Research all NYC schools
Research Now
Staying Updated in Current Admissions Environment
When looking into high schools, it is vital to stay updated on the current admissions process. In years past, most schools' admissions environments would not change dramatically. However, with middle schools using alternative grading methods, and tests being delayed due to the pandemic, high schools have had to update their acceptance criteria. With so much uncertainty and rapid changes during this time, it is important to remain up to date on high school admissions environments. Here is some information on how to keep yourself updated during these harrowing times.
Stay in Contact With Friends and Classmates
Often, there will be at least one person that you know that is applying to the same school as you are. It can be very helpful to stay in contact with this person or anyone who is knowledgeable about the high school you are interested in. Talking to another person about a certain school's admissions environment might allow you to find new information that could help your admissions process. Also, there is strength in numbers. Since there are two, or maybe even a group of you, everyone will be able to find out any new information faster than if it was just one person. Lastly, talking to others often relieves stress about highschool which anyone might be feeling during this hectic time.
Sometimes, if you are confused or unsure about current admissions to a certain school, the best place to visit could be their website. Pretty much every school has a website that contains a myriad of information for prospective students. Checking up on a school’s website every so often will keep you up to date. If any major news comes out, it will be on the school’s website. If no new information has come out in a while, remember be patient, it takes a while for schools to adjust and figure out ways to assess students.
Do Your Own Research and Stay Alert
It is very important to do your own research. Don’t completely rely on others. Other people might miss some important news that you would have caught if you stayed alert. Don’t only look on school websites, also research any updated news going on in the city. For example, if nothing new has come out on a school website on taking their in-person admissions test, look up the infection rate in the city so that you can have some sort of idea of the chances of you taking their test in-person. If the cases are skyrocketing, the test might be taken online, be delayed, or even be canceled. Just remember to remain vigilant and search the internet often enough for any important information.
Following these three tips will be crucial in staying aware and updated on the current admissions environment. The high school admissions process is often grueling and stressful in a normal year, let alone a year disrupted by a pandemic! Avoid stressing yourself out, you can often be your own worst enemy. If you remember to remain vigilant, talk to others, research, and visit school websites, you will be completely fine. Good luck!
Paris William Polatidis is a sophomore at Xavier High School in NYC. He enjoys playing tennis, writing for the Xavier Review, and helping others out when they need support.
Join to NYCMentors.org
Join today and have a high school mentor guide your child through their middle school years
Join NowOther articles
-
How Volunteering and Extracurriculars Can Affect Applications and Where to Go?
- April 11, 2023
- Dean Domingo
Volunteering and extracurriculars are activities that can benefit both the community and yourself. For middle school students, volunteering and doing extracurriculars provide opportunities to develop new skills and interests and demonstrate to high schools that you are well-rounded and hardworking. High Schools are always looking for capable students willing to do more than what is required. So if you’re not doing extracurriculars and/or volunteering, getting the headstart and being a part of a club or helping out your community is the best way to demonstrate to schools that you are a hardworking and all-around person.
-
Tips for Attending High School Information Sessions
- March 28, 2023
- Sereia Sarumida
Public high school admissions decisions came out on March 9th, and families have until April 5th to accept an offer. Many high schools are now offering information sessions, open houses, and virtual events for accepted students. These events are the perfect opportunity to ask students and teachers detailed questions about the schools, so you can decide which one is the best fit for you. If you have trouble getting started thinking of questions to ask, asking these sample questions (divided by topic) can help you to consider a broad range of factors to decide on a school to attend!
-
How to Write an Outstanding Essay for your High School admission process
- February 21, 2023
- David Romero
The highschool admission process is very stressful. With all of its different required parts, the essay section of the application can be really overlooked. The essays are a chance for the admission officer’s to get an insight into who the applicant really is. Numerous people can have very similar transcripts, but a creative and charismatic essay will make an application stand out.
-
How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter and How to Pick the Right Candidate for the Job
- February 12, 2023
- Dean Domingo
Recommendation letters are a key aspect of high school applications and are a great way to demonstrate your character and abilities from another perspective. While not mandatory in some schools, it’s highly encouraged and should be seen as a requirement. But, who do you ask for a recommendation letter? Choosing who to ask is very important and should be someone that has seen your growth as a student. Most schools usually require at least one recommendation letter from a core teacher (Math, Science, Social Studies, etc) and one letter from either another teacher, mentor, coach, or counselor. So after making a list of potential candidates take some time to consider a very important question. “Who knows you the most?”. If you choose a candidate that barely knows you, their letter may sound disingenuous and phony. So when selecting a recommender, you should consider someone who has had a significant impact on your life and should be someone who knows you both academically and personally and can attest to your abilities, interests, achievements, and growth.