Introduction and Requirements for Admission

We are excited that you have shown an interest in enrolling at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. The mission of the Gatton Academy is to offer a residential program for bright, highly motivated Kentucky high school students who have demonstrated interests in pursuing advanced careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Before beginning the application process, please ensure you qualify or intend to meet qualifications for admission to the Gatton Academy.

Gatton Academy applicants for the Class of 2012 must

• be a current resident of the state of Kentucky,
• be a sophomore or have achieved sophomore status,
• complete Geometry and Algebra II prior to enrollment, and
• score a minimum 24 math on the ACT or score a minimum 550 math on the SAT.
• submit all required materials no later than February 15, 2010
  

The Academy will also accept applications from current high school juniors for admission in the January 2010 (what is referred to as Second Semester Admission). The Academy will make offers of admission based on the availability of space and quality of applicants. This would require a substantial number of students to leave after the first semester by choice or due to academic ineligibility. Students applying for Class of 2011 Second Semester Admission will follow the same process as students applying as sophomores; however, all materials must be received by Monday, December 7, 2009.

Applicants for the Class of 2011 wishing to apply for limited January 2010 Second Semester Admission must

• be a current resident of the state of Kentucky,
• be a junior or have achieved junior status,
• complete Geometry and Algebra II prior to enrollment, and
• score a minimum 28 math on the ACT or score a minimum 640 math on the SAT.
• submit all required materials no later than December 7, 2009
  

The admissions process for all applicants begins with the completion of the online Application Request.

Before submitting this form, please ensure your email client will not reject messages from mailer@email.naviance.com as spam.  Several students have not received messages with their username and password because of this.

Please complete this form in full. Once the application is live, you will receive an email from a Gatton Academy staff member with the subject line “Family Connection Account Information” with the student-specific email and password required for log-in. This online system serves as the repository of information for students pursuing admission to the Gatton Academy.

Once you receive your password, visit https://connection.naviance.com/gatton to begin the online application.

Completing the Online Application

When completing your application online using Naviance, you need only complete the sections listed below.  Other areas and tabs such as “Colleges” and “Career Plan” should be ignored.

Profile

Please visit the “About Me” tab to begin entering information about yourself. Please ensure the accuracy of the information location in the “Profile” page under the “Official Things” heading. You will also enter information about your parents and/or guardians. Please complete all fields for your parent(s) or guardian(s).

Resume

Engagement outside of the classroom is an important component in becoming a well-rounded student. Please share the extracurricular activities, both organized and individual, you have been involved since high school, or middle school if notable (e.g., chess club, newspaper staff, scouting, music, academic teams, community service, etc.). Please include any summer workshops, camps, or programs. Students are encouraged to note any leadership opportunities or information that would be useful for the Admissions Committee. Please also list any awards and honors that you have received, both in and out of school, since middle school (e.g., academics, music, athletics, forensics, publications, scouts, etc.).

Test Scores

Include scores for the PSAT, SAT, EXPLORE, PLAN, ACT, or AP exams if available. The Academy will use the highest score in each individual section rather than the highest overall scores. PSAT, PLAN, and AP scores are not required for admission; however, they do provide a more complete portrait of you as an applicant. All public high school students are required to take the PLAN test during the fall semester of their sophomore year.

You are required to have an official ACT or SAT score on file with Western Kentucky University. Students should consider doing testing in October, November, or December. The Gatton Academy advises applicants to test prior to January if possible. Please submit SAT and ACT scores directly to WKU. Submit ACT scores to code 1562. Submit SAT scores to code 1901.

The writing portion of the ACT and SAT is not required for admission to the Gatton Academy.

Journal

Applicants are required to respond to the following questions. Responses are used by the Admissions Committee to gauge your maturity, individuality, and personality. Each response should be between 500 and 750 words. Responses should be typed in 12 point Times New Roman font and double-spaced. Pages should have 1” margins on all sides.

Completed essays should be saved with a file name in the following format “[Student Name] Essay Responses for Class of (Graduation Year)”. Click “Add new entry” to begin the upload process. Under “Type,” select “My Essays.” Enter “Class of (Graduation Year) Admissions Essays” in the subject field. Select the document via the “Browse” button. Click “Attach”. Finally, click the “Add Journal Entry” button to complete the upload.

