A Comprehensive Guide To Applying To Public High Schools

The High School selection process is one of the most critical moments in your  education and possibly your life. High School is the first time that you’ll be able to explore your interests and possible career paths. It’s essential that you choose a high school that will fit your needs and interests to help you properly prepare for college and life. Here’s a guide that will help you find a high school that’s right for you. It’s a pretty long read so we have broken it down for you into different sections.

• Our NYC High School Admissions Tool

• What to Consider When Applying to Schools

• Types of Schools

• Types of Admissions

• How to Apply

---

Our NYC High School Admissions Tool

Looking for schools you may be interested in can be a daunting and difficult task! Luckily, Synergy Prep has made that task easier for you. By pulling information from the DOE (attendance, graduation rate, safety rate), we have created a NYC High School Admissions tool that evaluates and ranks all the NYC schools to help you find schools that fit your interests and academic standing. Here’s a guide on how to use it: 

Step One 

Choose the boroughs that you are interested in attending high school in. Then, select your middle school and home school district. If you do not know this information, you can find it here. This will help narrow down any schools that you have admission priority in. Here’s a provided example for you: 

Step Two 

Select all the areas of interest you have. If you’re not sure what interests you, click ‘Select All’. This feature will match you with career-based schools that offer programs related to your interests. \

Step Three 

Input your 7th-grade scores for each subject. All grades should be inputted out of a 100, while your state test scores should be inputted out of 4.5. This will narrow down which screened schools you will be able to apply to. 

Step Four

A list of up to 25 schools will appear. Everything under “Best Overall Programs in All of New York City” will show you the best high schools in the city that you qualify for. The next section includes school programs based on your search criteria. The last section provides safety schools that you will most likely get into. Each recommendation provides the program name, a description of the program, the program code, and any required minimum grades (if any) and test scores needed to get in.

If you are wondering why a particular school didn’t show up, it is most likely because you are not eligible for it, or your search criteria excluded the school. Remember that this list is not definite! While this is an excellent way to find possible high schools you are interested in, you should do more research into these schools to make sure its the right choice for you. You should also look into any other schools that are not on the list that interest you. 

---

What to Consider When Applying to Schools

Statistics

You should look into statistics relating to graduation rates, attendance, school safety, and test scores (SAT, AP, and regents). These measures will provide you with an understanding of how passionate and diligent the student body is. The more passionate and diligent the student body is, the easier it will be for you to develop and grow academically while exploring different interests. Schools work to fit the needs and wishes of their students. If the student body is not motivated, the school will see no reason to provide them with upper-level classes and unique opportunities.

If you are a student who prefers one-on-one teaching, you should look into class sizes. Smaller class sizes will mean that the teachers will be able to help you more and adapt to your personal needs. Larger class sizes usually correspond to a greater variety of extracurriculars and courses because there will be greater diversity in student interests. You can find all these statistics here and in your High School Admissions Guide. 

Upper-Level Courses 

Upper-level courses, such as AP courses and electives, will give you a head-start in your field of interest and strengthen your college application. AP classes are taught at the level of college introductory courses and at the end of the year they can be counted as college credit after taking the AP exam for that subject.

These credits will allow you to save money and get a head start in college as you will be able to move onto higher-level classes as a freshman. Other college-level electives will give you a more focused study into specific subjects, like Nutritional Science or Software Engineering. You can find a list of the AP classes offered by a school here under the Academics tab, in your High School Admissions Guide, or directly on the school’s website. 

Extracurricular Activities 

Extracurricular activities encompass clubs, teams, and student governments you participate in outside of school time. These activities cover a range of interests, like debate, football, or even video games. You can use these activities to strengthen your career, academic, or recreational interests. Extracurriculars will also help you stand out from other college applicants and will show them a holistic view of your interests.

Make sure to look into what types of clubs and teams there are at your prospective school. If you can’t find any schools with an activity that interests you, look into if you can start your own club or team at your prospective schools. You can find this information here under the Activities tab, your High School Admissions Guide, or directly on the school’s website. 

Commute

Another critical point of consideration is the commute time. If your club or team practice ends at 6 PM and you live about 2 hours away, you will be home by 8 PM. This gives you little time to complete your homework, study, and rest properly before having to get up before 6 AM to get to school on time. You can check how long it will take you to get to your schools by using the direction feature on Google Maps. You can find more information on what to consider here. 

---

Types of Schools

There are a variety of public high schools, all of which have their own unique characteristics and goals. To help you understand each kind of high school and choose the one best suited for your interests and goals, here is a list of some types of programs outside of regular public schools: 

Specialized High Schools

Specialized High Schools are nine prestigious high schools within NYC that have gifted students. These schools include Stuyvesant High School, Bronx High School of Science, Brooklyn Technical High School, Brooklyn Latin, High School of American Studies, High School of Math, Science, and Engineering, Staten Island Technical High School, LaGuardia High School of the Arts, and Queens High School for the Sciences. These schools receive ample funding from the Department of Education, allowing them to offer more extracurriculars and courses. 

Their reputations also give them prestige among top colleges, giving their students an upper hand to get into the best colleges. For example, the top ten universities can recruit about 20% of the students at a selective school such as Stuyvesant vs. 0-2% at a local school. Acceptance to eight of these schools is based solely on your SHSAT score. LaGuardia High School only accepts students based on auditions or portfolios. Speak to your guidance counselor in September on how you can take the exam or get an audition. To help decide between specialized high schools and regular public high schools, read this. 

Early College 

Early College High Schools allow you to graduate with both a high school degree and an Associate’s Degree at no extra cost. The credits for the Associate’s degree can then transfer to your future college, giving you up to a two-year head start in your college education. A prominent early college high school is Bard Early College High School. You can find a list of early college high schools by searching “Early College” here. 

