Gretter Arnold
SAS Class of 2010
University of Miami
Being in SAS has given me the opportunity to manage my time efficiently with nearly the freedom a college student would have. Also, the dual enrollment classes are not only money saved and credits earned but also I have found them especially beneficial when taking SAS Subject tests in chemistry and biology. Overall, I feel that SAS have given me the best of both worlds: a small close knit student body with attentive and talented teachers as well as a degree of freedom and independence that allows us to grow and become better students.
Adrien Arteaga
Class of 2010
Harvard University
Nowhere else have I met teachers as considerate and reasonable. The level of personal attention they provide is unique, and they are always willing to help you achieve your academic and personal goals. More than once, for example, were my teachers willing to let me switch periods in order to complete an important project for one of them, or extend a deadline because they knew it was finals week for my college classes. This doesn’t mean that the classes are easy, or that the material our teachers assign is unimportant, this is rarely the case; it means that you are truly getting your money’s worth for every lecture you attend or assignment you complete. There is no busy work here, only professional, effective teaching.
Lourdes Campo
SAS Class of 2010
University of Florida
My experience at SAS has been wonderful. I’ve learned a lot about time management and how to balance all aspects of my responsibilities in life. I selected SAS to complete my high school education because of the academic opportunities it provided. Thanks to SAS, I am proud to say that I was able to earn my Associate in Arts degree before I even received my high school diploma. I have been accepted to and will be attending the University of Florida, ranked number 48 in the nation. I feel as if SAS has prepared me for the future.
Chentiesha Cozart
SAS Class of 2010
University of Miami
SAS equipped me with valuable skills that I can use for life. Through this program I was also given the opportunity to receive an Associate’s degree for free. This was a once I a lifetime opportunity that I could not have received at any other high school. I was taught time management skills. I discovered my best way of learning, and I experienced some of the best years of my life here at SAS. I won’t say that the program was a walk in the park. It is a rigorous program that requires you to put forth maximum effort in all endeavors. In this I gathered skills and insights that have thoroughly prepared me for college and for all of my future goals…more so than I believe any traditional high school.
Shareen Dookie
SAS Class of 2010
I found that every element of SAS enables students to reach for higher levels of education and inspires students to be determined at their goals. Having teachers who are truly passionate about their fields, as well as, attentive to student needs has helped me to appreciate what I learn. My classmates and I inspire and encourage each other to do better academically. Granted, as in all schools, it involves hard work. The only quality I recommend future SAs students to have is the desire to better themselves. Students who feel this way will absolutely succeed in SAS.
Kassandra Leniv
SAS Class of 2010
University of Florida
Being able to participate in the School for Advanced Studies program has been one of the best experiences I have ever had. I got the chance to meet amazing people whom I can relate to easily and become part of this intricate family we’ve created among ourselves. I know it has been an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life and one that I am very grateful of having. Thanks to SAS I feel ready for my future. I was accepted into the University of Florida.
Thais Lopez
Class of 2010
Univserity of Pennsylvania
I decided to attend SAS because of the academic opportunities it offers to its students. However, I have realized that our rigorous classes and experienced teachers are only a part of our school’s greatness. It is the ability to make its students versatile what ranks SAS as one of the top high schools in our country. We take laboratory classes until late at night, but we also dress up as the characters of children stories for the Book Fair; we spend hours studying for our college finals, but we go and help feed the homeless the week after, or go to an amusement park or a picnic. In these two years I have learned how to balance school work with fun, and how to make a difference in our community. It is here where I have received all the knowledge I needed to become an Ivy League student, and where I have also formed a new family.
Laura MacKinnon
SAS Class of 2010
University of Pennsylvania
I chose SAS because I wanted to be around students who are serious about studying. I got more than that. I got a tight-knit, supportive community of diverse, talented classmates and teachers and staff who care about my progress. I love that I have the freedom to explore my interest and challenge myself by taking college classes in high school. The most useful skill I learned at SAS is time-management. I will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall of 2010.
Kristina Stanley
SAS Class of 2010
University of Miami
SAS is one of the best experiences that I have had. This school teaches you that you have to stay on top of your college homework; no one babies you here…SAS allows for you to create a close family of new friends and even teachers.
Sammantha Villacres
SAS Class of 2010
SAS helped me understand what the rest of my life would be like. Here, there are added responsibilities that “normal” high schools don’t have. Here you have to work for your grade; you aren’t spoon fed. One major quality about SAS that other high schools lack is the availability of the teachers. At any point in the morning, I have access to my instructors to ask them for help and added explanations. I can go up to them and study with them. This one-on-one time is to our advantage; they are there for us, to help us.
Max Imberman
SAS Class of 2009,
New College Class of 2013
My fate was sealed at an early age. I always knew I would attend Miami Beach Senior High. It was the inevitable final step in my pre-college educational plan. I would qualify for the selective Scholars Academy, take a heavy Honors – AP course load, and receive personalized counseling, all at a school large enough to offer elective choices suited to my diverse interests.
For years the plan unfolded seamlessly. I was admitted into the Scholars Academy based on the grades and accomplishments I had stockpiled in middle school. I signed up for eclectic electives and joined service clubs. I was in my element, I thought, as I participated in academic competitions, played saxophone in the jazz band, and was elected to the Scholars Academy Executive Board.
