For eighth-graders and their families who are logging hours pouring over the high school directory, reading school profiles, following the High School Hustle, and trekking all over the city to attend open houses and tours, decision time is here. High school applications are due on Dec. 3 -- and some schools are asking for them even earlier!
Here's are some do's and don't about filling out the application.
- Do be very careful when drawing up your list of (up to) 12 high school choices. You don't have to fill in all the slots. Don't list a school you are not willing to attend. If you get assigned to a school you hate, but listed it on your application, it will be very hard to get placed elsewhere.
- Do rank your favorite school first. There's no need to play guessing games or set up an elaborate strategy. Schools cannot see which students rank them first, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by ranking your top choice number one.
- Don't apply to a school for which you do not qualify. Say you want to apply to a school that accepts only Manhattan residents and you live in Queens — you are wasting a spot on your list if you put it down. Likewise, if a school looks for students with a minimum 85 average or above and your GPA is 70, your chances of getting accepted are slim to none.
- Do keep a copy of your completed application and get a receipt from your guidance counselor when you hand it in. Review the Department of Education’s high school application checklist.
What else should you consider?
- What are the admissions criteria? Some schools require an interview, an essay, or the submission of school work. Make sure you meet all admissions criteria listed in the high school directory. If you just realized that a school you like requires an interview or exam, contact the school immediately to make sure it’s not too late to meet those requirements.
- Small school or large? Small schools offer more personal attention and a sense of community. Teachers get to know students well making it harder for any to slip through the cracks. Large schools tend to have more sports teams, clubs, and courses; more foreign language options, honors and Advanced Placement classes and a range of class settings for kids learning to speak English and students with special needs.
- Fast-track or laid-back? Some schools pile on the homework. Other schools have a slower pace and encourage kids to relax a bit. There’s no right answer here. Think about what’s best for you. Will you thrive in a rigorous and competitive environment? Or, are you more likely to learn and excel when the pressure's off?
- New school or well-established? It’s nice to go to a school with a proven track record. Most new small schools take a few years to establish guidance offices and to develop relationships with college admissions officers, so it can be a gamble to be in the first few graduating classes. However if you’re faced with the choice between an overcrowded, failing neighborhood school or a new untested small school, in general, our advice is go with the small one, if you feel comfortable with the theme and the leadership.
- Theme school or well-rounded curriculum? This may sound obvious, but don’t go to a theme school if you’re not interested in the theme. If you’re not passionate about the arts, don’t go to a performing arts school. Be aware that some of the themes exist in name only. The academics should be solid, whatever the theme.
- How long is the commute? Take a subway (or bus) ride to your preferred school(s) to see if the commute is doable. Think about what it will be like in the rain and snow, or coming home late in the evening after a sports event or a school play. Far too many students discover after a few days of school that they can’t handle a long commute.
- Does your child have special needs? Check out the Department of Education’s guide for high school students receiving special education services.
Tips for students
- Make sure your parent signs off on your application before handing it in. Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into listing a school you don’t want to attend. The guidance counselor shouldn't persuade you to add choices without consulting your parent.
- The more choices you rank, the better your chances of being matched to a school. But, don't list 12 schools if there aren't 12 you want to attend.
- Many large schools offer several programs. If you really want to attend a certain school, apply to more than one program.
- If you have a zoned school, it will be printed on your application. (Manhattan does not have any zoned schools, Staten Island does, as do parts of the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens). You are not guaranteed acceptance there unless you list it on your application. Likewise if you are a "top two-percenter" which counts when applying to educational option schools, this is noted on your application.
- What if you and your parents disagree? We think parents should be involved in the selection, but in the end you’re the one who has to go to the school. Try to talk it through with your parents until everyone is in agreement.
- Don’t let your friends choose for you. No school can accept every qualified student, so it’s likely that friends will attend different high schools. Trust that you will make new friends in high school, whether or not you go with friends from middle school.
More new schools for 2011
Not sure you’ve found a school that’s a good fit? Consider one of the new schools slated to open in September 2011. The DOE typically announces them in February and hosts school fairs where you can meet with representatives from each new school. Check our calendar and the Department of Education’s website for updates. And, if you feel you may have made a mistake on your application, or you change your mind, this will be your window of opportunity to change your application.