Career-Based Schools 

Career-based high schools are schools that specialize in career programs. If you know what career field you want to go into, you should look into these schools. Each program provides students with distinct curriculums, internships, mentors, and shadowing opportunities specific to the different career fields it offers. There are over 130 schools with 260 programs of study to choose from. You can find out more about these programs here. To find Career-based schools, click here, or search “CTE” in the search engine here. 

---

Types of Admissions

To understand how to apply to high school, you must know the different types of admission:

Testing

This form of admissions only looks at the student’s score on the SHSAT. The only schools that use this type of admissions are eight specialized high schools. To attend these schools, you must schedule to take the SHSAT, and rank the high schools in the order of your preference during the exam. You can find more information on the SHSAT and specialized high schools here.

 Screened or Audition 

Schools using this form of admission rank students based on selection criteria. These selection criteria may include assessments, portfolios, essays, state test scores, grades, auditions, interviews, and/or academic records. Schools do not use all of these, but rather a combination of a few to evaluate each applicant. Students are then admitted based on their ranking, the highest-ranked being admitted first.

It’s important to note that some of the best high schools in the city are screened schools, such as Beacon High School, NEST+m, and Townsend Harris High School. Make sure to keep track of deadlines and test dates when applying to these schools. All of this information can be found on your MySchools account or on the school’s website. You can find a list of audition dates for art schools here.

Education Optional 

Ed. Opt. programs are designed to admit students from a wide variety of academic standings. While some schools rank students based on academic records, others rank students randomly. Some schools also use admissions priorities, giving certain students first priority to offers. Admissions priority is usually based on the school district, borough residents, or if the student attended the school from K-8. 

Zoned

Zoned schools give priority and sometimes even guaranteed offers to students based on where you live. To find your zoned school, type your address into the top search engine, and change the filter to ‘Zoned’ here. 

Open 

Open schools are schools that do not have any admissions requirements. Students are ranked solely on their priority group and given a randomly assigned number. Depending on your academic performance, it might be wise to have one open-admission school listed on your application as a safety. 

---

How to Apply

Now that you know what to consider and how to find possible schools, you can now apply to the programs. Here are some guidelines on application timelines and how to use myschools.nyc to apply. 

Application Timeline 

June-August: Start exploring schools you may be interested in online and on MySchools. Attend high school family workshops and begin to prepare for any high school entrance exams you need to take if you haven’t already. 

September-November: Attend high school fairs and open houses. To find a list of open house dates and times, click here and look under the ‘View Our Open House’ tab, or check the calendar on the website of the school you are interested in. Meet with your guidance counselor to gain access to your MySchools account and discuss your options. From here, you can save up to 25 of your favorite programs, add up to 12 programs to your application, and schedule any tests and interviews you may need to complete for your application. If you wish to attend a specialized high school, register for the SHSAT, get your ticket, and take the test. This is the same procedure for Laguardia’s auditions, the only difference being the completion of an audition instead of the SHSAT. You can apply to take both the SHSAT and audition. 

December: Through MySchools, your guidance counselor, or a Family Welcome Center, send in your application by December 2nd. If you have any assessments, submissions, or interviews scheduled after this day, make sure to complete them on time.

March: Get your offer letter. This letter will include your high school offers, your SHSAT score, and any offers to a specialized high school. Note that if you auditioned for Laguardia and took the SHSAT, you may see two specialized high school offers (one from Laguardia and one based on your SHSAT score). 

You can find this timeline when you log into your MySchool account and in the form of a checklist here. To help keep track of things, you should print it out and check off each as you complete them. Noting submission due dates, test dates, and interviews in a calendar can help you keep track of when things should be done by. 

The Application 

You can apply to high schools in three different ways: your guidance counselor, Family Welcome Centers, and MySchools. Guidance counselors can help you apply to high schools during and after school hours. You can apply in person at Family Welcome Centers, where you can find translators to help you if English is not your first language. However, you can only use this method during the times the center is open. MySchools is the online option for the application that you can complete by yourself. It is running 24/7, so it is always accessible. Listed below is a guide on how to use this website. 

Finding Schools 

To find programs that match your needs, use this function on the website. You can use filters like subways, school size, sports teams, eligibility, borough, admissions method, uniform, and diversity to narrow your searches. Make sure to click the ‘Eligible’ filter to get a list of schools that you can list on your application. You can also use the search engine provided to search names of schools, types of schools, and your interests. For example, if you search ‘Medicine’,  a list of schools that have medical programs will appear. 

After clicking on the school’s name, you will be provided with information on the school. The school’s address, contact info, school size, class times, and any transportation methods will appear directly under the name. The overview will give the school’s mission and a brief summary of what makes it different from others. 

Under the Performance tab, you will find statistics on graduation rates, college enrollment, attendance, and safety. Under the Academics tab, you see all AP classes, college-level electives, languages, diploma endorsements, and ELL programs offered by the school. The Activities tab will show what sports teams the school has. You can find other information and accessibility information under the ‘Other Features’ and ‘Accessibility’ tabs.

By clicking on the names of programs, you can get a brief overview of the program. There is sometimes an Eligibility tab that shows you who is allowed to apply for the program. The Admissions Method tab will show you how students are chosen, who the priority groups are if there are any, and the Demand. The Demand section indicates how many applicants there were per seat, how many seats there were, how many applicants there were, and if the seats were all filled last year.

