As a college preparatory high school, BSM is known for its ability to turn students into college scholars. Through varying levels of classes, such as Advanced Placement, Honors, and standard level, BSM gives many opportunities to grow as a student. However, many students wonder if BSM only cares about sending them off to a good college.
The process of going to college can be stressful as the applications and the deadlines pile up. At BSM those stresses are managed by college counselors who break up the deadlines so the students do not get overwhelmed. “I wouldn’t say the process was super overwhelming because I think they set it up well and they gave us a lot of help,” senior Anna Amaris said.
I honestly feel like BSM doesn’t push people to go to the best colleges enough. I feel like they all often settle for some of the comfort schools.”
— Lucian Gilliss
Although the college process at BSM is very well-managed, BSM likes to keep the students realistic with what schools are “reach” and which ones are “safety” schools. “I honestly feel like BSM doesn’t push people to go to the best colleges enough. I feel like they all often settle for some of the comfort schools,” senior Lucian Gilliss said.
Being a well-known school, BSM is expected to teach skills that could be used later on in a student’s work life. The numerous business classes BSM offers provide a gateway for students hoping to study similar fields in college. Some students say that they would not mind having a choice for a different type of class. “I think that would be a nice change of pace if they had a trade-based class because being handy and mechanical is always helpful,” senior Lucian Gilliss said.
BSM benefits from sending students to 4-year colleges, but students do not feel like Benilde pressured them into attending college. “I think they make you make the decisions. I think it’s pretty open to what you want, which is good and I know they gain from me going to college but I do believe that they want to see me succeed,” junior Tori Hopkins said.
Overall BSM is a business and its job is to get students educated, so they can go to college and have the best employment opportunities in the future. Sure it may be overbearing at times, but students feel that overall they do a really good job of helping out with the stress of going to college, giving students options, and preparing them for what’s to come.