips to downtown Durham or surrounding areas for fun activities and events like the Farmer’s Market, thrifting, ice skating, sushi-eating contests with other halls, or more. On-campus activities may look like after-check Sip ‘n Paints, stargazing, presentation/movie nights, or more. Check your hall’s activities calendar for the complete list!
On a community level, various clubs and organizations will host events throughout the year, with the most popular being block parties and cultural festivals. The school tends to set up little fairs on various lawns and celebrations on Hill Street, providing free snacks and swag for students to de-stress and socialize. On a more serious note, students also attend College Fairs, Family Day, an end-of-the-year Awards Ceremony, and more.
Clubs
There are 100+ student-led clubs and organizations at NCSSM that can cover your every interest. If there isn’t one yet, chartering one is always possible. Other than the cultural organizations, here are three of the largest and most active clubs on campus:
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA): With 70+ active students every year, FBLA sends a massive team to state and national competitions throughout the year, proving their skills in business and management.
Model United Nations (UN): Emphasizing public speaking, international affairs, and diplomacy, Model UN sends its 50+ members to yearlong conferences at in-state and out-of-state colleges and universities.
Science Olympiad: Almost every NCSSM kid grew up doing Science Olympiad, and NCSSM’s junior varsity and varsity teams are the best of the best. The teams of 30+ students practice/study weekly for their events and almost always compete at the national level.
Student Media
Representing NCSSM’s academic and creative advances and student community are the four following school-sponsored, student-led publications:
The Stentorian: NCSSM’s student-run news source, established in 1981. Operated by a team of 15+ students, the newspaper prints monthly, updates the online news website with articles daily, and serves the NCSSM-Durham and local community. Contributions from any and all students are welcome.
Broad Street Scientific (BSS): NCSSM’s annual student scientific research journal, written by the students and edited by the students. The BSS editorial board accepts research papers every winter, edits them during JTerm, and distributes copies to students, teachers, and donors near the end of school.
Fifth World: NCSSM’s student humanities research journal, also published annually. The namesake of this journal originates in the Hopi creation myth, where the fifth world is the final dimension out of five where peace and harmony are restored to humanity. Likewise, every year the journal is an impressive compilation of stories by students reaching into the ups and downs of humanity.
Blue Mirror: If you have pieces of art or writing that you think are beautiful and should be shared, submit them to NCSSM’s literary magazine, Blue Mirror. This publication prints semesterly and is always met with great enthusiasm at its open artist/author readings. You may laugh, cry, shout, or sing with even more emotions when you hear about the works on each page.
At NCSSM, each department tells a part of the school’s cultural story. We all contribute to our school through our individual experiences, so go make your own memories! As the sun sets and students retire to their dorms, the campus hums with the promise of another day of discovery and growth.
The Class of 2024 seniors were accepted to over 49 colleges in the United States to the Class of 2028 in the first admissions cycle since the fall of affirmative action prohibited colleges from considering race during the process.
According to Dean of Counseling Lori Newnam, NCSSM Counseling Services worked with seniors from May 1-6 to complete their final transcript requests. After May 1, seniors self-reported their decisions to the department, which has released data on the colleges the class of 2024 committed to for The Stentorian. As of May 14, 2024, college commitment data was available for 289 out of the total 317 graduating seniors, including early decision, early action, and regular decision commitments:
college
city
state
final choice
Barnard College
New York
NY
1
Bates College
Lewiston
ME
1
Boston College
Chestnut Hill
MA
1
Boston University
Boston
MA
1
Brown University
Providence
RI
1
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena
CA
1
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh
PA
1
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York
NY
2
Cornell University
Ithaca
NY
2
Davidson College
Davidson
NC
2
Drexel University
Philadelphia
PA
1
Duke University
Durham
NC
17
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown
PA
1
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton
FL
1
Georgetown University
Washington
DC
1
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Atlanta
GA
6
Harvard University
Cambridge
MA
3
Howard University
Washington
DC
1
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore
MD
1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge
MA
5
Middlebury College
Middlebury
VT
1
New York University
New York
NY
1
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh
NC
39
Northwestern University
Evanston
IL
1
Princeton University
Princeton
NJ
1
Rice University
Houston
TX
1
Saint Joseph’s University
Philadelphia
PA
1
St Olaf College
Northfield
MN
1
Stanford University
Stanford
CA
3
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore
PA
1
Tufts University
Medford
MA
1
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley
CA
1
University of Chicago
Chicago
IL
1
University of Delaware
Newark
DE
1
University of Florida
Gainesville
FL
1
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign
IL
1
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor
MI
1
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill
NC
163
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte
NC
3
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington
NC
1
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
PA
5
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh
PA
1
University of Southern California
Los Angeles
CA
1
University of Toledo
Toledo
OH
1
Vanderbilt University
Nashville
TN
1
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem
NC
1
Washington and Lee University
Lexington
VA
1
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee
NC
1
Yale University
New Haven
CT
3
Data acquired by The Stentorian from Counseling Services. (The Stentorian)
Counseling Services is still in the midst of processing acceptance data, and according to Program Assistant Pam Oxendine, the full data sheet will be released in June.