Suddenly, things changed, as I was confronted with an intriguing alternative. My parents told me about the School for Advanced Studies, a dual-enrollment program for 11th and 12th grades only. If I enrolled at SAS, I would take both high school and college classes, and have the opportunity to interact more closely with the faculty and school administration.
I must admit I was afraid to switch schools. I worried about the added responsibility of traveling on my own, by city bus, to the school’s downtown Miami location on a college campus. By transferring to a smaller school, I would be giving up the activities that I loved at Beach High, such as Jazz Band, and the feelings of camaraderie and collaborative musical accomplishment. I was concerned about losing my friends and leaving behind the rich history and legacy of my school. And when I did take the risk, and switch schools, I did give up all of those things.
What I did not anticipate was how much I would come to love my new school! The responsibility of making my own way downtown, traveling city streets between high school and college classes, and choosing my own curriculum have all prepared me for my future in a way that my old school never would have. At Beach High, I was never able to get to get to know my teachers as individuals. I never had the opportunity to learn how they felt about real-world topics including politics, current trends in television programming, and the music of the ’60s and ’70s. At the School for Advanced Studies, I have truly connected with the faculty and have forged a genuine partnership with my teachers!
All in all, making the move to the School for Advanced Studies has been a wholly positive experience. I gave up a lot of what I loved at Beach High, but I have gained a love for my new school and the rich possibilities afforded to me. The added responsibilities have helped me mature and given me an enhanced self-image. Because I took the chance, I have grown as a student and as a person.
Angela Angulo
SAS Class of 2008,
Emory University Class of 2012
“School for Advanced Studies has helped me tremendously, and to this day, I still use the learning strategies and study skills that were taught at SAS. The dual enrollment and Advanced Placement courses I took during my two years at SAS truly prepared me for the academic rigors of Emory. SAS also taught me how to effectively communicate with my professors as well as how to balance my academic and social life. Many of the lessons that my freshman classmates are learning at Emory, I learned while in high school!”
Samantha Toro
SAS Class of 2008,
Brown University Class of 2012
“School for Advanced Studies provided me with increased independence and college-level academics which made my transition to the university much easier.”
Gabriel Lopez
SAS Class of 2007,
Dartmouth College Class of 2011
“The rigors of the SAS curriculum made my high school to college transition less daunting. SAS arms you with an arsenal of knowledge, problem solving strategies, and maturity. Most importantly, SAS and college both demand your utmost dedication and commitment. You will be ready for the next step immediately upon graduation. SAS taught me how to think logically. My teachers helped me discover the various conceptual frameworks and critical thinking skills that now help me solve complex problems. In retrospect, my SAS experience was definitely worthwhile.”
Mikaela Moore
SAS Class of 2008,
University of Florida Class of 2010
“Deciding to attend School for Advanced Studies was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I have ever made. Academically, SAS gave me the edge over my peers and has the eye-catching appeal that admissions officers look for in prospective students. The amazing faculty and staff at SAS will also provide you with the skills necessary to successfully complete the transition between high school and college. School for Advanced Studies provides you an opportunity unlike any other school in the county which is why semester after semester alumni, like myself, always have the urge to stop in for a visit.”
Victoria M. Montoya
SAS Class of 2006,
University of Florida College of Pharmacy-Gainesville
“There are so many words that can be used to describe ones experience at SAS but they seem to fall short. I am currently a second year pharmacy student at the University of Florida at the age of 20. All my classmates are over the age of 23, and let me tell you they seem to be having a harder time coping with our very demanding schedule than I am. I more than anything appreciate the fact that as a junior in high school I learned to interact with adults in the college setting which has allowed me to make very interesting professional relationships now. I am one of the leaders in our college and am also involved in the State pharmacy association. I am very grateful for what SAS has given me as far as education in the classroom and in the real world.”
Anaelys Concepcion
SAS Class of 2008,
University of Florida
“At SAS, I learned time management very well! Many of my friends who went to UF after graduating from a traditional high school had a harder time with time management. By attending SAS, I gained confidence that I would do better as a full-time college student since I was used to doing nearly that and AP credits at the same time. I also was more prepared for my classes. I was so ahead in credits that, already this summer, I am applying to veterinary school. I’ve also been invited to do volunteer projects in Costa Rica this summer and a Vet Teaching program at UC-Davis. Thank you for such a great opportunity!”
Cliff Raiman-Poker
SAS Class of 2007,
Florida International University
“Out of all the choices I have made in my life, going to SAS was, by far, the best decision that I could have made. SAS, to me, was more than just taking difficult classes and studying hard; it was an experience that taught me that sometimes it’s better to push yourself as far as you can go instead of just coasting through and getting by. The skills that I’ve gained from going to SAS not only helped me in college, but are now guiding me in my career and other aspects of my life. Even after graduation, I still discover new tools that I gained somewhere along the 2 year road at SAS.”