This gives you an idea of how many students you are competing with for an offer at that school. If it is a screened program, the Admissions Method tab will also provide you with information on what schools look at to rank students. The Additional Information tab will have extra information you may need, like if they take transfer students or the interest area of the program. If you are interested in the program, you can click the star to favorite it. This does not add the school to your application but instead saves it so you can find it easily later. 

It’s important to note that some schools recruit a majority of their students or students exclusively from certain boroughs or school districts. Do not apply to schools that do not recruit from your residence or school district. The DOE doesn’t tell you that you have no chance, it just says you are in the lowest priority.

Check the handbook to find the actual recruitment percentage from your district and borough. The rule of thumb is not to apply to a school program that recruits less than 30% of their applications from your residential priority group. For example, if you live in district 10 and the school recruits 99% from District 2 alone, DO NOT APPLY since it is a wasted application.

Submitting Your Application

You can build your application on the ‘Apply’ and ‘Your Application’ page. You can move programs from your favorites list (located on the right side of the page) to your application by clicking the “+Add” button or by dragging it to your application. You can also search for program names and directly add them to your list from this page.  You’re allowed to apply to up to 12 programs. Make sure to order them based on preference, with the first program on your list being the one you wish to attend the most.

High schools will not see your application choice order, so they will not know if they are your first or twelfth choice! However, you will be offered seats based on your order. For example, if you do not get into your first choice, then you will be considered for your second choice. Remember, you can only be accepted to one school from this list. If you wish to look at program details, you can find them by clicking on the program name. You may change your list as many times as possible before submitting it. Note that you should not add any specialized high schools to this list as they use a separate application given to you during your SHSAT test.

When composing this list, make sure that you are eligible for the programs you are applying to. You can check your stats (grades, attendance, school district, etc.) after clicking the ‘Edit Profile’ button on the homepage after logging in. Make sure all your information is correct. If it is not, speak to your guidance counselor to get it fixed. Then, you can check eligibility for a program by hovering over the circle to the right of the program name and by clicking ‘My Chances’ under the program details. If you’re not eligible to apply for a program, the circle to the right of the program name will be red, and you will not be able to add them to your application.

If you are applying to a screened school, remember that they have their own admissions requirements and their own respective application deadlines. Make sure to take note of any specific deadlines, such as essays, exams, or portfolio submissions by visiting the school's website that you are interested in applying.

Mark these submission dates in your calendar and make sure to get these done and submitted by the due date. You should also take note of and RSVP for any tests, interviews, or auditions dates and begin preparing for them. You can also find this information on MySchool under ‘Your Key Dates’ on the right side of the homepage of the website after you log in.

After talking with your parents and guidance counselors and reaching a final decision, submit your application by clicking the ‘Next’ and then ‘Submit Application’ buttons before your deadline on December 2nd. You’re finally done! 

You will receive your offer letter in March. From there, you can make a final decision on where you want to spend the next four years of your life. Remember that not getting into your dream high school will not ruin your life and chances of getting into college. Although the features offered by a program or school may seem beneficial, it is ultimately up to you how hard you work and excel in academics.

A student at a smaller, lesser-known school may do a lot better academically and get into a better college than a student at a more prominent, prestigious high school. If you are still having trouble with applying to high schools, Synergy Prep offers high school application counseling. We also provide SHSAT tutoring for any students wishing to take these exams. 

Why Does the Common Core Exist?

What is Common Core?

The Common Core is not a curriculum. It is a guideline of what children in each grade should know by the end of the school year. They are shared goals and expectations among educational institutions using the Common Core that set grounds for knowledge and skills that will help students succeed. Unlike its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act, it focuses on developing a child’s critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving. These skills are meant to ensure that students can succeed later in life no matter what they plan on doing. 

The Common Core puts a greater emphasis on math. Rather than race over numerous topics, the Common Core aims to focus on fewer concepts in detail. Academic success does not come from learning hard topics at a young age, but rather from having a deep and authentic understanding of the material. When following the Common Core, students strengthen foundations, understandings of fundamental topics, and procedural skills so that they feel confident in using the concepts both inside and outside of the classroom. Each grade focuses on a few math concepts in detail for the entirety of the school year. For example, third graders focus on multiplication, division, and fractions. You can find the math standards for each grade here. Each year, the math is meant to build on itself. For example, after learning the basics of fractions in the third grade, students go on to learn how to add and subtract fractions in the fourth grade. This method reinforces major math topics and builds students understanding of topics gradually. 

Along with building reading and writing skills, the Common Core aims to build the complexity of the texts the students can read so that they can understand any text they encounter in the future. To achieve this skill, the Common Core focuses on building vocabulary as the years go on. Not only do the students learn new words, but they also learn the nuances of words and learn to use context clues. Teachers using the Common Core are also expected to expose their students to multiple different genres, with each grade focusing heavily on one. For example, sixth-grade students are expected to focus mostly on myths. This is done to build students’ familiarity with different types of texts. About fifty percent of students’ readings are informational and are surrounding subjects like history and science, allowing the children to develop strong general knowledge. Unlike before, students are now focused more on text-based writing rather than narrative writing. This change is meant to hone the analytical skills they will need in college, career, and life. 

Who Was Is It Implemented By?

The Common Core was created in 2009 to tackle the stagnation of the United States’ academic progress and regain its international status of academic rigor. This was caused by states having different levels and standards they teach. No states agreed on what a student should know by the end of a grade. In order to fix this, state leaders and educators came together to create the Common Core using the most effective standards from across the country and the world. So far, 41 states, multiple territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity have adopted the Common Core. You can check if your state or territory uses the Common Core program here. Because it was not made by the federal government, states decide if they want to use the program or not. Each state is also allowed to change the program so it fits the needs of their students. Schools also have flexibility with how they choose to teach the lessons. 