78.5% of graduating seniors staying in-state
Compared to last year, more seniors are staying in-state than going out-of-state, making up 78.8% of the graduating class. The two states with the greatest number of graduating seniors are Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, at 3.81% (11 students) each out of the total reporting seniors.
This year, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) received a total of 163 committed NCSSM students, making up 56.4% of the total reporting seniors. In 2023, there were 169 commits. This marks the first decrease in committed UNC-CH students since 2021, the first year of in-person schooling after the pandemic. As the number of total applications to UNC-CH has been increasing by a steady 5.75% every year, it would not be a surprise to see more applications to UNC-CH than ever before.
Ivy league, MIT, and Stanford commits
Upending decades of legal precedents, the Supreme Court ruled in June 2023 that race-conscious college admissions programs at Harvard University and UNC-CH are unconstitutional, causing higher-education institutions to shift to race-neutral policies. NCSSM students going to Ivy League, MIT, and Stanford made up 7.61% of all graduating seniors.
College
# Admits in 2024
Av. # Admits since 2020
avg. # accepted since 2020
avg. % increase in applications since 2020
Harvard
3
2.75
4.75
5.12%
UPenn
5
2.5
6
15.1%
Princeton
1
1
3.5
13.4%
Columbia
2
5
9
18.9%
Cornell
2
4
10
12.2%
Brown
1
1.5
3.25
21.8%
Dartmouth
0
0.5
2
21.9%
MIT
5
5.5
6.25
9.84%
Stanford
3
1.25
3
8.71%
Data acquired by The Stentorian from Counseling Services and Naviance. (The Stentorian).
In the wake of the fall of affirmative action and the first cycle of some applicants admitted to the first test-required policies since 2020, the statistics for NCSSM graduating classes is not unusually different. Counseling Services did not release the statistics for race and ethnicity data (nor gender and socioeconomic details) for the graduating class to each college.
On May 25, 2024, seniors of the Class of 2024 graduated at the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham after receiving their diplomas on what Chancellor Roberts described as a “beautiful day.”
Other speakers included Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Chief Campus Officer Terry Lynch, Gene Davis of the UNC Board of Governors, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs Katie O’Connor, student speaker Lucia Paulsen ’24, Student Body President Steaven Ramírez Serrano ’24, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and President of the Sloan Foundation Adam Falk ’83, and Chair of the Board of Trustees Stephanie M. Bass ’91.
As Counseling Services released to The Stentorian two weeks ago, out of the 289 seniors who reported their final college decisions out of the total 317 graduating seniors, the Class of 2024 represented 49 colleges across the United States. More information and statistics on the Class of 2024’s college decisions can be viewed on stentorianncssm.wordpress.com.
In this broadcast, The Stentorian reporter Teresa Fang interviews Lilianna Heffner ’25, Anna Tricomi ’25, Dr. Heather Mallory, Lucia Paulsen ’24, Riziki Chabeda ’24, May Ming ’24, Cole Thomas ’24 (and his grandmas), Eva Lou ’24, John Jahn ’24, Asa Zengerle ’25, Israel James ’25, Taylor Ellis ’25, and Ms. Maria Mileti.
At The Harvard Crimson building on 14 Plympton St., Sellers Hill ’20 and Teresa Fang ’25, former and upcoming editors-in-chief of The Stentorian. (Teresa Fang/The Stentorian)
‘20 alum Sellers Hill’s rise to the 151st president of The Harvard Crimson reflects a student journalist’s take on the student journalism world and an age of renewal. He started as an editor for The Stentorian.
Several thousand student journalists – whether entering accidentally or not, in high school or collegiate – continue to serve their school newspapers. An unlikely base for continued journalism can arrive from unlikely places, like a STEM school called NCSSM. Although the transition from high school journalism to a college student newspaper is “certainly different,” Sellers Hill ‘20 considers his love of writing and engagement with The Harvard Crimson to his time at NCSSM.
Journalism through The Stentorian
Sellers Hill joined NCSSM with a goal of being an electrical or mechanical engineer but learned to maximize his time and opportunities. He eventually joined RChem, loved American Studies, became a senior senator, and taught himself how to be a journalist through The Stentorian.
“When I was in Science and Math, I don’t think a lot of people saw themselves as being interested in journalism. If people actually tried it, they would find that they were a lot more into it,” Hill said in an interview with The Stentorian in February. “There’s so many extracurriculars and classes that someone dedicating themselves to just one thing is not even possible.”
As the newspaper advisor and instructor of engineering John Kirk reminisced, the 2019-2020 Stentorian editorial board Hill was a part of was the closest to staying on top of monthly publishing quotas than any other year at the present… if not for the pandemic turning the campus remote midyear. However, especially with COVID, a written record of the past remains ever important as the goal of any student newspaper.
The Stentorian is no exception. “I think an important role of student journalism is to be a check on institutions and gauge how students are doing, feeling, and creating a record of that.” Hill said. “That’s the kind of most important role The Stentorian could have at Science and Math: the institutional memory.”
