TAMS a family affair for many

Many of the 214 students entering the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science this semester know very little about the UNT campus. Before they arrived Aug. 23, they only visited the campus when they interviewed for admission to the academy and when they attended orientation in June.

But UNT is more familiar to almost one-fourth of the members of the TAMS class of 2003. They are the second or third sibling or cousin in their families to attend the academy.

Forty-two of the students new to TAMS this fall have at least one brother, sister or cousin who graduated from the academy or will be returning this fall for his or her second year.

Brent Jones, director of admissions for TAMS, says in the past five years, about 15 new TAMS students each year became the second or third students in their families to attend the academy. The class of 2003, however, is unusual because of the large number of students related to TAMS graduates or members of the class of 2002.

He doesn't have an explanation for the jump from 15 to 42.

"We haven't done anything differently in recruiting," he says. "I guess we're providing better service to students than we did in the past, and word has gotten around about the success of the academy."

Jones says many students who apply to TAMS first learn about it from other people, rather than from recruiting brochures that are mailed to them. The Academy Ambassadors, a group of current students, speak about TAMS at their old high schools during UNT breaks, and the admissions staff provides incentives for ambassadors to provide names of potential new students, he says.

"Many of them may be recruiting their relatives," Jones says.

Richard Sinclair, dean of TAMS, says parents of current TAMS students or graduates also spread the word.

"We have parents who understand what TAMS really is, and they introduce the program to their other children or children of their relatives."

Students are usually 14, 15 or 16 years old when they enter the academy. Sinclair says parents who have been recently introduced to TAMS may therefore be reluctant to send their sons and daughters to live on a college campus at such a young age.

"If you don't have someone whom you trust to tell you about the program, it can seem scary," he says. "But if your sister's kid attended TAMS and had a glorious time there, you would probably put more trust in the program."

Although students are asked to list the names of any relatives who attended or are attending TAMS on their admissions applications, Jones says his staff removes this information from the applications before he and the admissions selection committee review them.

"We want students admitted on their own merit, not because of the success of an older sibling at TAMS," he says. "Sometimes the last name of a student is recognizable, but I would say that 99 times out of 100, the admissions committee doesn't know of any student's family connections to TAMS."

Many of the 42 new students say their siblings or cousins influenced their decision to leave high school two years early for TAMS.

Dezbah Duchicela of Weimar is the third child in her family to attend the academy. Her brother Keegan graduated in 1999 and her sister Ima graduated in May. "They always told me what a great experience TAMS was socially and educationally," Dezbah says. "I often visited my sister at TAMS, and I was attracted to the different types of people here and the different cultures. My small town doesn't have that, and it got me excited to come here. The whole college atmosphere was also very exciting."

Julie Howe's sister Margaret graduated from TAMS in May. The sisters are from Crowley.

"I saw what a great program TAMS was when I visited her," Julie says. "This is Margaret's first year of actual college, but she seems so advanced compared to other recent high school graduates entering college."

Nainesh Shah from Carrollton said his brother Chirayu, who graduated from TAMS in 1998 and is now in medical school, "changed a lot and became a better person" while in the academy.

"It seemed like a great thing for him and for me, too," Nainesh says. "I want to try to get the most out of the program, learn a lot and have fun."

Jones says siblings of current TAMS students are encouraged to visit them on campus, stay overnight in the residence hall and even attend class.

"If they become TAMS students themselves, they very well know what to expect when they arrive for their first semester," he says. "This gives them an advantage over other students. They also get coaching from their older siblings or relatives on how to write admissions essays and how to study."

Sujal Parikh's cousin Dipen Parikh graduated from TAMS in 1996.

"TAMS has changed a little since he graduated, but my family still looked into it and decided it would be a good option for me," Sujal says. "When I was applying, Dipen told me what to expect and said admission is a hard process."

Howe says her sister gave her a list of things to do while she is at TAMS.

"Number one, read the text before going to class. Number two, rewrite your notes after class. Number three, start reviewing for a test the week before. And number four, start setting aside time to study," she says.

Sujal Parikh says that although his cousin told him that classes at TAMS are harder than high school classes, he's still excited about the fall semester.

"I'm looking forward to saving two years of college and having a more challenging curriculum," he says.

Duchicela's brother and sister were both academic stars at the academy. But she doesn't feel intimidated to follow in their footsteps.

"I want to take advantage of all the opportunities. I'm looking forward to having doors open up to me," she says.

BY NANCY KOLSTI nkolsti@unt.edu

Other web resources

• Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT approves $344.17 million operating budget for 2001-02
• Regents approve system, university appointments
• UNT welcomes expanded e-trans
• TAMS a family affair for many
• Church membership may bridge social distance gap between races, study says
• MC/PAIS gets a name change
• Program combines business, music, journalism
• Faculty members honored at convocation
• Faculty handbook available online
• Faculty Senate meets Sept. 12
• Regents set 2001-02 holiday schedule

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