Interdisciplinary Science and Research (ISR) Program Application for Admission - Vanderbilt University
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Interdisciplinary Science and Research (ISR) Program
Application for Admission
Completed applications are to be submitted to Dr. Joshua Swartz at Hillsboro
High School by hand or scanned and emailed to isrturnitin@gmail.com.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and must be submitted no later
than May 17th, 2019.
Programmatic Description
The Interdisciplinary Science and Research (ISR) program is an academically-challenging
four year series of STEM-focused research courses. Its comprehensive hands-on approach to
learning is made possible by a partnership between Vanderbilt University and Metro Nashville
Public Schools (MNPS). At Hillsboro High School, ISR is co-taught by the instructor, Dr. Joshua
Swartz, and a Resident Scientist from the Center for Science Outreach at Vanderbilt (A new
Resident Scientist will be hired to serve in the program this summer, as the current one is finishing
his residency this school year). Dr. Swartz has been with the program since its inception in 2011
and is passionate about science and education. Along with all of the former Resident Scientists, Dr.
Swartz has designed ISR to academically challenge and intellectually engage, which speaks
volumes about the college preparedness of the students that complete it.
During the first year of ISR, freshmen students are challenged to quickly adapt to the pace
and the rigor of the program. Time management, organization, study habits, communication, and
critical thinking skills are emphasized through a variety of themed topics, including nanoscience,
marine biology, neuroscience, and forensic science. Many students that were academically
superior in middle school find themselves struggling to maintain an honor roll grade in the
program because they can no longer simply rely on talent only to carry them. In another words,
the ISR program strives to pinpoint the strengths and areas of improvement of all students so that
with the support of the instructors (and parents) the students can develop strategies and skills to
grow into well-rounded young adults. The keys to success here are for students to be open minded,
be willing to persevere through challenges, and to have an excellent support systems at home.
Those who possess these attributes consistently improve and are highly successful in the program.
In addition, freshmen students are cohorted into an ISR-specific PLT (or advisory) class (in
addition to their ISR class). This class is designed to support and enrich the students through
tutoring and teambuilding.
Interdisciplinary Science and Research (ISR) Program
Application for Admission
Students in the second year of the program are enrolled in two courses (double-blocked).
This allows for thorough, quarterly project-based units to be completed throughout the school
year. In addition to the aforementioned skills above, students are challenged to improve their
collaboration, applied mathematical, and technological skills through these real-world applied
extended projects. For example, ISR students utilize tools such as Microsoft Excel and skills such
as basic statistics to effectively understand the results of survey data they collect during their
sophomore mental health unit. Students also learn to calculate molarity because they need to
prepare their C. elegans treatments at the correct concentrations during their psychology unit. In
addition, students learn the C# coding language during their sports science and engineering units
to improve the functionality of an augmented reality mirror program. For all of these projects,
content knowledge plays an important part; however, the ability to critically evaluate and apply
knowledge is what allows ISR students to thrive. For example, the ISR program’s three-year
average ACT score is 27.7, nearly seven points above the national average and favorably
comparable to MNPS magnet schools.
Junior year of the program serves as a critical transition from learning skills through
structured experiments/projects to learning how to independently design & implement research
during our environmental science and cancer biology units. Due to an amazing collaboration with
Tennessee Technological University, academically-eligible students have the option to take ISR
dual enrollment courses at Hillsboro at no cost (or they may take the honors course instead). Junior
year is also an especially important period of transition for ISR students in the International
Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and Career-Related Program. Their overall academic demands
increase with the introduction of the upper-level IB curriculum. However, the aforementioned shift
towards larger open-ended projects is meant to reduce this pressure by giving students more
flexibility and control over their time. Moreover, the skills and training received through our
program prepare students for success in both ISR and IB. This claim is supported by the fact that
greater than two-thirds of the ISR students enrolled in the IB program earn their diploma: a
percentage well-above Hillsboro’s overall IB diploma success rate.