… and advancing to The Harvard Crimson
After arriving at Harvard College, Hill immediately joined the newspaper, where he spent the next two years writing over 100 stories as a staff writer and a reviewer for the newspaper’s readership analytics. This experience was not too different from his current responsibilities as president.
“The job is kind of a bit of everything. You’re doing a little bit of coverage. You’re doing a little bit of editorial work. [The Crimson] is a business, and now you’re dealing with business.” Hill said.
In the office’s basement, The Harvard Crimson’s old printing presses stopped rolling in 2020. (Teresa Fang/The Stentorian)
In a tour of The Crimson’s small office building hidden behind construction, he showed The Stentorian the old printing presses, which had been in use until the pandemic, with rollers still covered in ink in the 2000s-esque basement. Then, Sellers and his staff completely renewed the paper as a business. Now, they print with the help of local printing presses and are supported by external donations and advertisements.
“Over a few months, I had to understand our revenue streams, framework for making certain business calls, certain expenses, and things like that. You just kind of get thrown into it and try to learn as quickly as you can, knowing you’re probably going to make some mistakes here and there and that’s okay.” Hill said, shrugging nonchalantly.
Spending about 60-90 hours a week at The Crimson’s small office building hidden behind construction, Hill admits it is very hard to be a student. As an organic chemistry major, Hill has learned to adapt to a “brutal” work-life balance, but not without spending every day honing his sense of judgment in handling multiple tasks. But unlike at NCSSM, “you didn’t necessarily have to switch between multiple interests like research and journalism.” Students can do both.
After nearly a year as president of The Crimson, Hill offered some pieces of advice for The Stentorian and NCSSM students. With any published article or controversial/conflicted topics, the relationship between the editorial board and its interviewees and readers is one of trust and clear communication.
“When people speak to us, they know that we’re not going to turn around and say that they said something else,” Hill said. “It’s hard to get that reputation back once you’ve lost it. You have to assure your readership through years of quality journalism to show you can be trusted with things like that.”
On April 20, 2024, the North Carolina School of Science and Math hosted their annual Welcome Day to orient the incoming NCSSM-Durham students, or the class of 2026. Along with starting their flight at NCSSM in the PEC, taking photos for IDs, and dorm tours, and Students and families were invited to participate in the school’s Club Fair, in which the current students of the classes of 2024 and 2025 showcased nearly 80 student-led clubs on the Durham campus.
Ranging from the Balkan Cultures Club to Quiz Bowl to Smath Tutors to NCSSM Rocketry and more, this club fair is the first of many fairs for the new class of 2026.
In this broadcast, The Stentorian reporter Teresa Fang interviews students Natalie Jones ’24, Hayden Moritz ’25, Avanesh Vijayakumar ’24, and Tejasvi Shirolkar ’26 about their hopes and experiences on Welcome Day 2024.
On April 12, 2024, the North Carolina School of Science and Math hosted a schoolwide assembly, as part of the school’s Space Week event which included eclipse-viewing, to talk to NASA astronaut and Class of 1997 alumni Christina Koch.
After setting the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman with 328 days and participating in the first all-female spacewalk in 2019-2020, Koch is currently preparing to go to space once again as the Mission Specialist for NASA’s Artemis II mission, which will be be flying around the Moon as NASA’s first crewed flight in their long-term goal for establishing human presence on the Moon for science and exploration.
In this broadcast, The Stentorian reporter Teresa Fang interviews students Arianna Lee ’25 and Ava Snider ’25, both students who were chosen to ask Koch questions during the assembly, and chancellor Todd Roberts.
On October 30, the Chapel Hill Youth Council hosted a forum for the mayoral and town council candidates for the then-upcoming municipal elections. (Teresa Fang/Stentorian)
Many young people lament the polarized national politics we are set to inherit. But are we worthy of lamenting when we don’t even care about local politics first?
I am a product of what I know as journalism and Chapel Hill civics. I worry less about the health of US democracy than I do about the deteriorating health of interest in it. Too many times have I heard a fellow high schooler voice their opinion about a recent national policy, but when confronted, they stare and cite a TikTok influencer or a popular podcaster. This response is exaggeratedly worse for local politics; local political apathy tears young people from reality and sets a precedent for misinformation.
I single out social media as one of the largest facilitators of political apathy. A survey from Gallup reports that over half of US teens (ages 13-19) spend a minimum of four hours on social media every day. That’s four hours of being exposed to conformity influences, from beauty standards to cancel culture to the polarization of national politics. With social media becoming ever increasingly accessible, anyone can exercise their laws of free speech on social media while the consequences of spreading baseless claims become nigh invisible.
Anyone can complain about an issue, but can just anyone change anything about said issue? People may be knowledgeable on national politics, but if a citizen has concerns about a bus route or stormwater runoff, their representative in Congress can’t help them. But their local town council member can. If a student notices a decrease in the quality of their education at a public school, that’s just an observation supporting the recent national trend. If that student notices a difference in education at their school relative to other schools in the district, then that’s a different story.
Local politics impacts day-to-day lives. If young people can change our nation’s future, why don’t we try paying closer attention to our town first?