What Is the Future of the Common Core?

The Common Core focuses on students’ understandings of the concept rather than how many concepts they know. This has shown positive results and has led to the Common Core being picked up by more and more states. It is flexible and constantly evolving to fit the needs of the students. As students grow older and end school, we will be able to fully see the effects of the Common Core. 

If your student is having trouble at school, Synergy Prep offers Common Core tutoring services for grades 2-8. Click here for the Common Core program brochure.

SAT vs GPA: Which Is More Important?

Which is weighted more?

Overall, the SAT is weighed more than your GPA. While the amount your SAT score is considered by admissions officers is different for each college, it is generally weighed as 30-40% of your application. This is because the SAT compares you to students all over the nation, while your GPA only compares you to students in your school. Although GPAs give an understanding of all four years, it can be untrustworthy as workers at schools are the ones computing them. This makes the GPAs biased as the school may inflate them to improve their look to parents of eighth-graders and college admissions officers.

Different schools also teach the same classes at varying levels of difficulty. A biology course in one high school may not be as hard as a biology course at another. An unweighted GPA does not account for the rigorousness of college-level classes. This means that even if Sunny took more rigorous and honors classes, he may have a lower GPA than Washif, who did not take any. On the other hand, the SAT is unbiased because it is administered and graded by a third party, the College Board, and is the same test and level of difficulty for every student across the nation. Also, colleges tend to favor students with high SAT scores because it boosts their statistics, increasing their rankings in and making them look more selective. 

The 4 Scenarios 

Here we’ll talk about your chances and what your SAT and GPA show about you. We’re defining a high SAT score as a 1450 or above. 

High SAT and High GPA

This is the most favorable situation to be in. It shows colleges that you are ready for college-level courses and are hardworking. Make sure to work on the other aspects of your application, essays and extracurriculars, to ensure a higher chance of acceptance to your dream college. 

High SAT and Low GPA

If your SAT score is high, but your GPA is low, admission officers will most likely look over your GPA. They may take your GPA as a sign that you were not adequately engaged or challenged in high school, but your SAT scores prove that you are capable of college-level courses. You should still try to boost your GPA as much as you can to increase your chances of getting in. 

Low SAT and High GPA

Generally, this shows admissions officers that you are diligent and hard working. A low SAT score questions your aptitude and if you are ready for the level of difficulty of college classes. They may also be suspicious about how the school calculates the GPA and if it is inflated. If you have not sent your applications in already, take the SAT one more time. Be sure to study a better way than you had for your previous test. Here are some tips on how to improve your SAT score. If the SAT is not working out for you, try taking the ACT instead. Both are standardized tests that measure aptitude, but the material and structure of the two tests are radically different. If you decide to take the ACT, keep in mind that there are a few colleges that do not accept ACT scores. Check to see if the colleges you are applying to accept them. 

Low SAT and Low GPA

If you are in this position, you should consider taking the SAT one more time and improving your GPA as much as possible before you send your applications. Here are some tips on how to improve your SAT score. If the SAT is not your cup of tea, try taking the ACT. However, if you take the ACT, you should check to see that the colleges you are applying to accept ACT scores. You should make sure your Common Application essay and supplements are perfect. Many colleges take students with a low SAT score and GPA if their essay and supplements are extremely well-written and compelling. Here are some tips to help you with your college essay. You should ask your college counselor if your state has any programs that help students who are economically and academically disadvantaged but have potential. These programs provide students with tutoring and resources to improve their application. A number of esteemed colleges accept students from these programs. In New York, there are two of these programs, EOP and HEOP.  

Conclusion

Although the SAT is weighed more than your GPA, do not overlook that aspect of your application. A good GPA shows that you are dedicated, focused, and diligent. When combined with your transcript, your GPA shows your improvement over time. These are all qualities that admissions officers are looking for in future students. If you and another applicant have similar SAT scores, the one with the higher GPA and better application will be chosen. Remember that college applications are holistic, so put as much effort as possible into all parts of your application—SAT, GPA, essays, and extracurriculars—to ensure that you have a higher chance of getting into your top colleges. 

Specialized High Schools vs Regular Public High Schools

High school is the next big step in your academic career. Choosing where you’ll spend the next four years of your life is a hard decision. One thing that you should consider when choosing high schools is whether you want to go to a Specialized High School or a regular public high school.  You can find out more about which schools would be the best fit for you by clicking here. Specialized High Schools, unlike other public high schools,  can provide their students with a strong education through their ample funding and strong alumni network. The only admission requirement for eight of these high schools is the SHSAT test. Unlike the other specialized high schools, Laguardia High School requires an audition or portfolio for admission. Without further ado, here are the main differences between Specialized High Schools and regular public schools: 

AP Classes:

Advanced Placement Courses are introductory college-level courses you can take in high school. After taking an AP course, you can take the AP test in May. Based on this score, you may receive college credit for the course. This can help you get a headstart in college. Specialized High Schools tend to offer more AP classes than regular high schools. Most also require you to take at least one before you graduate and replace regular courses with AP courses. Many, like Stuyvesant High School, also teach their basic courses at the AP level, making you prepared to take the AP test by the end of the course. Look into what AP courses are offered at any school that you are interested in. 

Electives:

Electives are classes focused on one field or subfield of a subject (i.e. Neurobiology or Multivariable Calculus). Taking these electives can further your knowledge in a field you are interested in, giving you a headstart. It can also differentiate you from other applicants when you are applying to college. Taking difficult courses (college-level electives) and electives in a field you may want to major in will strengthen your college application when the time comes. Because they get more funding, Specialized High Schools offer countless electives. Generally, you can find a list of electives that the school offers on their website. 

