American Institute Allied with Thornton Academy (AITA)

• Location: Novi Sad, Serbia,
• Year founded: 2022,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of study: mixed.

American Institute Allied with Thornton Academy (AITA) is the European branch of Thornton Academy, a prestigious boarding school located in the United States. AITA is located in a quiet, safe part of the city of Novi Sad, Serbia.

Since its inception in 2022, AITA has been preparing students for a rapidly changing world through a strong curriculum, extracurricular opportunities, pastoral support. AITA operates in accordance with the American secondary education curriculum, offering education from grades 9 to 12, preparation for entering university. The key features of the AITA academic system are to provide individual attention to each student, adapting educational approaches to his or her unique requirements, goals, and ambitions. It is an excellent university prep school, a high boarding school, the six paths of study offered provide a well-rounded educational experience.

AITA uses the Harkness Method, developed at Phillips Academy in Exeter. Philanthropist Edward Harkness created the method in the early 1930s because he didn't believe his lectures resonated with his students. He wanted to change the way we teach through a deliberative, free thought process. Courses are taught at a large oval-shaped table at which students sit together with their teachers.   This method encourages discursive learning, rather than traditional lecturing.
Another important aspect of using this teaching method has to do with the teacher-student relationship: the teacher uses up to 25% of the total number of class participants, and the remaining 75% of the students should be engaged in thinking, discussing, discussing thoughts with the rest of the group. This means that the teacher will need to initiate and supervise student interactions, give them only recommendations, and ensure that they use relevant sources and facts when sharing their opinions and arguments with classmates.

AITA has one academic department that educates high school students in grades 9 through 12.

AITA's Advising Office empowers students to take the lead in deciding where they will go after graduation by providing exceptional support and state-of-the-art resources. Staff help students make a list of various university options, write an application for admission that reflects their beliefs and talents.

An exclusive partnership with Via Academica, their mentors, allows AITA to offer students services such as: 

• Academic, professional orientation at the time of admission and at the end of each academic year,
• Advising on the subjects and level required for successful college admission,
• A detailed offer of college programs around the world,
• Partnership with more than 150 universities, colleges in the USA, Europe with direct admission and scholarships,
• A unique mentoring program for successful admission,
• Access to the Via Academica Alumni network for international students and their parents.

Students are offered accommodation in a comfortable residence. Places are limited, since the residential building is designed for foreign pupils. There are several room options available to students:

• Standard: apartment with two to four single bedrooms, shared bathroom,
• Suite: Single room with private bathroom.

The residential building is equipped with shared kitchens with the necessary appliances, play areas, a living room, and self-study classes. Supervisors live next door to students who provide round-the-clock support, safety, and care.

Residents of the residence are offered a variety of meals, included in the price and served in the AITA dining room. Students can make a plan that suits them with a certain number of portions per day: two, three meals a day, only lunches. For those who do not live in the main building, lunches are available at an additional cost.

The basketball sports program is a feature of AITA. The basketball culture of Serbia pays great attention to the development of the student as a basketball player and his personality. Serbia is a basketball country that boasts a huge number of medals in the world of sports! Coaches from this region are considered some of the most respected, experienced basketball instructors in the world.

AITA staff help student-athletes develop the necessary life skills, characteristics for successful solving, personal and sports tasks, and focus on topics related to leadership in sports.

Some facts about the AITA basketball program:

• Skills Development Program,
• Individual approach to education, nutrition, physical development,
• Practice of analyzing the game situation,
• Educationin groups with different levels of physical fitness,
• Classes with professionals.

AITA students participate in the National League, which consists of more than 30 annual games and three national tournaments. The most successful have the opportunity to get to international competitions - these are four events per season, organized in Greece, Spain, France, and Holland.

• The program is accredited in the United States,
• A flexible curriculum that adapts to each student,
• Mandatory dress code,
• Student-to-faculty ratio is 8:1
• 52% of teachers have higher scientific qualifications,
• The academic program allows you to prepare for ESL, SAT, ACT, TOEFL,
• Five languages available to learn: Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, German,
• Sports courses for extracurricular development.

The AITA campus is located in Novi Sad, in a quiet area of the city, in the middle of parks, public spaces, shops and restaurants. It takes only 10 minutes to get to the central train station, and 45-60 minutes to Belgrade and the international airport.

The infrastructure of the study area includes many rooms with modern equipment: classrooms, computer rooms, specialized laboratories, a library, studios, self-study areas and much more are open to students every weekday. As AITA has a strong program for the education of basketball players, the campus boasts excellent sports facilities: basketball and gyms, equipped for games and installations, having all the necessary equipment.

The academic year contains standard dates for schoolchildren — it lasts from September to June, is divided into two semesters, and includes vacations on national and international holidays. Classes are held on weekdays: from Monday to Friday.

Additional costs include:

• Accommodation, meals on campus,
• Basketball program,
• Additional preparation for exams,
• Some extracurricular activities, activities,
• Registration fee upon admission, deposit,
• Exams
• School uniforms,
• Health insurance,
• Personal spending.

The admission procedure includes several stages:

• Filling out an online application, providing documents,
• Payment of the registration fee,
• Receiving a response from the admissions committee with a decision on admission,
• Making a deposit,
• Arrival at the campus for accommodation in residence, orientation activities.

100% of AITA graduates go on to colleges and universities of their choice.

For international candidates seeking admission to the academic program, SSBM has specific requirements and documentation that must be provided during the application process. These requirements are as follows:

1. Proof of Current and/or Previous Education:

   • Diploma or certificates from your current and/or previous educational institutions.
   • Transcripts or academic records that detail your academic performance.

2. Letters of Recommendation:

   • Three letters of recommendation are required.
   • Two of these letters must be obtained from teachers who can assess your proficiency in mathematics and English.

3. English Proficiency Certificate:

   • Applicants are required to demonstrate their level of English proficiency.
   • Acceptable English proficiency tests include IELTS (with a minimum score of 6.0), TOEFL (with a minimum score of 70), Duolingo (with a minimum score of 95), or an equivalent qualification that meets the CERF B2 level.
   • If the applicant does not meet the English language entry criteria, they may be enrolled in a preparatory language course.

4. Introductory Essay:

   • Applicants must submit an introductory essay that addresses specific questions.
   • The essay should contain 50-word answers to each of the following questions:
     • Describe a typical day at your current school, including extracurricular activities.
     • What are your academic goals and interests, including your plans for high school and university education?
     • Identify a person or event that has had a significant influence on your life.
     • Imagine all your classes were canceled for the day. How would you spend the rest of your day?

5. Personal Documents:

   • Birth certificate.
   • Passport.
   • Proof of health insurance.
   • Visa or residence permit if applicable.

It's important to note that the application deadline for the fall intake is May 31st, and admission decisions will be communicated to candidates by June 15th. International applicants should ensure that they meet all these requirements and submit their application materials in a timely manner to be considered for admission to the program.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision