High School Hell
By Cara Horsman and Yuuki Chang-Yasui
Imagine that you’re already busy with homework, getting back into the school year, busy with everything - and now you have to add more to the already tight schedule. You have to write two different essays for two different schools, prepare for the SHSAT and TACHS exams, and any other tests you might be doing for certain schools. That’s a lot on your plate. On top of that, you also need to keep your grades up.
Did you know that there are over 550 high schools in New York City alone? That’s 550 high schools to look at and consider. The high school process is normally said to make the college process more manageable, but saying that isn’t very helpful at the moment. For an eighth grader, this might be very overwhelming for you, so here we are to provide tips for your future selves.
Remember, your parents can know the most important things about the schools that you're applying to. Make sure to check with them if you are interested in a certain high school.
Another good tip is to plan and research on your own. Parents do know a lot about this process, but it’s good to branch out by yourself and see what you’re intrigued about or interested in about the school. Remember to write down your likes and dislikes about schools you’re considering, and note down any relevant information about the school (i.e. number of students, clubs).
We also interviewed some eighth graders who have been working through this process this year.
“It’s a lot of work,” August Pera from 804 told reporters, “but if you continue getting annoyed by it, the process will be a lot harder. No matter what, in the end, it still counts as a lot, so try your best.” Pera also commented on the fact of how the process was pretty stressful for him since he had to complete a musical audition for Laguardia, an arts high school in Manhattan. He said that it was difficult for him because, “I needed to learn the music and complete it perfectly in a short amount of time.”
Another student from eighth grade who wishes to remain anonymous explained that they worked hard regarding the process. “I took the musical audition, the SHSAT, and wrote two or three essays.” They said the SHSAT, or also known as the Specialized High School Admissions Test, was the most stressful for them. “It was really difficult for me to comprehend all the knowledge included in the test.”
Lastly, we found one last student willing for the interview. They wished to remain anonymous. “I wrote one essay, and did an art portfolio.” They confirmed that “it was pretty stressful, but definitely more towards the end.” They also said to find your schools early, as you really want to know what schools you’re interested in to manage your priorities.