Curriculum:

You can also look into schools whose curriculum is specialized in one field. For example, the Bronx Academy for Software Engineering’s curriculum focuses on software engineering and computer science. Multiple schools, like Brooklyn Tech, has a major system. Major systems allow you to choose from a variety of different majors or paths and take courses related to that major. For example, students at Brooklyn Tech in the Architecture major may take courses related to drafting and AutoCAD. You should also consider choosing between STEM and the liberal arts. Schools like Bronx Science specialize in the STEM fields, while schools like Brooklyn Latin specialize in the humanities.

College Preparation:

The ultimate goal of high school is to get into your ideal college. You’ll want to go to a high school that prepares you well for what’s ahead. Make sure the high schools you’re going to have a designated college office that works to help you get into your choice of college. These offices will provide you with resources, like help with college applications and organizing college trips. You should also consider going to a school with a good reputation. Specialized High Schools have a good reputation among top colleges for providing good students. This makes colleges more likely to accept students from Specialized High Schools. The rigorous curriculum at Specialized High Schools makes you prepared for the difficulty of college. Students who have graduated from Specialized High Schools and moved onto college have noted that college is easier than high school.

Clubs/Teams: 

Extracurricular activities are activities you do outside of the classroom, including clubs, teams, and student governments. Participating in them will strengthen your college application. Based on your extracurriculars, colleges can have a holistic understanding of who you are as a person and your goals. Extracurriculars can also help you get involved in activities that strengthen your knowledge in your academic and career interests. Schools with more funding have more extracurriculars because they can spread money to support their clubs and teams. 

Competitiveness: 

The social environment of your school can heavily influence your grades and achievements in high school. You will want to consider what type of environment works best for you. Do you thrive in a competitive environment or do you prefer less pressure?  You may also want to consider the fact that while you may be at the top of your middle school, going to a specialized high school, like Stuyvesant will most likely mean you are no longer at the top. This is known as the small fish in a big pond effect. The opposite effect is known as the big fish in a small pond. If you go to a smaller school, you are more likely to stand out and be at the top. Factors that you should look into when determining the competitiveness of a school are the class sizes, number of students per grade, graduation rate, and the percent of students that take college-level courses. However, you should think about who you want to be surrounded with. Even if you are no longer the top student, you will be surrounded by people who are as driven as you, pushing you to work harder. 

The Best Non-Specialized Public High Schools

The best non-specialized public high schools tend to be screened. Screened schools are schools that look at your grades, attendance, and test scores from 7th grade to determine your admission. Some also require you to complete an interview or hand in a portfolio. Here’s a list of some of the best public schools in the city: 

• Bard High School Early College: Bard is a unique high school that allows you to graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associates Degree. Their curriculum allows you to finish two years of college by the time you graduate from high school. There are two campuses: Manhattan and Queens. Bard requires applicants to take an entrance exam and to complete an interview. 

• Beacon High School: Beacon’s curriculum focuses on college preparatory. It offers countless AP and Honors level courses, while also boasting hundreds of different clubs and teams. Unlike most schools, Beacon requires students to complete Performance-Based Assessments/Projects to pass the course. Beacon requires applicants to complete an interview and submit a portfolio of their work. 

• Townsend Harris High School: Townsend Harris’ curriculum focuses on the liberal arts. However, they still have a strong STEM program. All courses at Townsend Harris are Honors level. They also offer a Senior Bridge Year at Queens College, allowing students to complete 12 college credits. Townsend Harris requires that all applicants must have a 90% average or higher. 

• New Explorations Into Science, Technology + Math: Since their opening in 2001, NEST+m has had 100% of their graduates move on to college. Their curriculum is STEM-based and students are required to complete 60 hours of community service by the time they graduate. NEST+m also has a partnership with the College Now program at Hunter College, allowing their students to take college courses while in high school. 

Deciding where you’ll go to high school is a difficult task. Make sure to take every factor into account when making your list. If you still need some help deciding where to go, you can find more information that can help you here or come in for consulting at Synergy Prep. At the end of the day, remember that even if you don’t get into your top choice, it’s not about what high school you go to, but rather how well you perform at your schools and how well you use the resources that have been provided to you. 

10 Strategies to Improve Your SHSAT Score

The SHSAT is one of the hardest standardized tests you will have to take in your middle school career. Although it may seem daunting at first, with practice you can achieve a high score and get into your dream high school. The strategies listed below can help you tackle the SHSAT and come out on top.

Basic Strategies:

          The first step to successfully study for the SHSAT is to familiarize yourself with its content, length, and structure. This way, on the day of the test, you won’t waste time figuring out the SHSAT structure, but rather getting the right answers. Like all standardized tests, the SHSAT repeats topics every year. If you’re familiar with the test, you’ll know what topics to study and no type of question can surprise you. The best way to familiarize yourself with the SHSAT is to take practice tests. This way you won’t get confused by the wording of questions while taking the actual test.

1.     Practice Tests

The best way to improve your SHSAT score is through practice. When taking a practice test, you should recreate the testing conditions of the SHSAT. This means a quiet and distraction-free area. To recreate this type of setting, you should put away all electronics and sit at an empty desk in a quiet room. Make sure to time yourself. The SHSAT is three hours long. Although there aren’t any time restrictions for the sections on the SHSAT, you should split your time equally between the two sections. This means you should spend 90 minutes on the ELA section and 90 minutes on the math section. After taking the practice tests, you should grade yourself honestly and go over all the questions you got wrong carefully. Make sure you understand why you got each question wrong and how to correctly solve the problem in the future. By doing this, you can also find your weaknesses (ex. probability, verb tenses). Based on that, you can set up a study schedule.

