Getting Into College from Burke Mountain Academy : 2008-2009
Comprehensive School Recommendation
The Comprehensive School Recommendation is based on consultations with each student, and a thorough reading of all Course Evaluations (see below). Because BMA does not provide grades, this document takes on special significance. We have made a strong effort to provide a thorough and objective evaluation for each student.
Personal Qualities
The majority of our students are truly outstanding young people in terms of academic motivation, self-discipline, maturity, and self-responsibility. They are preparing for the highest level of athletic competition, and subsequently learn to deal positively with hard work, high goals, tight daily schedules, and the stress of competition. Our students are also expected to fully engage in the academic rigors of college preparatory classwork. This forces students to become adept at time management. In a variety of colleges and universities our students have consistently met or exceeded the projections we have made.
Student Activities
Burke Mountain Academy has no class elections, no dorm proctors, no student council, and very few additional sports. At Burke, each person has an equal responsibility for strengthening the community. Many schools consider the following list to be extracurricular activities. Burke considers these activities integral to our program. Every Burke student participates in:
- General maintenance of school property
- Helping to set up for and stage major races
- Taking responsibility for his/her own dorm room and common living spaces
- Taking equal turn at kitchen and dining hall duties
- Being involved in Community Service Projects
- Collaborating to create and implement a Senior Service Project
- Participating in community meetings, dances, talent shows, and a general sense of fun
- “Dryland” training in a variety of activities: biking, running, swimming, hiking, and soccer
Student Awards
As a policy, Burke Mountain Academy does not issue academic, athletic, or character awards.
Course Evaluations
Instead of grades teachers write Course Evaluations for each student at the end of each semester. The evaluation summarizes the oral and written comments shared with the student throughout the semester. Specific attention is given both to subject-specific competencies such as critical thinking, written and oral communication, and problem-solving, as well as intellectual character such as collaborative abilities, self-direction & leadership, self-awareness & responsibility, and curiosity & passion. These evaluations are far more thorough than grades and consequently more informative for our students and for college admissions.
2008-2009 Elective Courses
BMA does not offer Advanced Placement or Honors Courses. However, some students exceed the curriculum. Each year, several college-preparatory courses are offered for those students who qualify.
Art History: Concentrating on formal analysis, Art History navigates a timeline of images from the cave paintings of Lascaux, France to the frescoes of the 14th Century. Students will learn to analyze and describe the visual elements of a work of art while investigating the underlying historical, social, and cultural contexts. Emphasis will be placed on critical response and comparative essays. Textbooks include Art History by Marilyn Stokstad and Writing about Art by Henry Sayre, published by Pearson Education.
Linear Algebra: This course sets out to take students seamlessly from systems of linear equations through to vector spaces, matrices and isomorphic transformations. By the completion of this course, students should feel comfortable working in the 4th dimension (or the 12th for that matter); and they should understand how a set with an infinite number of members can fit comfortably inside another set that contains infinitely more members. Textbooks include Linear Algebra (James Hefferon), and College Algebra and Trigonometry (Lial, Hornsby and Schneider)
French 5: This course is a French immersion class with a focus on History and Current Events, with emphasis on perfecting oral and written skills. Cultural content is presented both through historical analysis and current events. Their textbook, “Les Trésors du Temps” (Niveau Avance), provides the outline for the study of history from the Middle Age to the WW II. The program is dense and varied.
