SMUS is very strong academically. It offers excellent classes with well qualified and extremely dedicated teachers across all subjects. As a student who is interested in pursuing a career in medicine, I took mostly science classes, such as AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, and AP Chemistry which prepared me extremely well for a program in the sciences at university. I also took AP English Literature, which was rare for a science based student, but nonetheless I really enjoyed the class and appreciated having an opportunity to develop my writing and comprehension skills. I think every single class I took at SMUS from Global Politics and French in the tenth grade to Calculus and Literature in the twelfth grade prepared me for the challenges of a higher education. Teacher were very open an encouraged class discussion and debate. This style of teaching definitely improved my confidence in public speaking as well as being prepared to participate in large university classrooms. In classes like English Literature we frequently had debates and discussions between members of the class and with the teacher. We were encouraged to challenge ideas and to think critically for ourselves, which is something that I had not experienced in a school setting prior to attending SMUS. The classes were often small, ranging from 8 to about 23 students at the maximum. The small class sizes ensured that each student was given the individual learning attention that the needed. Teachers were always available during the day and often before or after school for extra help. They encourage students to their seek help when they need or just to talk if they need an ear to listen. Some of the teachers are also house parents, which mean that they were available for extra help at all times of the day. Some teachers would come in on weekends to assist a student that was either behind due to an unforeseen circumstance or if they were really struggling with a certain topic. After three years, my teachers had become to feel like family to me. They were people I could not only approach for reference letters or help with a difficult math problem, but I could ask them for advice, the same way I would ask a parent or sibling. SMUS definitely challenged you academically, but never to the point where you couldn't handle it. The work load was more than what you would get at a public school. but it was worth every hour that I put in.