You can find some practice tests in the back of SHSAT workbooks, like Kaplan, Barron’s, and Argo Prep. You can also find a number of practice tests online in the SHSAT handbook.

2.     Study Schedules

Set aside time each day to study for the SHSAT. This time should be based on how much studying you need and should be at least an hour long. If you are unable to study an hour each day, try aiming for two hours every two days instead. These study sessions can include taking tests, doing practice problems, and learning/reviewing topics. You should spend most of your time on your weak areas, whether it be the ELA or math. As you get closer to the SHSAT test date, you should increase the amount of time you study. Allow yourself to review some of the topics the day before the actual test. However, do not study too much the day before the SHSAT. All the studying that you have done in the past should be enough. 

3.     Timing

The SHSAT itself is three hours long, and while you can take as long as you want for any section, it’s recommended that you use half your time for ELA and half your time for math. If you’re not finishing the test within the recommended times, figure out what topics/sections are taking the longest time and study those. Before your SHSAT test date, you should take two practice tests, one doing the ELA section first and the other doing the Math section first. Figure out which order works better for you. If you realize that you are better in one section than the other, try starting with the harder section first so you can approach it with a fresh mind.

Ways To Improve Your SHSAT Math Score:

If you’re having trouble with the math section of the SHSAT, here are some strategies on how to improve your math score:

1.     Concepts

Learn all the SHSAT math concepts from a workbook or the internet. There are around 40 math concepts you need to know. You should try to learn at least one each day. Then, figure out which concepts you have the most difficulty with and focus on those. Generally, most people have trouble with probability, distance, permutations/combinations, and volume problems, so be sure to spend extra time on those. Take at least two days to learn and practice these concepts specifically.

A majority of SHSAT math questions are word problems that are based off a list of equations, so make sure you read each question carefully and know how to use the information you’re given. You should also make a study guide of all the equations you must know for the SHSAT and memorize them.

2.     Question Difficulty

            Based on the difficulty of the problem, you should approach it differently. Easy questions, which should take you the least amount of time, tend to try to trick you. Make sure to read these questions carefully! For questions with medium difficulty, you should learn shortcuts that make it easier and quicker to solve. If there are any questions that you find difficult to do, relearn that math concept and figure out any shortcuts that can help you.

Ways To Improve Your SHSAT ELA Score:

If you’re having trouble with the ELA section of the SHSAT, here are some strategies that can help you improve your score:

1.     Read more nonfiction

            Most of the SHSAT passages are informational nonfiction, which most people don’t read often. Reading articles from places like the New York Times can help you familiarize yourself with the genre and improve your vocabulary, reading comprehension, and grammar.

2.     Annotate Passages

            SHSAT passage-based questions consistently ask about main ideas, key ideas, major turning points, and shifts in tone/narrative. To effectively answer these questions, you should do quick annotations while reading the passages. Taking notes in the margins of passages and underlining important details can help you better understand the passage and makes it easier to find information when you are doing questions.

3.      Grammar

             The SHSAT grammar questions focus on basic grammar (punctuation, clauses, etc.), transition words, combining two sentences, and identifying irrelevant sentences. Learn the different types of punctuation and grammar concepts they have on the SHSAT from a workbook or online. Then, practice by doing practice problems from workbooks and online worksheets. Make sure to check your work and understand why you might have gotten a question wrong. Another way to practice spotting errors is to go back to your old writing assignments and revise them. While doing SHSAT grammar questions, you should also make sure you understand the main idea of each passage because it is necessary when answering questions about transition, relevancy, and placement.

The best way to study for the SHSAT is to figure out what methods and strategies work for you and continuously practice them. Practice makes perfect. With the right amount of practice, you can get well above the score you’re aiming for. If you’re still having trouble improving your SHSAT score, you should consider tutoring. A SHSAT tutor can help you implement the strategies mentioned above, work on your weak areas, and figure out strategies that work for you. Synergy Prep offers SHSAT tutoring, where you can take practice tests, receive a breakdown of your tests, and attend workshops focused on specific topics.

Useful tips on how to write a good College Essay

The personal essay is one of the components of the Common Application for college admissions. While it isn’t weighted as heavily as factors such as grades and standardized test scores, your personal essay can indeed make or break your application. A strong essay can set you ahead of students who have similar grades and SAT/ACT scores as you. Likewise, a weak essay can undermine an otherwise stellar application.

The personal essay is a space to showcase your character, personality, and story to admissions officers. It paints a more holistic picture of who you are as a person beyond the stats.

Guidelines

Choose one of the provided Common App essay prompts and respond in 650 words or less. These are the prompts for the 2018-2019 admissions season:

1.      Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2.      The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3.      Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4.      Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5.      Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6.      Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7.      Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Essay Writing Tips

-          Take the time to brainstorm. It may be the case that none of the prompts speak to you immediately. That’s okay. Go through each prompt and jot down some notes on potential topics you can write about for each one. Then narrow it down to a topic on which you have a significant story to tell.

-          Organization is everything. Always outline before you begin writing. Outlining looks different for everyone – find an outlining method that works for you and organize your ideas in a coherent and logical manner.

-          Use concrete examples. It’s not enough to state that you are passionate about environmental issues. Instead, highlight an experience that illustrates how you are passionate about environmental issues. Be specific and detailed in your examples.

-          Analyze, don’t just summarize. Don’t spend the bulk of your essay merely describing an anecdote. You should certainly give an overview of the situation at hand, but the majority of the essay should be spent reflecting on the meaning and impact of the situation, rather than simply summarizing what happened.