Answer the following questions fully and with detail:

1. If you are selected for the Gatton Academy, you will be asked to live, study, and work in a community in which all members contribute. Why do you want to attend the Gatton Academy? Describe the contributions you feel you will make to the Gatton Academy.

2. Describe a project or task you have completed independently. This may include a school activity, an extracurricular activity, a community project, or research. What did you learn from this experience?

3. Living away from home may present significant challenges. Describe a situation in which you have experienced difficulty, overcome adversity, or faced an ethical question. Explain how you coped with this situation and what you learned from it.

4. What evidence do you have of your interests in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)? In which of these fields do you intend to place an emphasis in your studies at the Gatton Academy?

Applicant Recommendations

The Gatton Academy requires the following four recommendations:

• one from a current or former high school math or science teacher;
• one from a current or former high school English or writing teacher;
• one from a guidance counselor, administrator, or someone else in the applicant’s school or community (i.e., a scout leader, youth group coordinator, another teacher) who can comment on the applicant’s general academic aptitude, leadership ability, emotional maturity, integrity, and preparation for the rigorous academic program offered by the Gatton Academy; and
• one from another person of the applicant’s choice.

Your recommendations may be written in one of two methods. All recommendations must be accompanied by the Cover for Recommendation.

Recommendations may be completed on the Gatton Academy Recommendation Form. Copies of this form should be made as needed. Recommendations may also be written as formal letters of recommendation. This option is to allow a person writing a recommendation with a unique relationship to you an opportunity to provide a picture from a more personal perspective than the standard recommendation form allows.

The Gatton Academy also encourages applicants to ask for recommendations from more than these four people to avoid missing the deadline and to ensure that the Admissions Committee receives the applicant’s most representative academic profile; however, please send no more than six letters of recommendation.

Please be sure that those persons completing your recommendations understand the nature and rigor of the Gatton Academy. As a courtesy, please provide individuals writing letters of recommendation with as much time as possible before the deadline. You are encouraged to discuss the academic requirements of the Gatton Academy with those persons completing their recommendations and to direct them to the Gatton Academy website.

To ensure confidentiality and the utmost honesty in assessment, completed recommendations should be submitted directly to the Academy postmarked by February 15, 2010. Completed recommendations should not be returned to you. They should be mailed to

The Gatton Academy
Attn: Corey Alderdice
1906 College Heights Blvd. #71031
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1031

Other Materials

Official High School Transcript

A official transcript of grades from your freshman and sophomore year should be submitted to the Gatton Academy by your guidance counselor. Transcripts should be submitted in January 2010 to include grades for the Fall 2009 semester. Transcripts should be mailed to

The Gatton Academy
Attn: Corey Alderdice
1906 College Heights Blvd. #71031
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1031

Release of Confidential Information

Both you and a parent should review and complete the Release of Confidential Information form. A completed copy will be emailed to you and the Gatton Academy.

Confirmation of the Receipt of Materials

Please confirm all application materials have been received in advance of the February 15, 2010, postmark deadline by visiting the “About Me” tab and clicking “Account” followed by “Inbox”. Materials are logged online in a timely manner as they are received by the Gatton Academy. Should you be concerned that an item has not been received, please send an email to academy@wku.edu or telephone 270-745-6565.

Students are responsible for the completion of the following viewable items:

• Applicant Information in “Profile”
• Applicant Activities and Accomplishments in “Resume”
• ACT, SAT, and/or other exam scores in “Scores”
• Essay Responses in “Journals”

Receipt of the following items sent by mail or otherwise will be noted in the “Private Comments” section:

• Recommendation from Math or Science Teacher
• Recommendation from English or Writing Teacher
• Recommendation from Counselor, Principal, Administrator, or Community Leader
• Recommendation from Person of the Applicant’s Choice
• Official High School Transcript
• Release of Confidential Information
• Official ACT or SAT score report on file with WKU

Review of Applications and Notification

After the February 15, 2010, deadline, the Admissions Committee will review all applications and select students to participate in formal interviews on Saturday, March 20, 2010. Students will be notified by email regarding interviews as close to March 1, 2010 as possible. In early April, the Admissions Committee will select the final 60 students as part of the Class of 2012. Applicants will be notified of their final status by postal mail on or before April 1, 2010.