By Meghna Dinesh
There is a debate among colleges and universities regarding requirements for standardized tests. Not long ago, Yale, M.I.T., and Dartmouth all released statements saying that they still will require SAT or ACT scores for admissions.
In contrast, places like Columbia and Harvard either will consider or will not look at submitted scores.
Dr. Gould, a teacher at BHS, elaborated on the opinions on both sides. She concluded that since admission officers need to efficiently find students to accept, most places still require standardized tests.
“Yale is requiring test scores because you need to analyze results quickly,” Dr. Gould said.
She also explained that for a college, a conversation would be more appreciated to determine admission. However, it might take a long time, especially with thousands of applicants.
“I definitely don’t think looking at test scores is the best way,” Mr. Attubato, head of the counseling department at BHS, said.
Mr. Attubato continued to say that the exposure of the same education can still bring students down in standardized tests. He added that standardized tests should be free, since money is another factor students have to make choices with.
At the same time, according to an article in The Boston Globe, a group working with Harvard theorized that standardized tests can help some students that are unable to afford expenses of certain classes and activities get a higher chance of getting selected to a college.
As much as just looking at SAT and ACT scores is efficient, Joshua Cerrato, a current senior at BHS, explained that it is not the greatest way to evaluate developing students.
“I don’t think they realistically show people’s intelligence,” Cerrato said.
Cerrato agrees with the idea of a discussion but also agrees on how it can take a while.
He stated that evaluation of test scores is not good the way it is, but he does not know of any other way that was quite speedy.
Meanwhile, according to another article in The Boston Globe, Yale and Dartmouth researched to finalize that standardized tests can predict students’ successes on their campuses.
In the same article, one of the directors for FairTest, a non-profit organization with insight on standardized testing, disagreed and said that people who got into elite colleges without submitting their scores are also doing just fine.
There are also other factors to think about that may or may not get someone into a college or university, like their GPA or coursework. Colleges that do not require test scores weigh those factors a bit heavier, as if they are an alternative for testing.
Both Dr. Gould and Mr. Attubato stated that either way, colleges find it more important to evaluate the things in students’ admissions that the students themselves can control, like essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurriculars.
“They actually want to see kids that are hyper-focused in their interests,” Dr. Gould said.
Cerrato also said that standardized tests are less important for most colleges when compared to what kind of person a student is or what the student is interested in.
As the debate is still going on, students now have the option to take a standardized test or not, it all just depends on the college they are applying for.
By Valerie Reynolds
There are many questions around flipped internships; Does this apply to any intern working at BHS? Can any teacher host a flipped internship? What is required to be qualified for a flipped internship?
For starters, a flipped internship technically means hosting an internship at the school by bringing outside companies to the school.
According to the flipped internship overview of 2023-2024, “Two computer science teachers, in partnership with engineers from MITRE found a way for seniors who were interested in a technology fields to work on career related projects with industry professionals. Teachers oversee student projects, and recruit mentors who hold in person or virtual office hours once a week.”
Mrs. Tyrell and Mr. Wong are the Flipped internship teacher supervisors.
Mrs. Tyrell explains that in order to be eligible for a flipped internship, “They need to be a part of the technology career pathway. They also need to take a couple of computer science classes.” Tyrell adds “We suggest you take the pathway so you’re better prepared for college.”
Mrs. Tyrell is referring to the Computer Science Pathway program offered at BHS. The CS Pathway is the program that provides Flipped Internship opportunities for cybersecurity, data science, art development, game design, and robotics. Not only does this program offer internship opportunities but also Industry field trips.
The responsibilities of a flipped internship versus traditional internships at BHS is the main differentiator between the two.
“They get paid $15 an hour. They are expected to be in the building working on their projects. There are weekly meetings with an industry mentor,” Mrs. Tyrell further elaborates Flipped Internship responsibilities.
On a non-flipped internship, students are not required to be paid, can be present at BHS or outside of the school, and are not required to have weekly meetings. This offers clarity between a flipped and non-flipped internship.
Companies that provide flipped internship mentors include Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, Biogen, and much more. These internship mentors who are professionals and college students will assist students with their projects. This gives students abundant and diverse opportunities for a flipped internship at BHS.
