| I've been a tutor in New York City since 2004, and | | | | 3-hour classes with a bunch of other kids, slogging |
| since I specialize in working with middle school age | | | | through huge piles of homework, and getting little |
| children, I have become quite familiar with the high | | | | personal attention is drill and kill in the worst sense. |
| school application process. There are many categories | | | | It's mind-numbing and not particularly educational. It's |
| of high school and the application process is by no | | | | cheaper than private tutoring, but I would call most |
| means the same for each category - because of | | | | group classes a false economy. |
| this, the whole process can sometimes feel even | | | | On the other hand, there are a few group classes |
| more complex and draining than applying to college. | | | | that are actually quite good. You should look for small |
| This essay will be about applying to New York City | | | | groups (no more than 8 students per teacher) and |
| Specialized Public Schools. Other essays will address | | | | individual classes that are a reasonable length |
| applying to Independent Schools and Selective, | | | | (perhaps 1.5 hours). The teachers should be |
| Non-Specialized Public Schools. | | | | experienced and should be able to produce excellent |
| The most straightforward of the selective schools to | | | | references. Homework and practice tests should |
| apply to are the Specialized Public High Schools. As I | | | | obviously be part of the program, but you should not |
| write this, there are nine Specialized High Schools that | | | | feel that a class takes over your child's life or your |
| base admissions on the SHSAT. Three of them are | | | | family's life. |
| the old, storied behemoths: Stuyvesant, Brooklyn | | | | For most students, private tutoring will be the most |
| Tech, and Bronx Science. Six more are newer and | | | | effective option. The individual attention makes a big |
| (mostly) smaller: The Brooklyn Latin School, The High | | | | difference when working on challenging and |
| School for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at | | | | potentially tedious material. It's more efficient, |
| City College, The High School for American Studies at | | | | because a good tutor focuses on exactly what an |
| Lehman College, Queens High School for the Sciences | | | | individual student needs and it's easier to remain |
| at York College, and Staten Island Technical High | | | | motivated when accountability is provided by |
| School. There are only two considerations for | | | | one-on-one lessons. Unfortunately, tutoring can be |
| admission to each of theses schools: New York City | | | | quite expensive. Rates vary widely, but $85-$150 per |
| residency and SHSAT scores. | | | | hour is the general range you can expect to pay for |
| Applying is simple, but getting in is hard. The SHSAT | | | | an experienced, effective tutor. Tutoring is so |
| is a 2 1/2 hours long, multiple choice test with a math | | | | expensive largely because tutors must spend a great |
| section and an English section. The math section | | | | deal of time traveling between appointments and you |
| bears a distinct resemblance to the math section of | | | | are paying for their travel and lesson planning time as |
| the SAT. Granted, it only assumes an introductory | | | | well as the time they actually spend with your child. |
| knowledge of algebra, but the "flavor" is the same. | | | | If one-on-one tutoring is prohibitively expensive for |
| The English section of the test is more unusual. In | | | | you but would otherwise be your first choice, there |
| addition to challenging (but run-of-the-mill) reading | | | | are a few strategies you can try to lower your rate. |
| comprehension passages and questions, there are | | | | If you know another family that lives very near to |
| also logical reasoning questions and scrambled | | | | you who also wants tutoring, you might consider |
| paragraphs that students must unscramble. As far as | | | | looking for a tutor together. If you can arrange to |
| I know, the scrambled paragraphs are unique among | | | | have lessons back-to-back, with only 5 minutes or so |
| standardized tests. | | | | of transportation time in between, you'll very likely be |
| Not surprisingly, the best way to prepare for this | | | | able to arrange a discount. Likewise, semi-private |
| test is to be a good student. Kids who get in are | | | | lessons (with two or perhaps three students and one |
| virtually always kids who pay attention in class, do | | | | tutor) and be much more affordable and still very |
| their homework thoughtfully, and study. Reading far | | | | effective. Most tutors don't advertise semi-private |
| beyond school assignments is also a significant | | | | lessons, but if you ask, you'll find that many tutors |
| predictor of success. No matter what anyone may | | | | are amenable. |
| tell you, no prep course, no prep materials, and no | | | | A note on what to do if your middle schooler goes |
