Javier Cuadra
School for Advanced Studies (SAS) is such a unique experience that I am grateful for having the opportunity to enjoy. The transition from a high school with over 3,000 kids to a school of around 100 is almost equivalent to a culture shock. Everybody becomes relevant in your life when at any other high school, you can never expect to know about every person. Likewise, all the teachers become friends, offering assistance, advice, and an open ear whenever you need one. These are vital pieces, I feel, of a prospering scholar. I could not have gotten as far as I have without every person I have encountered at SAS.
SAS has been a blank slate where I have been able to reshape myself into my own person instead of the person I was expected to be at my old school. I got the opportunity to make new friends and experience exciting adventures with people with whom I have common interests. These people have helped build me up, and I helped them grow as people as well. I know for a fact that the people I met at SAS will continue to help me grow and will one day be successful business owners, doctors, lawyers, engineers, professors, nurses, and whatever else they want to be along with lifelong friends that I will share continuous memories with.
Overall, SAS has been a blessing. I could not have asked for a better experience. If I had to identify something wrong with SAS, it is that it is too short. Two years is all we have, but that is a blessing in it of itself since SAS teaches us the valuable life lesson that all good things must one day come to an end. But when the door of SAS finally closes, the door to colleges and universities open widely. For these things, I am grateful for leaving the calm waters of my home school to the turbulent tides of SAS and MDC.
Javier Cuadra
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
Northwestern University, Class of 2020
Juan Arciniegas
Making the leap from my previous high school to SAS was a tough choice, but it was one that was worth it. I remember my classmates all being shocked when they discovered I was planning to transfer to SAS, and they would try to ask why I would attend such a rigorous high school. At first, I too was doubting my abilities, and to be truthful I was intimidated by entering a college campus and attending college in addition to high school.
Yet I believe I could not have made a better choice. SAS has allowed me to develop myself not only as a student, but also as a person. The community of students, teachers, counselors, and administrators are all supportive of each other, and if you ever need help they are happy to lend a helping hand. This school has had the best environment of any other school I have attended, and to me that is what really has allowed me to succeed and thrive.
I can attest to the fact that attending SAS means putting in the hard work, but you will be sure to reap the rewards. It is so important to begin with a strong and supportive basis in life, and attending SAS will help you to make your high school experience a memorable one.
Juan Arciniegas
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
Columbia University, Class of 2020
Anna Baringer
There are a lot of reasons I choose to come to SAS: the academic rigor, the freedom to choose from an extensive class catalog, the AP and dual enrollment credits. However, what I never realized I wanted in a school, and what ultimately became most valuable to me, is the community I found at SAS that became my second home.The students and teachers at SAS simultaneously comfort you and challenge you. They push you, encourage you to grow, and most of all, help you realize your fullest potential.
By taking classes at MDC, you are given the freedom to discover your passions and develop a sense of responsibility for your own education. But when you need a break from feeling like a number amongst the other nameless college students, SAS is there to support you and to remind you of your place in our wacky family.
Sure, there were the rare days during finals week and college application season when I wondered whether or not I should have stayed at my home school. But on those days, I had my teachers and my peers to remind me of how much I had grown, how much I had learned about myself and the world around me, and how much that education is worth. And I never regretted my decision for a more than a minute.
Anna Baringer
School for Advanced Studies. Class of 2016
Barnard College, Class of 2020
Maurizio Diaz
There’s a reason I keep my SAS acceptance letter taped to the wall next to my desk. It’s because SAS is the place that made the past two years the best of my life, and it holds a special spot in my heart for doing so. But it’s not just the program: it’s the people, teachers, and counselors that make it as amazing as it is. It’s knowing that you can have heart-to-heart conversations with your amazing counselor because he actually cares, or that your teachers will always be there to explain a concept one-on-one. There is a level of mutual respect between students and faculty that I’ve never found at any other school.
Unlike other rigorous programs, SAS does not break you down. Instead, it reshapes you into the best possible version of yourself. The version of yourself that doesn’t just set goals, but can meet and go beyond them because of the resources offered here. The version of yourself that isn’t afraid to be inquisitive, since you will always experience an open intellectual environment. And the version of yourself that is kind, because you are surrounded by a truly supportive community of similarly ambitious scholars.
