How does my high school benefit from my going to the Gatton Academy?

Your test scores will be sent to your home school. Any awards or honors you receive (such as National Merit) will be credited to your high school. Additionally, Gatton Academy students will take the CATS exams and complete a senior writing portfolio.  Those scores will be credited to your sending high school.  Educators at your high school should be proud that you have been selected for the Academy. They will have the Academy as an option for addressing your learning needs and interests.

What will a Gatton Academy education offer me?

The Gatton Academy will offer you the opportunity to receive at least 60 hours of college credit and a high school diploma. You will have university professors teaching classes that will allow you to work to your ability. You will have the opportunity to take classes in a broad range of academic interests including humanities, languages, or social sciences, in addition to your focus on math and science. Your interest and ability in math and science will be supplemented with opportunities for research during the academic year as well as in the summer. You will also live with other Gatton Academy students in a residence hall on campus.

Must I live on campus?

All Gatton Academy students will live in Schneider Hall, the residence hall dedicated to the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. At the heart of the Gatton Academy living/learning environment is life in Schneider Hall.  The newly renovated residence hall features a twenty station computer lab, wireless internet, numerous community spaces, and laundry facilities. The residential and academic aspects of the Gatton Academy combine for an overall experience that is unlike most university residence halls. Because the Gatton Academy is more than just your classwork, you will have a community of peers on campus to round out the experience.

Will I take classes with college students?

Yes. All of your classes are WKU classes, taught by professors. Some classes will only be for Academy students, but most will be open to you as well as other students on campus. Remember, you are a college student as well as a Gatton Academy student.

What social activities will I be able to participate in?

Many social activities will be available for students. There will be a full range of club opportunities, and your input and interests are important. You may decide to start a concrete canoe team or a horticulture club with other Gatton Academy students. In addition to clubs, there will occasionally be films or speakers at the Gatton Academy. You are free to attend lectures or events on campus. The Gatton Academy also will have a yearbook and a prom.

What sports are available?

You may participate in some intramural sports at WKU. You will have access to the Preston Health and Activities Center on campus, which is scheduled for expansion in the near future.  Gatton Academy students are unable to participate in KHSAA and NCAA sanctioned sports.

When can my parents visit?

The Gatton Academy will have one closed weekend each month when students return to their homes to spend time with their families as well as two additional travel weekends per semester that students may use for special events or college visits. However, your parents may visit any time it does not conflict with your class schedule.

Where will I eat?

You will have a meal card which allows you to eat at several locations around campus. As part of the Gatton Academy program, students receive a 19-meals-per-week meal plan at no cost.  Fresh Food Company has a variety of traditional dining hall food choices, as well as vegetarian options, sandwiches, international cuisine, and pizza. Subway, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Red Zone, and other food court options have several value meal options available in both the DUC Food Court and Garrett Food Court that may be used with your meal plan.

How much will my family need to pay?

The Gatton Academy, generously funded by the Kentucky General Assembly, will provide room, board, and tuition for students. You will be responsible for your books, travel expenses, and any incidentals.

What safety provisions are in place?

The Gatton Academy has worked very closely with the security consultants during the renovation of Schneider Hall.

Schneider Hall is a secure facility with keyed access and desk clerks posted 24-hours. The Gatton Academy has pioneered an electronic entry system on campus based on each staff member and student’s unique identification card.  These measures ensure only Gatton Academy students and staff members will have access to the building and residential spaces.

Each room is equipped with a landline phone capable of receiving universal “push messages” that can be sent both audibly and visually in crisis situations.

Gatton Academy students will also adhere to a curfew on both weekdays and weekends.  Academy students will sign out when leaving Schneider Hall for locations both on and off campus.  When leaving campus, students must be accompanied by other Gatton Academy students. Gatton Academy students will not be able to have cars on campus.

In addition, members of the WKU Police Department are fully trained and oriented to campus and will be available to respond immediately should an emergency arise.

Will I have access to phones and/or the internet?

Yes. Schneider Hall has both high-speed wireless and LAN internet connections you may use. One landline phone is included in each room. Students may dial long distance from the room by establishing an account with Student Telephone Services. STS will grant each student an access code for long distance and bill the account monthly. Students may also bring mobile phones.

Will I need to bring my own computer?

Because the integration of technology in the learning environment is at the heart of the rigorous Gatton Academy curriculum, you will be provided with a Dell Latitude E6400 notebook computer (image gallery) for the duration of the program.  Each laptop features Microsoft Office, Wolfram Mathematica, Math Lab, and other software that will be of interest and use to Gatton Academy students.  Student laptops are networked to the printer in the Schneider Hall computer lab as well. You may bring your own desktop computer and other peripherals if you so choose.

How much interaction will Gatton Academy students have with regular college students?

Your classes will be regular university classes which may include other students from the Gatton Academy as well as regular college students. Some classes will be cadre classes of only Gatton Academy students. However, most of your social interaction will take place with other Gatton Academy students through planned events and activities.

What are important aspects of the application?

There are three significant portions to your application for the Gatton Academy. Your ACT/SAT score will be used as a predictor of readiness for college level work. The Math subscore is especially important due to the nature of the Gatton Academy academic emphasis. Recommendations that can attest to a strong work ethic will be important. Finally, a select group of students will be invited to interview with Gatton Academy staff  members and other representatives from throughout Kentucky to explain your preparation and readiness for the Gatton Academy environment. One of the goals for the Gatton Academy student population is that it represents Kentucky geographically and demographically.

How can I prepare to attend the Gatton Academy?

You want to make sure that you take the most challenging classes your middle and high school offers. Preparation in mathematics and science will allow you to be ready to do college-level work. You must have completed a minimum of Algebra I and II and Geometry before enrollment.

How many classes will I take each semester?

In order to graduate from the Gatton Academy with 60 hours of credit, you will need to take 15 hours (four to five classes with labs) each semester.  After satisfactory completion of the first semester, you may also choose to take an elective course.

What will a day at the Gatton Academy be like?

A day at the Gatton Academy will include a combination of going to classes, studying, participating in club activities, socializing with friends, eating at campus dining facilities, and many other possibilities.

How can I attend religious services?

Many churches are near enough to the university that you may be able to walk. Other churches have vans that they use to transport students. Bowling Green has a variety of worship opportunities, including churches for most Christian denominations, an Islamic mosque, and a place for Jewish students to gather for worship.

What social and emotional support is available?

The Gatton Academy staff includes the Assistant Director, Counseling Services — a trained psychologist specializing in the social-emotional needs of students who are gifted and talented. Full-time Residential Counselors and part-time Residential Assistants will live in Schneider Hall to assist in planning activities and serve as resources for students. The Assistant Director, Student Life and Residential Life Coordinator also will live in apartments in Schneider Hall. The staff will be well trained in dealing with the social and emotional needs of academically gifted young people.  The Gatton Academy boasts a Student Life staff to student ratio of 8:1.

What are college options for me after I complete my study at the Gatton Academy?

After you graduate from the Gatton Academy, you will have many college options. Members of the staff will work closely with you as you narrow your college search. Other state academies’ directors tell us that their students are sought after by colleges across the country. The future is bright!