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17 TheSouthShoreMagazine.com of U.S. universities. These numbers are replicated for Cambridge Education in the U.K., which has had a 100 percent placement into universities/colleges for graduating students for over 60 years. How does a school achieve this? The academy makes preparing for college an integral part of junior year. Students will attend a year-long test prep course and a class with one of the school's college counselors to work on essays, prepare for college boards and learn about the interview process and protocol. Upon completion, the counselor will then write a letter of recommendation. "We want the students to be well-versed in what colleges are looking for, as well as what the student him or herself is looking for in a college and career," Gunther said. To ensure students are successful in college, CATS offers 16 advanced-placement courses, covering everything from studio design to physics and mechanics. As the name suggests, Cambridge Arts and Technical and Sciences Academy provides students with a solid education in the arts, technical skills and sciences, with the goal of building a well-versed adult who is confident and knowledgeable in the workplace years from now. Because of this, there are a number of business and arts courses, and it is required that students spend at least a year studying arts (drawing, painting and fashion laboratory). Also, a core course in professional communications or financial management is a graduation requirement. "A lot of kids in my class never had drawing as part of their education," said senior Vidhi Bhanashali, who is headed to Penn State next fall. "Here, it is a class you have to take. And there are some kids who are really talented that didn't know they were." "They don't just prepare you for college here; they prepare you for life as an adult," said Bhanashali's friend and fellow senior, Jeungsoo Noh from South Korea, as he exited a clothing design course. Bhanashali and Noh, who have been at school together since the temporary Newton campus opened four years ago, are part of an original class of 25 students that has flourished into 116 seniors who will graduate on May 26th. "This school does a lot to develop students and help them find their talents," Noh said. "I was always interested in fashion, but I never used a sewing machine before. This is where I learned. We aren't just learning about books. They want you to find your talents here." Noh also started a rock band at CATS. "I always had a dream of being in a rock band," he said. "It has been a great experience being part of one. It's a lot of fun." Students for University Success - "They don't just prepare you for college here; they prepare you for life as an adult," - Jeungsoo Noh