And all of this is based on a foundation of freedom that’s unique to SAS. Not just the academic freedom of taking as rigorous a courseload as you desire, but also freedom outside of the classroom to explore what you really love. In my case this meant an official internship period that allowed me to leave school early to work at a laboratory, which meant the world to me as an aspiring academic scientist. It’s this sort of independence that fosters the confidence that I would not have gained elsewhere.
But above all else, SAS is a home that I shall miss dearly.
Maurizio Diaz
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Class of 2020
Kwasi Fahie
It seems as though my entire life has built up to this moment. In a few months, I will be graduating not only with a diploma for high school and college, but with the best experience of my life thus far. From the very first steps made on the SAS campus, and the fresh college air I breathed as a junior, I, alongside my senior classmates, have taken steps toward greatness and maturity to open doors of opportunities with keys to success. From this moment on, my decisions will be made not because my teachers or my parents say-so, but because I, as a scholar of the School for Advanced Studies, am truly ready to take the next, daunting journey in my life.
SAS was the start of creating bridges for academic wellness and prosperity. It was a means of love and happiness I couldn’t possibly replace. Yet, no matter what I decide to do after today, I know that I can always turn around and see my friends and teachers from SAS rooting for me; rather, for us, cheering us on, and always believing in us and the choices we make.
Perhaps that’s what made SAS so beautiful. That although I’ve only been together with my friends for two years in time, I’ve created friendships with trustworthy, reliable, and honest friends that will last for years to come. From this moment on, we know that our Snapchat stories will be filled with bright smiles and happy faces, because we can never forget how SAS has shaped us. How it has strengthened and expanded our academic horizons. How it has helped us to appreciate ourselves and become who we are. And we realize that, no matter what happens after graduation, we’ll always have someone to call upon.
Kwasi Fahie
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
Williams College, Class of 2020
Kyle Forges
I first heard about SAS in 7th grade during a college forum. The academic giant visited our quaint middle school library to share the wonders of “School for Advanced Studies.” From that moment I was hooked. I dedicated every waking moment around how I would get into SAS and what I would do when I got there. Every night I would visit the SAS website to read alumni testimonials (like this one), standardized test scores for the students, and what amazing universities every student got into. Then, SAS was a dream. Today, it is a reality.
Coming to SAS I have expanded both my academic and cultural horizons. The diverse student body, armed with their endless ambition, and interest in myriad subjects kept me motivated to come to school every day. I worked my tuchus off day in and day out to live up to the legacy of School for Advanced Studies.
The faculty, educators, and students of SAS have proven to be akin to blood. SAS has its own language, its own values, its own heart. Each and every student that walks into the school keeps the intricate valves of our 5 chamber campus running. Is SAS the best? You’re Darn Right It Is!
Kyle Forges
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
Stanford University, Class of 2020
Allan Gelman
I came to SAS because I was extraordinarily eager to learn, to be challenged, and to take my education into my own hands. With our AP classes taught by amazing and willing teachers, and the freedom to choose any MDC classes we wish, I was not only able to do all of that, but I also found myself loving school much more than I would have in a typical high school.
Small in population and square feet, SAS allowed me to have much more individual attention from every teacher. This not only improved the quality of my learning, but also allowed me to actually know my teachers as people. This helped greatly during the college application season, because these teachers became our mentors and guides.
But above all, SAS, like one giant quilt, is a very tight-knit and strong community. The friends I made here are more like family now. We struggled through the intense AP exams and tough MDC finals. And we celebrated together at events like our Winter Trip and Senior Brunch (yes, SAS has these!)
During these two years, I grew so much alongside my peers, redefining my limits and being amazed at how much I truly can achieve. I am so proud that I chose to come to SAS two years ago, and that I am graduating as part of the Class of 2016. I am leaving SAS with more friends and memories than I can count, and the prospect of attending my dream school in the fall. I can confidently say that I couldn’t be happier!
Allan Gelman
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Class of 2020
Danny Gelman
I have never enjoyed my time at any school as much I have at School for Advanced Studies, home to unparalleled academics, a tight knit community, and priceless memories.
