Applying to the FTHS BioScience Academy

The Bioscience Academy is designed specifically for students preparing themselves for careers in the life sciences – which includes health care and the diverse world of the biosciences. As a result, students must go through an application process in which they acquire teacher recommendations and have interviews with BioScience Academy staff.

• Download BioScience Academy Application Cover Sheet and Directions
• Download BioScience Academy Application
• Download BioScience Academy Teacher Recommendation

If interested in applying, please review carefully this application webpage and follow the instructions for submission. Selection is based on student performance in class- particularly work ethic, demonstrated ability, teacher input and interest in the field.

• Recruitment Presentation

It is important to have a diverse group of students who are all interested in seriously preparing for a future in scientific fields.

CRITERIA FOR ADMITTANCE

9th grade First Semester Grades (20%):

1. Their GPA will be multiplied by 5 points.
2. This category is weighted at 20%

Teacher Recommendations (30%):

1. Students record their schedule on their application
2. All freshmen teachers will be emailed with a list of their students who are applying to the Academy
3. They will rank each student in three categories: Academic Excellence (ability to handle rigor, critical/analytic thinking ability), Work ethic (responsibility/quality of work), Peer Relations (ability to work in a group and get along with others).
4. Each category is ranked from 1 – 10 points = 30 points
5. The students final score will be calculated by summing all of the teacher responses and dividing by the number of teachers who responded
   1. Teacher Recommendation Form

Standardized Test Scores (10%):

• 600 possible per test: divide total by 1200 x 10 pts=

  1. Raw Score is based on percentiles in Math and English.
  2. If a student is a private school alumnus, then their teacher recommendations and GPA will be weighted an additional 5% each

Written Essay (40%):

1. Four essays are scored on a 1 – 10 scale. One person will score all of one essay type for consistency.
2. This category is weighted at 40%.

There are other relevant aspects to the selection process.

Interview:

• This is a crcial measure to assess the intention of the student, maturity level, backuground, etc.
  

Diversity:

• It is important to have an Academy that reflects the socioeconomic and demographic picture of Foothill Technology High School and to offer opportunity to all who are interested and are responsible enough to handle the added requirements.
  

Selection:

• Only 36 students are chosen for each group, known as a cohort,  due to the limited amount of space in both the classrooms and in the Master Schedule. Only one section of each course can be offered, because we simply do not have a large enough staff to offer more sections and still run the core courses necessary for the high school.
  

Waiting List:

• Students who are not admitted will be placed on a waiting list and if students in the cohort elect not to continue the following year, these waitlisted students on the list will have an opportunity to join the program if still interested.