Kaila Bridgeman
SAS Class of 2010
Learning that I attend School for Advanced Studies typically elicits an expression of wide-eyed amazement and admiration. Some bold individuals go as far as questioning my mental health; surely I must be insane if I willingly put myself through the stresses of dual-enrollment rather than enjoy myself at a “normal” high school. In such cases, I laugh and offer a different perspective by stating that the choice to attend SAS was an expedient one; I live for the change that allows me to go beyond the normality of life and find something extraordinary. My decision to transfer to SAS has been life-changing; I have been challenged in countless ways beyond the realm of academics that has fostered my growth as a person, not just as a student.
Though I have been labeled as a “gifted” child since my elementary years, I never considered myself as a person with the capacity for greatness, not until SAS. My school does not spoon-feed students, as is the habit of “normal” high schools. Rather, it thrives on the Honor System and entrusts students with higher levels of responsibility with the full confidence that they will succeed. In becoming more reliant on my own abilities and gaining confidence, I developed a genuine excitement for education; fresh ideas about my future, my goals, and my aspirations exploded in my mind like fireworks with rapid bursts of color and excitement.
In my previous schools, I was reserved and tentative in pursuing my own interests. However, the diversity of my new school facilitated individuality, a chance to finally be myself. I found, for instance, that I thoroughly enjoy managing or assisting with school activities when I headed a project that allowed our small school of 100 students to donate over 130 pairs of jeans to underprivileged teenagers. It made me realize what I could accomplish by simply taking the initiative. It has always warmed my heart to improve someone’s life just by lending a helping hand. This is why I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl, lining up my stuffed animals and giving them assignments that were scored and recorded in my very own grade book. Several years later, I have taken that passion and turned it into something positive for my community.
The confidence I gained by simply placing myself in a more academically rigorous environment has been empowering. It is a source of energy that propels me towards a better life and drives me to step out of my comfort zone, seize every positive opportunity, and never settle for anything less than the goals I set out to reach. It is the energy that I try to pass on to others whenever the opportunity arises. This is how I contribute to my environment, in a school setting or otherwise: by putting my best effort in helping others to recognize their potential and beauty, and guiding them towards success.
Rosanna Tavarez
SAS Class of 2009,
New College Class of 2013
“There are so many great things I have planned but I can honestly say that if it wasn’t for SAS and the rigorous work I completed there, I most likely would not have had the skills I needed to manage my time and homework load effectively. SAS was awesome!”
Isana Skeete
Class of 2010
Dartmouth College
School for Advanced Studies has been an excellent, unique experience, pleasantly different from the traditional high school. The ability to take college classes has allowed me a mix of freedom and responsibility that will allow me to feel more comfortable transitioning to college. Not only were the academics unique but the close-knit family-type atmosphere is not something that I have experienced at any other school. The small size of SAS allowed me to become close to most of my classmates and gave me the opportunity to meet and learn about all of them. The SAS experience has helped me grow and meet a diverse selection of classmates that is not usually found anywhere else. I would recommend SAS to anyone looking for a challenge in a nurturing environment.
Laura Arango
Class of 2010
University of Florida
Although the transition to a higher education institution took time, it was worth it. The school became more than a school; in such a small student and staff community SAS became more like a family. SAS pushed me to develop myself into an effective and productive individual. SAS was the step I needed to be prepared for the world. Now, I feel confident of my abilities as a scholar and a person. I achieved my goal of attending the University of Florida, and I believe there is much more to work for.
Kathia Dumelle
Class of 2010
Rice University
At SAS I was given the opportunity to receive a higher quality of education. I had the opportunity to be a part of a close-knit family. I had the availability of my teachers for one-on-one tutoring and help. I had my counselor who was not just a busy school counselor but a friend in whom I could confide. I had the benefits of a schedule packed with free time which I could use for independent study …Although a tough decision, deciding to attend SAS was one of the best I ever made.
Tiffany Jones
Class of 2010
University of Central Florida
Attending School for Advanced Studies has been a life-changing experience. I’ve always wanted to challenge myself and reach for the stars. School for Advanced Studies has given me the tools to reach for everything to which I aspire. And every step of the way, I’ve had amazing teachers, a caring counselor, and close friends to support me. As I continue my education at UCF, I will always remember the wonderful times I’ve spent at SAS.
Angie Molina
Class of 2010
University of Florida
My time here at SAS has helped me greatly…I learned to become significantly more responsible. My prioritizing and organizational skills greatly improved. I learned to stop procrastinating and started doing important assign work on time. All of these new skills will help me strive in the university environment.
Alyson Townsel
Class of 2010
Florida State University
A fusion of a high school and college experience, this school allowed me to continuously challenge myself. The advanced placement core classes kept me on my toes with my study habits. In conjunction with high school classes, the college classes amped up my time management skills, forcing me to balance passing my classes and getting well-acquainted with my college professors. Such a family-like atmosphere made it easy to make friends. These friends become your study-partners, your secret-keepers, socialites, and although these individuals are only here for 2 years, it makes the experience more wonderful. SAS still has prom, senior brunch, cross campus picnic, senior trip, and fall dance. Just like any other school, SAS has field trips and school activities that are just as much fun if not better! In essence, SAS is a wonderful experience that has escalated and enhanced my educational experience.