Program Description and Criteria

The NC-MSEN Pre-College Program, at UNC Charlotte, recurits and reenrolls 6th-12th grade students each spring of the academic school year. This program is an academic enrichment program that works with students who have the ability to complete enhanced coursework in mathematics and science. The program has a one year duration which includes the Saturday Academy and a two – three-week program during the summer. Students participate in approximately four – six Saturday classes during each semester from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (during the academic school year) and during the summer (Monday – Friday during a 10 – 15-day program) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. All students may not be accepted into the NC-MSEN Pre-College Program, due to the limited number of students that we can accommodate and program standards.

Students accepted into the program and re-enrolling students will be invoiced a non-refundable, Application Fee. The invoice has to be paid for the application to be processed. Failure to pay the application processing fee will result in the application not being reviewed (this is for re-enrolling and students seeking admissions into the program). Paying this application processing fee does not guarantee acceptance into the program for both Potential New Students and Re-enrolling students.

Additionally, students will be invoiced at non-refundable $110 Enrollment (due annually – covering both Saturday Academy and Summer Scholars) to assist with the cost of extra-curricular programs, instruction, materials, and supplies. Families with more than one child participating in the program will pay an additional $75.00 enrollment fee for each sibling (for these families with more than one child in the program you must pay the entire amount or you will not receive the discounted incentive). Payments will be accepted only after an invoice has been issued. Checks mailed without the application will be shredded. No walk in payments will be accepted, they must be mailed in.

The primary goals of the Pre College Program are:

1. To broaden the pool of student pursing mathematics and science based majors and careers.

2. To recruit and prepare students of average to above average ability in grades 6-12 who have not been sufficiently exposed to mathematics and science based courses and career.

3. To challenge students in the areas of math and science.

The criteria for student selection are:

  1. The student must be able to complete enhanced course work in mathematics and/or science.

  2. The student must provide evidence (grades and essay entitled, “Why I Want To Participate in the Pre-College Program”) of interest and aptitude for rigorous mathematics and science courses;

  3. The student must have and maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and a grade of “B-” or higher in mathematics and science.

  4. For those who fall below the GPA requirement will be place on probation after which a conference will be scheduled between Coordinator, Parents, and student. The student will have a set amount of time to bring their GPA up, if the student fails to do so the consequences could be extended probation or dismal from the program.

  5. The student must be willing to commit to the full year program (Saturday Academy and Summer Scholars). Please pay special attention to information outlined in the Rules and Regulations Guidelines;

  6. The student must be recommended by their mathematics or science teacher;

  7. The student must not have exemplified a disciplinary problem in their regular school curriculum;

  8. The student must complete the online enrollment packet (incomplete application packets will not be pre-viewed by the Pre-College Office).

The deadline for completed online applications will be announced Spring 2012.