-          Use sophisticated vocabulary. Since your essay is used to determine your college readiness, it’s important to utilize college-level vocabulary. That said, make sure you are using these vocabulary words correctly as well!

-          Avoid bragging. Many students use their college essay as little more than a chance to show off one or more of their impressive accomplishments. This is a wasted opportunity. Your essay is a space to demonstrate to colleges that you are a thoughtful and self-aware person who can analyze their experiences from a place of humility. While it’s wonderful that you scored the winning point and led your varsity basketball team to victory, what did you learn from that experience?

-          Proofread, proofread, proofread. Proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation are non-negotiable.

-          Get feedback. Give your essay to a few qualified individuals you trust, such as your college counselor or English teacher. Having these additional perspectives will enable you to view your essay more objectively and identify potential areas of improvement you may not have considered on your own. Use the constructive criticism from others to help you revise your essay as you see fit.

Above all, write about what matters to you. If you truly care about the story you are telling, your integrity will demonstrate itself on the page. A genuine, well-crafted personal essay can only strengthen your college application.

---

SAT vs ACT: Which one should you take?

The SAT and the ACT are two exams used for college admissions. To get into the vast majority of colleges in the US, you have to submit a score from one of the two exams. Although the SAT is more popular, the ACT is equally valid. While you can certainly take both, it’s worth exploring the two options to see which is the better fit for your abilities.

The SAT

• What’s on it? The SAT consists of a Math section, an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section, and an optional Essay section.

• How long is the test? The test is three hours long. If you choose to complete the optional Essay section, the test is three hours and fifty minutes in total.

• How is it scored? The Math section and the Reading and Writing section are each scored on a scale from 200 to 800, giving you a total score out of 1600. If you write the Essay, you receive a separate score for that.

The ACT

• What’s on it? The ACT consists of four sections: English, Reading, Math, and Science. It also includes an optional Writing Test.

• How long is the test? The test is 2 hours and 55 minutes long. If you choose to take the Writing Test, the test is three hours and thirty-five minutes long in total.

• How is it scored? Each section is scored on a scale from 1 to 36, giving you a composite score that is also on a scale from 1 to 36. You receive a separate score for the optional Writing Test.

Which test should I take?

The first step in choosing the right test is to take a practice test for each one. Take both an SAT practice test and an ACT practice test, and compare your scores. That being said, there are several key factors that may encourage you to choose one test over another.

Why you might choose to take the SAT:

1. You get anxious about time constraints. The ACT gives you far less time per question than the SAT on every section, making it feel more like a race against time.

2. You can write an excellent analytical essay. The optional SAT Essay asks you to read and analyze an author’s argument. If evidence-based analytical writing is one of your strengths, this may be the test for you.

3. You prefer reading questions to appear in chronological order. On the SAT, reading questions are organized in the order they appear in the passage. ACT reading questions, on the other hand, are not organized in passage-based chronological order.

4. You are comfortable with grid-in math questions. The SAT contains several math questions where you have to produce your own answer instead of selecting one of the assigned choices. The SAT might be the right option if you’re okay with solving math problems that are not multiple-choice.

5. You have a strong grasp on vocabulary. Generally, the SAT Reading and Writing sections contain more challenging, higher-order vocabulary than the ACT English and Reading sections.

Why you might choose to take the ACT:

1. You are comfortable with science. Unlike the SAT, the ACT features a science section. Consider taking the ACT if you like and excel in analyzing graphs and experimental hypotheses and results.

2. You are comfortable with geometry and trigonometry. ACT math includes a much higher proportion of geometry questions than SAT math, and a slightly higher proportion of trigonometry questions as well.

3. You can write an excellent opinion-based essay. Unlike the SAT Essay in which you analyze an argument, the ACT Writing Test asks you to produce your own argument. That is, you must state your opinion on a topic, and provide examples to support it.

4. You don’t mind memorizing math formulas. Unlike the SAT, the ACT does not provide a diagram of formulas for the Math section, which means all essential formulas need to be memorized.

5. You are not comfortable doing math without a calculator. While the SAT contains a No Calculator math section, you can use a calculator for all ACT math questions. 

---

What is the Hunter College High School (HCHS)?

Outside of the Specialized High Schools, there are a number of other prestigious public high schools in New York City. One of the most selective examples is Hunter College High School (HCHS). Located on the Upper East Side and run by the City University of New York, HCHS is known for its student body’s high acceptance rates to Ivy League universities and other extremely selective colleges. Students must take a competitive entrance exam in the sixth grade to gain admission to this highly sought-after school.

Academics

Aside from its elite reputation, what makes HCHS unique is its rigorous liberal arts curriculum spanning grades 7 through 12, providing an early foundation for college-level coursework. Because the school is exempt from New York State Regents examinations, it has more liberty in forming its special curriculum, compared to schools that require NYS standardized testing. As a result, classes generally involve more writing and discussion than what may be typical for a New York City high school. All students take honors math, with an option for taking “extended honors” at an accelerated pace; the curriculum goes beyond and is more challenging than the Regents curriculum in mathematics.

Eligibility and Admissions

Admission to HCHS is a two-step process. First, public school students must score at or above the 90th percentile on the fifth grade Common Core exams in Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA). (Students at private or independent schools need to score at or above the 90th percentile on the reading and math exams given by their schools.) Meeting this benchmark makes you eligible to then take the HCHS Entrance Exam in the sixth grade. The test is extremely competitive – while exact cutoff scores vary from year to year, generally fewer than 10% of students who take the exam are offered admission.