“I wanted to do the Excel Certification because it’s useful in data science, which I could use if I wanted to do research.” Archi Patel, a senior flipped intern at BHS reasons why she chose the flipped program.
The excel certificate is crucial for any career that organizes data. Not only is the Microsoft tool Excel very popular amongst data sciences but also business, financial, and accounting career paths.
Along with providing useful experience for students who are going into a STEM program, the CS Pathway also provides an alternative internship opportunity for students who cannot leave their AP classes.
“I decided to do a flipped internship since it was an easily accessible one that I could do in school that was flexible with all my AP classes.” Another senior flipped intern, Shaila Khan elaborates.
The process of acquiring a flipped internship was not overwhelming for either Archi and Shaila.
“The process was quite simple to be honest. You just had to attend an information meeting and fill out an interest form.” Shaila expressed.
Archi also found the process simple.
“I just had to get approved by Mrs. Tyrell and get a teacher recommendation.”
CS Pathways’ goal to create opportunities in the technology field for students with little background required has proven to be successful. Along with this, is their success of connecting experienced mentors with students.
Mrs. Tyrell shows passion towards this program. “Seeing kids after they talk to their mentors. They’re usually very happy. It’s very eye opening not talking to an adult not from the building.”
INTERNSHIPS: WHO IS LEAVING FOR THEM AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
By Anthony Magnarelli
The school year for seniors is coming to a close, and with it comes opportunities to experience the real world in the form of internships.
Seniors have filled out their internship applications and have been given permission by the school to fulfill their experience in their desired program.
Internships allow seniors to get a feel for what working in business or other areas may look like. Students are allowed a wide variety of opportunities in and outside the school.
“I do think for the vast majority of students that it makes sense to take advantage of the opportunity, take advantage to be exposed to a career… to see what a career is like for an extended period of time”, Mrs Northrop, coordinator of the Senior Internship Program, said.
While an internship is an opportunity given to all seniors, it is not required for them to apply for one. Some students may prefer to continue with school or may be required to stay to fulfill obligations such as AP courses. Alternatively, students who must stay could alternatively fill out a flipped internship or service project forum, which allow for job opportunities while still remaining in the school.
In order to partake in the internship program, students are required to fill out a proposal and have a host letter signed by their supervisor. Most students, such as Dillain Agurwala, found the forums easy to write and manageable to submit on time
“Overall, it was very easy. It did not take me long to fill out,” he said.
Seniors are allowed whether or not they would choose to continue with school as is or apply themselves to the program. Many students, such as Gabrielle Portillo, see this program as a major benefit to them.
“If you don’t have a job, that first step into the real world helps what it would be like to have a real or paying job, being a functioning member of society," Gabrielle said.
One downside to the program, however, is that students are required to remain in school for AP classes unless told specifically otherwise by their teachers. This means that students may lose time for internships depending on how many AP classes they hold on their schedule. Some students, like Dillan Agurwala, critique this rule as unnecessary.
“I feel like, as an AP student, you should be trusteed to be responsible for when you go back, so I think the fact that you’re forced to go back is kind of stupid…, " he said.
Despite this, students see the benefits for taking internships. The program provides work opportunities that will benefit them, and more experience in those environments typically lead to students being better off once they are on their own.
When interviewing Gabrielle Portillo, she stated that, “...even if you’re not interested, I think it’s, again, a great opportunity to get experience in the real world,” giving support for upcoming seniors to participate in the internship program.
Additionally, internship times for students can usually be modified as needed to fit a student’s schedule, bringing more value for a student to take the program. This, however, usually depends on how much free time is available for the student during each week.
So while not every student at BHS may benefit from an internship, taking one can give important experience and knowledge of what work level is expected as a student moves on to college and beyond.
Senioritis - is it real or made up?
By: Cheata An
Senioritis is a topic that a lot of seniors are talking about. Many seniors have said they have it.
“I think senioritis is real because I know I experienced it and a lot of my friends experienced it,” Julia Griffin, BHS senior said.
According to Dictionary.com, senioritis is “a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance.”