One of the main reasons I chose SAS was its academic environment. We get the freedom to choose our MDC courses and when to take them, allowing individual interests and needs to be met. Still, we are not fully college students, so we are guaranteed to see our fellow high school classmates everyday during our set AP curriculum. We are able to speak to our teachers, in the classroom and during their generous office hours on a one-on-one basis. So yes, the academics are challenging and late nights studying aren’t uncommon, but the resources that SAS provides (the independent study time, the phenomenal teachers, and all the tutoring services and computer labs of Miami Dade College) makes it very manageable and even enjoyable.
But probably the most important resource, isn’t really a resource at all. It’s the community. It may be difficult to understand how and why the bonds formed at SAS are so strong, but it’s no coincidence. Putting students who are all determined in their search for excellence in this rigorous yet supportive, open environment for two years is not something that happens very often, but when it does, it is inevitably special.
Two years ago, I read similar testimonials and wondered to myself, “What will I cherish the most about my SAS experience?” Now, I can confidently say what I cherished most are the memories. Memories of the laughter we shared at our winter trips, of the stress we overcame together during finals week, of the fun we shared during our dances and prom, and of everything in between, from the potlucks and picnics to simply walking to and from class with friends. So, I know that every time I look back at my time at SAS, I will joyfully grin.
Danny Gelman
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Class of 2020
Isnavys Perez
When I first found out I was accepted to SAS, I cried for twenty minutes straight. I wasn’t sure if it was because I’d have to start anew or because SAS had been my dream for the past couple of years but nonetheless I cried. Regardless of my tears, the decision I made to attend SAS has been the best decision I’ve made thus far in my life’s voyage of discovery. I have been blessed to be in a school (haven, really) that instills intelligence and kindness amongst many other traits in its students. I have learned how to communicate and make personal bonds with people who come from all over the world, transcending invisible barriers. I have acquired management skills through all the endless opportunities SAS serves you. By being surrounded with people who passionately painted their own big dreams, I began to dream big— something I never would’ve done given other circumstances.
However SAS is not just a dream factory that molds Ivy League candidates, it’s a cohesive community. Ironically, the teachers (and even the staff) don’t just clock in, teach their subject, and go home. They’re your mentors and to an extent: your best friend. Also, despite my class being a little over 120 students, it’s truly been a blessing in disguise. At SAS, we are one big family full of motivated and friendly individuals who love each other and always have each other’s back.
Attending SAS has definitely not been easy. The coursework is rigorous and extensive and most nights you stay up studying for either a high school or college exam. I know I cried a couple of nights through Finals week and then AP season. You’re going to put in twice as much hard work as you would at another school. But the best part is, you get four times the reward. If it weren’t for SAS, I wouldn’t have grown to be the mature and independent young lady that I am today. SAS is here to teach you that you might fall down seven times, but you’re going to get up each time and be stronger than ever. With perseverance, the world is at the tip of your fingers.
Isnavys Perez
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
New York University (NYU), Class of 2020
Santiago Tobar Potes
Nestled between Northeast 2nd Street and Northeast 3rd Street, on the 5th floor of a seemingly ubiquitous downtown Miami skyscraper lies the School for Advanced Studies Wolfson Campus. Within her walls come students from all corners of the earth, reflecting the school’s cultural diversity with the intrinsic multiplicities of thought and expression, forever galvanized to grow and help grow.
It is for this exact reason that I chose to continue my education at SAS—knowing that I would have a constant exposure to a variety of experiences by going to a school in downtown Miami, while safely maturing and exploring SAS’ characteristic liberal arts curriculum.
And it is this curriculum which most molded me into the person I am today. There is a beauty in being able to choose the courses that I found most appealing, valuable, interesting and intriguing and this is an opportunity that is almost unheard of at the average school—the studied phenomena on what it means to be a human, akin to my future school’s Core Curriculum, lends itself to the simplicities of understanding, learning, appreciating and communicating: the elementary functions of any human being.
As I ready myself to live in the market-side agora of Manhattan, I rest assured my transition, both personal and academic, will be seamless. My profound community of friends and colleagues, teachers and mentors, have already prepared me.
Decades in the future, as I look back to the flower of my youth, I will forever preen at the luck I had to attend SAS, her experiences most impactful in my life.
Santiago Tobar Potes
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
Columbia University, Class of 2020
Jade Quintero
SAS was a myth to me before I came here. I had heard about this tiny school in the middle of Miami Dade College that seemed to mass produce geniuses by the dozens. I was told that going to SAS ensured that I lost any chance of having the “high school experience”- there would be no prom, senior brunch, picnic, etc. Despite this, my mother thrust me into the room to take the PERT and before I could blink I found myself surrounded by some of the smartest people I will ever meet.
