Interest groups are a new concept to New Albany High School (NAHS) this school year. There’s a thirty minute slot of time each day, excluding Fridays, when students can attend an interest group session. Sessions include club interests, school news, ping pong, diversity, fossils, Science Olympiad, and fishing, just to name a few.
There’s a unique interest group at NAHS that has been exposed to virtual field trips and a recent field trip to Nashville. This group of students meets with the counselors on a regular basis to pursue their interest in the selective college admissions process.
NAHS Counselor Kalee Stanton explained that the school staff wants to expose students to the selective college admissions process and Ivy League schools, as well as increase the number of students who apply to these schools each year.
The counselors surveyed students in the gifted and accelerated English classes to gain information on students who may be interested in the selective college admissions process.
Students had the opportunity to skype with an admissions counselor from Duke during the fall semester. Recently this group of students traveled to Vanderbilt University in Nashville to tour the campus and meet with an admissions counselor.
Throughout the year, these students have spent time during their interest group being exposed to common college applications, understanding the importance of essay development, and learning more about financial aid opportunities. “During our time together, the students have also learned how important it is to develop their leadership skills, increase their community service commitment, and to continue developing good citizenship qualities,” Stanton added.
“We are very proud of these students and their commitment to academic excellence,” said NAHS Principal Lance Evans. “It is our hope that we have equipped these students with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their future college plans.”