Interdisciplinary Science and Research (ISR) Program
Application for Admission
During the summer between junior and senior year, students can apply to participate in a
research internship at Vanderbilt University through the Research Experience for High School
Students (REHSS) program. This is another awesome opportunity made possible through
participation in ISR. At this a six-week internship, students work side-by-side with scientists on
their lab’s research projects. For instance, one student partnered with a computer science lab to
design an augmented reality tool for use in physics education. Their software program uses a
motion tracking camera to monitor, measure, and record motion. The device will be used with the
ISR sophomores as they study velocity and acceleration during their sports science unit. This
provides yet another example of how ISR offers students research experience and an exceptional
resume booster for college applications.
The ISR program culminates senior year when the students are given access to our well-
equipped classroom and a hundred-dollar budget and tasked with developing an independent
research project. A student can expand on a project from a previous year or take on a novel topic
of their choice. These projects are ambitious. Student must write a grant proposal, effectively pitch
their project, and then actualize their ideas. At this point, students are working autonomously. The
instructors are there to provide guidance and mentorship, but each student must take ownership
of his or her project. To succeed, seniors must use all of the skills they have learned in the program.
The difficulty of the task emphasizes daily accountability and perseverance. Frequently, the
students learn the most from having to creatively adapt to unforeseen challenges: a day-to-day
mandate of many high achieving careers. After completing their project, student present their
findings to a community wide audience at the Hillsboro research symposium. This symposium is a
showcase for our students’ tremendous achievements and the high-water mark of the program.
Hundreds of opportunities for personal growth are intentionally folded into the ISR
program. ISR students have the talent, skills, and character to prosper in college. Yet, our ultimate
goal is to help our students achieve personal success on their way to being upstanding citizens. If
this sounds ambitious, please know the ambitions of ISR were not born out of naivety. They were
realized as the result of the possession of the very attributes discussed above by all of the people
who have invested in the program.
Interdisciplinary Science and Research (ISR) Program
Application for Admission
Student Information
Legal Last Name Legal First Name Middle Name Preferred Name
Mailing Address City Zip Code
Gender: _____ Female
Date of Birth Current Age Student Email Address _____ Male
Current School Current Science Teacher’s Name
List other school(s) this student has attended over the last two years (also include approximate dates of attendance)
Student Race/Ethnicity (check all that apply):
Hispanic or Latino Black or African American
American Indian or Alaska Native White
Asian Other: ______________________
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Parent/Guardian Information
Primary Contact:
First Name Last Name Primary Email Address
Mailing Address (if different from applicant) City State Zip Code
Home Phone Cell Phone Relationship to Applicant
Student Name:
Interdisciplinary Science and Research (ISR) Program
Application for Admission
If accepted to the ISR Program, I agree to adhere to the following enrollment requirements:
Attend each class/laboratory day and session as required, missing only for medical or emergency
reasons.
Commit to staying in the program throughout my high school career at Hillsboro High School.
Maintain high achievement in all my coursework, including other high school courses.
Demonstrate excellent professionalism and positively represent the ISR program.
In addition, you acknowledge that have read the provided Programmatic Description and clearly
understand the expectations of the program.
Student Signature Date
The undersigned agrees that the information furnished on this application form is accurate and
forthcoming.
I hereby grant permission and consent for my son/daughter to submit an application to the ISR Program. If
accepted to the program, I understand that my child will need my full support and understanding to
complete all the requirements.
I, the undersigned parent/guardian, approve the release of my child’s records to complete his/her
application to the ISR Program. I understand that all information and materials of any kind received or
prepared by anyone for this application shall be completely confidential.
__________________________________________ _____________________________________ _________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name (printed) Parent/Guardian Signature DateInterdisciplinary Science and Research (ISR) Program
Application for Admission
Application Questions
We are very pleased that you are applying to the Hillsboro High School Interdisciplinary Science and
Research (ISR) Program and would like to get to know you better.
Please answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper, typed and double-spaced. Give
consideration to grammar and spelling.
Dr. Swartz believes that science is awesome! Using your personal experiences, explain why you agree
with this statement. Be specific and thorough.
Based on the information in the attached Programmatic Description along with any other information
you have regarding the ISR program, thoroughly evaluate what skills you believe are necessary to be a
successful ISR student.
Self-improvement is one of the core principles of the ISR program. Considering this, identify three ways
that you would like to improve. Specifically address how you will leverage your enrollment in the ISR
program to improve in these areas.You can also read
