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MCVSD and Beyond: Applying to an Alternate High School

by Elizabeth Koo and Isha Nair

Every November, students from all over Monmouth County have the opportunity to apply to five different magnet schools: Academy of Allied Health and Science, Biotechnology High School, High Technology High School, Marine Academy of Science and Technology, and Communications High School. Keep reading for quick snapshots about each school, STUDENT INTERVIEWS, as well as some tips and tricks that we hope will help any prospective candidates wishing to apply!! Learn more about each school right below by clicking the dropdown.

Academy of Allied Health and Science

Allied is a specialized career school that focuses on medical fields. Any students looking to pursue a career in medicine would find that Allied can meet their needs, especially those interested in becoming a nurse. It is located in Neptune, NJ, next to the Hackensack Meridian Health hospital.

Biotechnology High School

Biotech is a specialized career school that emphasizes research and science. Its facilities include science labs and other STEAM-related workspaces that nurture students’ interest in areas like biology, chemistry, geology, etc. It is located in Freehold.

High Technology High School

High Tech is a specialized career school that encompasses research and engineering topics, preparing its students for occupations in the STEM field. It has a highly prestigious curriculum that challenges students to think and grow. It is located on the Brookdale campus in Lincroft.

Marine Academy of Science and Technology

MAST is a specialized career school that centers around marine biology, providing its students with one-of-a-kind experiences exploring this sector through advanced experiments and field trips to the nearby Sandy Hook.

Communications High School

Communications is a unique career school where students can explore communication and media arts. Not only can students learn more scientifically geared courses like Computer Programming, but they can also explore many media skills like Journalism and Publishing, Film, Commercial Art, and so much more! It is located in Wall Township.

Hear From Actual Students

We asked each of these students two questions:

1. Why do you want to attend this school?

2. Do you have any advice for students aspiring for an acceptance here?

Read and learn from their answers below!!

Yulan Chen (High Technology High School)

Why do you want to attend this school?

I applied to High Technology High School because its various programs and courses centered around STEM are most likely to best suit my needs of exploring different fields. Unlike most of my classmates who have already decided what careers they wish to have when they get older, I have not found any that I am specially interested in, and I thought that the high school's research-based curriculum would provide me the opportunity to discover what I love in a setting that prepares me for a heavier workload.

Do you have any advice for students aspiring for an acceptance here?

Though many people sign up for and attend programs like EXL, I was not one of those people. Instead of dedicating so much time and spending money on a program that, according to others who were in it, tested students on subjects that were not relevant to the admissions exam at all, I would recommend using NJSLA and HSPT exam practice tests. These resources can easily be found online for free, and they cover most concepts you need to know for the exam. They are also helpful for practice in managing time, which was a crucial skill necessary during the exam itself. I would also suggest reviewing past classwork materials from previous math and literacy classes, but only on a basic level. Of course, it's important to remember to maintain your grade throughout 7th grade and the first marking period of 8th grade as well, since one point has the potential to determine whether you are accepted or rejected. Good luck!

Tyler Goldstein (Biotechnology High School)

Why do you want to attend this school?

I would like to attend Biotechnology High School because the focus on biotechnological research fits me extremely well in my interests and future goals. After attending the open house, I was very impressed and believed that this school is my best choice. With many hands-on experiments and plenty of science courses, I find the curriculum very interesting and I believe that it would support my dream of following a medical-path to college and going to med-school. With the IB Program, this school is not only academically challenging, but also provides me the opportunity to explore a topic I am passionate about. The emphasis of IB to cultivate individual research will help me grow and prepare me for the rigorous courses in college. I am confident that Biotechnology High School will be the right place for me to build a foundation for biology, chemistry, and physics, all key components which are essential to my dream career.

Do you have any advice for students aspiring for an acceptance here?

Testing for the MCVSD (Monmouth County Vocational School District) Exam is quite difficult, as it requires lots of time and determination. Because of this, I advise all students who aspire to go to Biotechnology High School to study as much as they can to ensure clarity and understanding of knowledge. To do this, heading to a summer break and winter break courses at several different study places across Monmouth County (such as EXL, Foley Prep, and WaveLength) will be helpful. These places will help you learn everything that you will need to know on the exam and refine your academic skills to perfection. Whether you are completely sure you want to go to Biotechnology High School or not, it is important to go to the orientations that they have in the fall of your 8th grade year to find out more about the school. These orientation sessions are a key part in finding out whether BTHS is a good fit for you. Advice-wise, there isn’t much to say, but you should study hard and lots in your 7th and 8th grade year. I wish you the best of luck for the exam and hope to see you at BTHS in the future!

Anushka Trivedi (Allied)

Why do you want to attend this school?

I want to attend Allied because it is the ideal place for me to study because I am thinking of entering the medical field when I grow up…it offers an experience in the medical field because you can attend hospitals, perform clinical skills there, and apply your knowledge of medicine in the real world.

Do you have any advice for students aspiring for an acceptance here?

The most important thing is preparation — make sure you are prepared for the test and that you know that it’s really what you want, and that is the goal that you are going to reach!!

James Chang (MAST)

Why do you want to attend this school?

I wanted to attend MAST because it provided me with various ways to learn and have fun. It is very different from other kinds of schools. I am most excited about the NJROTC program that MAST provides. It can improve my leadership, discipline, and many other skills.

Do you have any advice for students aspiring for an acceptance here?

To get into MAST, you need to have a great interest in marine biology, as it is the main thing that MAST teaches you about. You also need to prepare for the math and English tests. Even though they are easy, there are many other people who are also competing with you.

Why Holmdel Can Be the Place to Stay

We asked Satz student Emma Cai why she wanted to stay in Holmdel and attend its high school rather than an MCVSD school after choosing it over Biotech upon acceptance. Here’s what she had to say…

“I chose to remain at Holmdel after being accepted into Biotechnology High School for several reasons. One of the biggest factors was the difference in academic structure. Biotechnology High School follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, while Holmdel offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses. I felt that AP classes provide more flexibility and allow students to explore a broader range of subjects, whereas IB tends to emphasize a more structured, in-depth approach. At this stage in my education, I believe it is difficult to know exactly what you want to pursue long-term, so I wanted to keep my options open rather than commit too early to a specialized path.

Another consideration was the curriculum focus. Biotechnology High School is centered heavily around biotechnology, which is ideal for students already committed to a medical or research-based career. While I am interested in science, I am still exploring different possibilities within the field, so I felt that a more general academic environment would suit me better. I was also concerned about limited flexibility in course selection, including a more restricted set of language options.

Finally, Holmdel’s new Career Concentrations played a significant role in my decision. These programs allow students to explore a field of interest through a structured four-course sequence while still maintaining flexibility in their overall schedule. I was particularly interested in the Exploratory Medicine & Health and Scientific Research concentrations. To me, Holmdel offered the opportunity to pursue my academic interests without narrowing my path too early, while also providing a wider range of courses and fewer limitations.”

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