Some of you may have already conducted interviews (Beacon) or have taken assessment tests (Bard), but the Peril really doesn't start until November 7 and 8.
The Specialized High School Admission Test (SHSAT) takes place this weekend for students without accommodations. Until early December, 28,000 hopeful students will vie for approximately 5,000 seats in eight different schools in the boroughs.
Also, thousands of artful-leaning students begin vying for 600 spots at LaGuardia HS this weekend (who're the rocket scientists that scheduled these two events the same weekend?)
Good luck.
Remember, just do your best, and rank your favorite schools with the highest–required cutoff score as your first choice on the sheet, even if that isn't your real first choice. And be sure to end your list with a school that has the lowest cutoff score, even if you're not interested in it.
There are two reasons for this strategy.
First look at the approximate cutoff scores of the October 2008 test:
Stuyvesant - 563
Bronx Science - 515
American Studies at Lehman College - 502
Queens Sciences - 502
Math, Science and Engineering at City College - 498
Brooklyn Tech - 487<
Staten Island Tech - 485
Brooklyn Latin - 475
Let's say if, in 2008, because you're hesitant about traveling to Manhattan or because you're pessimistic about not scoring high enough, you put Brooklyn Tech first, then Stuyvesant second. The results came in and your score was 569.
Do you know where you would be admitted?
Brooklyn Tech.
Suppose you realized the commute to Stuy wasn't so bad, or you're so pleasantly surprised about how well you did, do you think you can call the DOE and get switched into Stuy, your 2nd choice?
Nope.
This is why the accepted strategy is to put the school requiring the highest score first. All the schools have rigorous, impressive curricula, but you should always aim high.
Second Reason:
It is becoming widely known that students who are accepted to SHSAT schools and LaGuardia hear about not only their specialized high school choice, but also learn which non-specialized school has accepted them.
How this works – specialized high schools send out letters in February. There's a deadline to accept the offer, but it's before the other schools send their notices, which is usually late March. Can't make a decision unless one knows all the offers on the table, can you?
Thusly, those students who are accepted to a specialized HS also receive notices from the other schools in February — a month ahead of everyone else. It is not clear if these students are getting special treatment or if the majority of decisions are made by February, but only SHSAT-takers/LaGuardia auditioners learn the results earlier.
Either way, rank the high ones highest and stick a low one at the bottom of the list. Please note that Brooklyn Latin is an excellent school; it's the reputation of the neighborhood (Bushwick) that keeps some families away.
The whole HS selection process does not seem fair or logical. Perhaps because there are just not enough really good schools that can turn out really good, smart kids. Not enough seats in good schools. So the current New York City HS selection situation is NOT a Great Idea.
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