A Summer Filled With Learning Attracts Princeton Students to Governor's Schools

This summer, three Princeton students – Sabina Beri, Anson Hook, and Michael Costa – willingly chose to do what most high schoolers dread: study. And not only did they forgo a month of their vacation, they attended what is arguably one of the most competitive and intense programs in the state, the New Jersey Governor"s Schools. A fourth Princeton student also attended the Governor's School but could not be reached for this article.

"The Governor's School was the most amazing and rewarding experience of my life," said Sabina Beri, a rising senior at Stuart County Day School of the Sacred Heart, who attended the International Relations School at Ramapo College in Mahwah.

Governor Tom Kean founded the Schools in 1983 in order to provide more academically and artistically challenging opportunities to intellectually and creatively talented students. The highly selective programs are only open to students who have completed their junior year of high school. According to the director of the School of the Sciences at Drew University, Dr. David Miyamoto, out of the several thousand initial applications, only about 85 scholars were admitted to the School of the Sciences.

The programs are entirely free and all are approximately one month in duration. Currently, there are six schools: Public Issues, Arts, Sciences, Environment, Engineering and Technology, and International Relations. All are located at universities within New Jersey.