The HCHS Entrance Exam

The HCHS Entrance Exam is a three-hour exam given once a year. It consists of three sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and a Writing Assignment. The Critical Reading section contains fifty multiple-choice questions based on a given series of reading passages. The Mathematics section contains thirty multiple-choice questions assessing problem-solving ability on a variety of math topics, such as geometry, probability, and computation with fractions and decimals. In the Writing Assignment section, students must produce an appropriate, original, and detailed response to the given topic(s).

Preparing for HCHS Admissions

Because eligibility to sit for the HCHS Entrance Exam is based on fifth grade Common Core test scores, it’s important for students who are interested in HCHS to prepare adequately for those Common Core tests. Studying and prepping diligently for both the ELA and Math tests is crucial.

Afterwards, doing well on the Entrance Exam is a must!

HCHS is a great school that offers a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities for motivated, high-achieving students. Students who want to attend HCHS should be well aware of the competitive admissions requirements, and start planning early on to improve their chances of acceptance!

---

What colleges look at: The importance of having extracurricular activities

In high school, it’s certainly important to focus on your academics and achieve good grades. But academics are just one component of the high school experience. What’s another aspect of high school that’s worth your time and energy? Getting involved in extracurricular activities.

Dedicating yourself to extracurricular activities that are in line with your passions and goals is not only essential for college admissions, but also for making the most of your learning experience.

Why do colleges care about extracurricular activities?

During the college admissions process, colleges evaluate a whole range of factors to decide whether you’re a good fit for their institution. While your academic transcript and standardized test scores are the most critical factors, extracurricular activities play a major role in that decision too.

Colleges are looking to see that when you’re not attending classes or studying, you are an active member of your campus and/or community. Demonstrating strong commitments to your activities of choice makes you a more favorable candidate, particularly if you hold any leadership positions (e.g. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer).

It should be noted that colleges look not only at how many activities you were involved in, but for how long, and at what level of involvement. So, while it may be tempting to spread yourself thin by joining as many clubs, teams, and organizations as possible to earn participation points, remember: quality over quantity. You’re better off devoting yourself to a few activities you care about and attaining high leadership positions within them than having shallow involvement in a large number of organizations.

How do extracurricular activities enhance my learning?

Extracurricular activities are also a great way to further immerse yourself in your academic and career interests. Getting involved expands your learning beyond the classroom. Here are some ideas of activities you might join, based on your potential career interests:

• Engineering: STEM clubs (e.g. robotics)

• Pre-med: STEM or pre-health clubs

• Pre-law: mock trial, speech and debate, student government

• Finance/business: Entrepreneurial/marketing or math clubs

• Arts/humanities: student newspaper, creative writing, theater

That said, extracurricular activities that aren’t directly related to your academic plans for college can be incredibly valuable too. For instance, joining a varsity sports team expresses to colleges that you are disciplined and teamwork-oriented, in addition to being a source of enjoyment and an opportunity to explore a non-academic pursuit.

Of course, if you can’t find an activity that appeals to you, or you have a particular interest that hasn’t been addressed by any existing club or organization at your school, you always have the option of starting your own. While starting your own club requires more dedication than simply being a member of an existing one, it also demonstrates that you are a self-starter who is capable of taking initiative!

Lastly, keep in mind that your extracurricular activities should never hinder your academics. If you find that your devotion to outside commitments comes at the expense of your grades, it’s a good idea to scale back a bit and take some time to re-prioritize. Otherwise, use high school as an opportunity to gain as many learning experiences as possible, both inside and outside the classroom.

---

What colleges look at: The importance of taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program that allows you to take college-level courses while still in high school. At the end of each AP class, you can take the corresponding AP exam and potentially earn college credit for the class.

There are 38 AP exams in total, but the number of AP exams offered varies from school to school. Many high schools do not offer any AP classes or exams at all.

When choosing a high school to attend, it’s important to consider whether AP classes and exams are offered, and if so, which ones.

Without further ado, the 3 biggest reasons why you should take APs are:

1.      They prepare you for college. AP classes generally function like introductory-level college courses. In other words, they’re designed to be more challenging than your average high school classes.

For instance, AP US History is a lot more analytical than the standard Regents US History offered at most NYC high schools. The AP version goes further than what happened in American history – it puts a lot more emphasis on the how and why, and focuses on broader themes. Classes like this can help you get accustomed to the type of analytical thinking that is regularly expected of you in college-level work.

2.      You can earn college credit. If you get an adequate score on an AP exam, many colleges will offer you credit in that subject. (An adequate score generally means at least a 3 or 4, depending on the school.)

In many cases, earning college credit for AP’s will exempt you from taking certain introductory courses in college. For example, a sufficient score on one of the AP Calculus exams may allow you to skip entry-level Calculus in college and go straight into a more advanced math course instead.

 3.      You’ll have an edge in college admissions. If your high school offers AP classes and exams, colleges will pay attention to whether you took advantage of them.

Taking AP classes and doing well on the corresponding AP exams shows colleges that you are motivated, capable, and ready for college-level academic work. AP classes and exam scores strengthen your college application and make you a more favorable candidate.

Overall, AP classes enrich your high school academic experience and challenge you to think more critically. At the same time, they give you a head start in your college career by offering college credit and letting you place out of introductory courses.

If you’re applying to high schools right now, pay close attention to the AP offerings at your prospective schools. Do they offer any AP classes at all? If so, do they offer AP classes you may want to take in particular, based on your interests and potential career goals?

If you’re in high school at the moment, plan ahead with regards to which AP classes and exams you intend to take and when. And of course, diligent studying and test prep will help you do well in these challenging classes, and achieve your desired scores on the exams!

---