From deadlines to dorm life essentials, moving to the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is not always an easy transition. For many, this is the first time living away from home, balancing college-level courses and living an overwhelming life.
As the Class of 2028 prepares to attend MSMS, seniors are offering advice on adjusting to the inner workings of MSMS and everything that comes with it.
From work service to privilege plans, many incoming juniors might not know where to start. Adjusting to the academic workload can be hard, but many seniors emphasize using the unique support systems of MSMS.
“One of the most important things is to take advantage of tutorials,” senior Lani Carter said.
Tutorials are a distinctive part of MSMS school culture. Daily tutorials, held for an hour and 30 minutes from Monday through Thursday, allow students more opportunities for teacher-student connections as well as one-on-one help from tutors and teachers.
“I didn’t go to tutorials at first; that was a big lesson I had to learn,” Carter said.
Seniors Jane Kasselman and Evan Burgoyne both highlighted the unique activities offered at MSMS.
“There’s so much stuff that you can do at MSMS that you can’t do anywhere else,” Burgoyne said. “It’s really important to take advantage of that.”
Students are allowed to visit the local downtown Columbus, an opportunity Kasselman says is extremely important to take advantage of.
“We have such a nice downtown, [there are] so many events and businesses to go to,” Kasselman said.
However, it is also important to maintain a good work-life balance. With many classes on an advanced or university level, students are often left with a lot of homework and assignments to do outside of class.
“Don’t procrastinate; do your work early and if you can’t, do it on time,” Carter said.
Learning time management is something that comes with practice, but it is important to start early. Keeping track of work and making sure it is turned in on time can be an extremely important adjustment.
“Make sure you put events into your calendar as soon as you know about them,” Burgoyne said.
Work service is another integral piece of the MSMS puzzle. Every student is required to complete a few hours or certain times of the week in which they take care of a part of the campus. This often involves sweeping or mopping the halls, cleaning a classroom or taking care of a certain area on campus.
Work service is an amazing way to form a new connection to the campus, as well as mentors and staff.
“It is really important to get to know your teachers and the people you do work service with,” Kasselman said.
For many, life at the school isn’t about just surviving at MSMS but rather thriving.
“The community is just unmatched,” Burgoyne said.
Coming to MSMS can feel intimidating; there are many new expectations and schedules to learn. But seniors say the transition becomes easier with time and help provided on and off campus. Whether in the dorms or the library, there is always someone around to help.
“No matter where you are, you always know there is someone that will give you a smile or wouldn’t mind you jumping in on their study session,” Kasselman said.
