NMSI Sessions Stealing Students’ Time

For those taking AP classes, trying to scrounge money to pay for the test can be more stressful than the class. Luckily the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) has offered students a way to not worry about the $93 needed to take the test.

The only requirement is that you have to go to all three study sessions for that particular subject, or complete the study hours in specified tutorial time. While this is a big deal for some people, others are busy on the Saturdays that are chosen for the sessions. Whether it’s a dance competition or another prior engagement, some students simply can’t go to all the sessions.

“It’s a little upsetting,” senior Summer Johnson said. “I have Saturday academies with the SMU Upward Bound program, and I’m missing a lot of important college information because I have to go to these sessions.”

Students sometimes sacrifice these prior engagements in order to go to the sessions, but others aren’t so lucky with their competitions that are absolutely mandatory.

“We are paying for extra curricular activities or paying for other things,” junior Alyssa Mougia said. “I have dance competitions every weekend that the NMSI sessions fall on, and I can’t afford the money to pay [for the AP test].”

There are some ways around the sessions. The fine print is that NMSI only requires 12 hours of study sessions. A student can make up the hours in tutoring with their teacher, but not all teachers offer the hours due to busy schedules or not wanting the added stress.

“I don’t get paid extra to come up with material and teach it after school for four hours; I have papers to grade and other things to do,” AP biology teacher Jodie Like said. “So I’m only able to provide my students with the opportunity to make up one session, and it has to be for a really good reason.”

While the sessions are meant to increase your score and help you get the free credit hours for college, many wish there was wiggle room so it is more accessible for students.

“I wish there was more sessions so if you missed one it was no big deal,” Johnson said. “Last year there were three sessions, and you only had to go to one or two of them. It sucks that they got rid of that, it was so much more convenient.”