SAS is not just a school that mass produces Ivy League graduates, beyond that it is a school focused on community and friendship. I know every single person in my graduating class and have formed a personal bond with all of them. I am surrounded by people that have dreams just as big as mine, if not bigger. It’s such a welcoming community that has a never ending stream of helpful hands and amazing people. Beyond being dedicated to our goals, everyone at SAS knows when to take a break to do something absolutely silly. We take breaks to play soccer or just sit under a tree and discuss the latest celebrity drama. SAS is one of the only schools where you see students easily switch from discussing quantum physics to discussing Kim Kardashian.
My years at SAS were one of the most valuable times of my life. These past two years has been full of late night cram sessions and unbreakable friendships. SAS has given me all the tools that I need to succeed in college and has ensured that I am ready to tackle any challenges that I may face. I am going to college knowing that my teachers have more than prepared me for the next four years and even beyond that. Without SAS I know that I would not be where I am today.
Jade Quintero
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Class of 2020
Jessica Rosner
For the first two years of my high school career, I could not stop feeling like a lost puppy trying to find her way home. In my ninth and tenth grade years, I felt like I did not belong, however the moment I stepped into SAS in the eleventh grade, I knew I was home. Whether it was the students, the teachers, or the classes, everything had felt like the perfect fit.
SAS has allowed me to grow as a person and as an intellectual. I can now say that whenever I see a movie, I always start to analyze its cinematography and accuracy (if adapted from a novel) because of my English teacher. I have been given the capacity to expand my knowledge and I will take that gift with me wherever I go.
It does not matter if I am in Massachusetts, Miami, or China, I will always look back on my time at SAS with a deep appreciation and wondrous happiness. I can now tell anyone who asks me what the Reconstruction era was all about because of my one of a kind history teacher; I can also tell the difference between a derivative and an integral because of my punctilious math teacher.
Before I had come to SAS I did not realize how much I enjoy being challenged. Juggling my high school classes with my many diverse college classes from History of the Holocaust to Chem 1 was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. I now thrive at the chance to study hard so that I may feel accomplished when I receive an A. I will always take the opportunity to work hard and do well because of everything I have gained from my time at SAS.
I know that I have a long way to go before I reach my final destination, but I am just happy to say that School for Advanced Studies has been an amazing part of my journey.
Jessica Rosner
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
Brandeis University, Class of 2018
Kevin Ruiz
School for advanced studies has been a hectic trip. From the first day of class to the last, SAS was one giant rollercoaster full of twists and turns. I have been able to meet people that have become some of my best friends and build relationships that will last for a lifetime. To those days in which I may have been overwhelmed with work to the times that I watched Netflix, the memories gained are to be cherished. Apart from the great memories, I have obtained skills that will aid me not only in my postsecondary education but in life as well. It is my experiences at SAS that have helped me to develop into the person that I am today.
Kevin Ruiz
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
Franklin and Marshall College, Class of 2020
Anastasia Tishena
Switching from a regular high school to a microcosm dubbed SAS has been BY FAR the greatest life decision I’ve ever made. SAS provided me the love and support I needed in order to craft the ideal high school experience—the first of many major experiences yet to come. The intimate and liberating environment has nourished my intellectual vitality and introduced me to the most brilliant and dedicated people I’ve met.
The diversity of students’ backgrounds, talents, and ambitions has widened my horizons. For the past 2 years, I’ve toiled alongside future leaders, mathematicians, doctors, lawyers, artists, and musicians–people whom I will continually admire and cherish. SAS teachers and staff have become my second moms and dads. Their instruction, criticism, support, understanding, humor, wit, and passion for their profession are unique treasures that I, along with all of my classmates, will forever appreciate.
The independence that is offered at SAS is the ultimate gem. In this school, I was treated as an adult, capable of making my own decisions. From class selection to time management to college applications—SAS molded me into a mature person who felt strong and bold enough to apply to the top rated universities in the country because she truly believed in herself and her capabilities. This liberation, 360 degrees of talent, and ever lasting support from students as well as teachers is what ultimately classifies SAS as my second home, my second family, and one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made.
Anastasia Tishena
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2016
Williams College, Class of 2020