Everyone might have different thoughts on senioritis. To Julia Griffin, it is “something that all seniors experience in one way or another, we all were working hard on the goal until we reached it. Once we know we’re almost done, it’s easier to feel that we want it done now.”
Julia Griffin has senioritis because she got into college and school starts to feel like a waste of time to her because she already knows that she’s done with the part that matters (that is, getting into college).
Some people think senioritis is real and some don't think it’s real. Joshua Cerrato, BHS senior said “it doesn’t exist but I have it, whatever it is.”
Regardless of whether it’s real or not, it’s still something that everyone will experience.
The cause of senioritis is usually because it’s getting closer to the end of the school year. Everyone just wants school to be over, skip straight to graduation and be off to college. Especially once you get into college, you won’t try hard in school anymore because you know you’re already accepted.
Even though second semester grades are being looked at, it won’t affect you that much really, we all know all you have to do is pass your classes with an average grade. Unless you are going to an Ivy League school, then you probably want to keep up with your grades.
Now we established that probably everyone will have senioritis, but should something be done about it?
“I don’t think anything should be done, it doesn’t really matter. It only happens when the school year is almost over and when you get accepted to colleges. So it doesn’t really matter.” Joshua Cerrato, BHS senior said.
Senioritis, you might want to avoid it but not sure if that’s really possible. So to the next year seniors, good luck with it and enjoy senior year!
Generation Competition
By Cauê Pereira
Gen Z is killing it, and so are other generations.
Silent generation or the generation of people who were more traditionalists and were born between 1928-1946. Baby boomers are known as the experienced and with strong work ethic, born between 1947-1964. Gen X, the independent and technologically adept, born between 1965-1980. Millennials, influential, and confident with technology, born between 1981-1996. Gen Z, prioritizing mental health, racial equity, and the last generation to be born without being completely surrounded by technology, born between 1997-2010.
Decades of knowledge you must attain to, development of technologies and petty confrontations about what generation is best. That is the package deal you get for being born in any of those generations.
Each gen claims they are better and more developed than the former, but still they fight for dominance at the top, which seems to be a lingering issue with all of them. So what do the labels change? Are they really important?
“I think we can just live with them[labels],” Alex McGillivray, BHS senior Gen Zer said. “It’s just another label that we just have to be able to live with and not let it define who we are.”
Although each generation has their time, when the conversation comes to the table, what is most common to happen is the comparisons between Gen Z and Millennials. And what even are they?
“Technology. We used technology but we weren’t so… engraved in it. And you guys[Gen Z] it is your life. It’s not necessarily your fault, but it is reality.” Mrs. Hatch, BHS gym teacher and Millennial, has said.
Even though the “generation wars” seem to be all fun and games, this has created great divides between Gen Z and Millennials. The walls that separate the generations are not only social constructs made to ease the comprehension of each era in human development, but have actually turned into walls separating “us” from “them”, and “them” from “us”.
“The wall would be that, it’s hard to understand each other’s generation because you didn’t live in it.” Mrs. Weeden, BHS gym teacher and also Millennial, talks about it.
The separation seems to come from the differences between each other, but that is not the only reason. The discussion so well protected and fostered in toxicity by each generation of what makes them different from each other, has led to a minimal social war on the internet.
“Each[generation] brings a new perspective, because age grants you a new perspective on things. They bring a new perspective, a new opportunity, a new approach, but I don’t see that as better or worse.” Mr, Whitten, BHS history teacher and Gen Xer, has said about the differences.
What do you think? Do you think these differences are really so important they have to be protected with all that might?
If we are talking about differences in generations, each belief can be seen as a representation of who the person is. It is natural to try and protect that belief, and when a newer generation comes and mocks it, they start to invalidate your experiences as a member of such a generation. Although the differences are many between generations that experienced the war, never knew a life without a cellphone, or were here to see it all change, we have to remember that the divides between us are, but social constructs to help us understand better the time we were born into, what happened at the time and how that affected people of said time.
These constructs aren’t meant to make it harder, they aren’t meant to cause a fight between parents and their kids, grandkids and their grandparents, they are meant to have fun with and that is the problem I was able to identify with each and all generations. They are so focused on being right, that they can’t notice the damage they are causing.