| tutor can fully compensate if these factors are not | | | | to an academically weak school: |
| already in place. (Beyond which, a student who is not | | | | If your child is stuck in a school that leaves a lot to |
| academically inclined and interested in working hard is | | | | be desired, you can do several things to ameliorate |
| unlikely to be happy in a specialized high school, even | | | | the situation. Of course, switching to a better school |
| if he or she did manage to get accepted.) | | | | is an ideal option, but that is not always possible. |
| Unfortunately, being a good student is not enough. | | | | Assuming that switching schools isn't realistic, I |
| It's an unfair, even tragic fact that many middle | | | | strongly recommend that you make sure that your |
| schools are not rigorous enough to give their | | | | child is getting supplemental enrichment. Exactly what |
| students a fair shot at doing well on the SHSAT. I will | | | | you do will obviously depending on your budget, time |
| address some long-term strategies for students | | | | constraints, and interests, but you should start as |
| going to sub-standard middle schools at the end of | | | | soon after realizing that there is a problem at school |
| this article. If your child is already doing all of the right | | | | as possible. The list that follows is not exhaustive, |
| things, and going to a rigorous school, there are a | | | | but it will give you a place to start.o Read. No matter |
| number of steps you can take to further improve | | | | where your child goes to school, it's important for |
| your child's chances of doing well on the SHSAT. | | | | him or her to read independently. This becomes |
| Your child can:o Study on his or her own, using | | | | extra-important if the school is poor. For middle |
| commercially available prep books;o Take a prep | | | | schoolers, a book a week is a reasonable rule of |
| class;o Study with a tutor;o Or, a student can do | | | | thumb. If your child doesn't like to read, read |
| some combination of the above. | | | | together. Let your child choose his or her own books, |
| Each one of these study methods has its pros and | | | | and don't be judgmental about them (unless you feel |
| cons. I recommend that parents and children look at | | | | a particular book is morally unacceptable).o Do math. |
| the options together, and make decisions about how | | | | Do actual math, not just test prep materials. If school |
| to prepare as a family. | | | | math is severely lacking, consider working through a |
| Independent study is the cheapest way to prepare, | | | | curriculum or enrichment materials at home. I very |
| by an enormous margin. All that is needed is a few | | | | much like all of Edward Zaccaro's books- they are |
| test prep books- they're not expensive and they can | | | | challenging and thought provoking, with good |
| even be borrowed for free from a library. For highly | | | | explanations for home study.o Go to cultural events. |
| motivated students who have a strong academic | | | | Museums, theater, concerts, walking tours, poetry |
| foundation, this can be an effective way to study. I'd | | | | slams, and book readings can all be fun, cheap, and |
| recommend selecting one prep book (Barron's is my | | | | enriching. They are opportunities for exposure to |
| favorite) and working through it, from beginning to | | | | literature, history, art, and science, all of which add to |
| end. You'll be able to gauge your progress and decide | | | | the store of background knowledge which is critically |
| whether you are on track to meet your goals. | | | | important for effective reading comprehension.o |
| Ideally, you would start this process in the spring or | | | | Take up a hobby. There are a variety of hobbies |
| early summer before the test so that you have | | | | that provide opportunities to use math and reading in |
| plenty of time and can add in other study methods if | | | | meaningful, concrete ways. Consider robotics, model |
| they are indicated. When self-guided study is | | | | railroading, building radios, or working in a community |
| effective, it's wonderful how students can really take | | | | garden. You may want to look into joining a club |
| full ownership of their success. | | | | where you and your child can meet more |
| Taking a group class to prepare for the SHSAT is | | | | experienced hobbyists and become part of a |
| generally my least favorite option. There are many | | | | community.o Take classes. It is sometimes possible |
| places you can go to take a group class, and some | | | | to take classes that will help fill in the gaps that a |
| are obviously better than others. Unfortunately, the | | | | weak formal education can leave. Be careful though, |
| big players don't seem to get very good results and | | | | that these classes are thought provoking and useful |
| they do seem to take a big chunk out of their | | | | rather than just a series of drills. |
| students' quality of life. Sitting through wearisome | | | | |