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Post by Sofia on Sept 23, 2009 21:51:47 GMT -5
In New York, high school works like this: There's a local high school, along with high schools all over the five boroughs that you can apply to, and then there are eight "New York City Specialized Schools" that you take a test to get into. Only three of these eight I could ever go to, because the rest are more than an hour commute. These three are Bronx Science, a math and science school, Lehman, a humanities school, and Stuyvesant, a math and science school, most likely the best school in New York, and one of the best schools in the country.
It is unquestionable that I will go to one of these three schools, or I will be killed by my father. I took a practice test that supposedly simulates the real test (there is only one for all eight schools, and which one you get admitted to depends on score and preference) and got a high enough score to get into any of the specialized schools. I've already ruled out Bronx Science, the principal is obnoxious. However, I have no idea whether I want to go Stuyvesant or Lehman.
Lehman is a very new school (something like eight years old) and tiny, with only 400 kids in the entire school. The teachers all seem dedicated and like the want to be there, and it's connected to a college, so electives are unlimited. However, there are very few clubs/extracurricular activities and such a small school could be problematic.
Stuyvesant is a very old school and huge, with almost 4000 students. The teachers also seem dedicated and all that, and of course there's a huge variety of electives and everything. However, I hate math. Detest it. I'm not bad at it, but I hate it.
It's kind of hard when your favorite subjects are English and Science.
TL;DR: Small, tight-knit humanities school, or large, prestigious, math and science school?
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Post by Monkey on Sept 24, 2009 0:21:40 GMT -5
My first thought was to say Stuyvesant because it has a crazy name, but I'm thinking Lehman might be a better choice. I know I do better in smaller classes and schools. If you want, I'll stop being a turd and actually get on MSN or something so we can talk. xD
Oh, and my favorite subjects have always been science and social studies, so I know how you feel.
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Post by Anne on Sept 24, 2009 0:58:06 GMT -5
I think you should go with the smaller school too. If you detest maths there is no point going to the large school that places a heavy emphasis on it. The notion of Prestige alone cannot replace happiness or comfort and when it comes to getting through high school, both can be very important. It sounds to me like Lehman would provide a very interesting learning atmosphere for you and unless you place a high priority on the clubs they don't offer or you absolutely need to go to a school like Stuyvesant to get into the uni you want, then there probably wouldn't be any problems in going.
I'm very much an arts student (although I think I could have really liked Maths if I had been taught properly) so I've never had that trouble, I could imagine it would be horrendous.
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Post by Monkey on Sept 24, 2009 2:22:33 GMT -5
Oh! And you can have the fun of being one of the best science students there! Being better than everyone else is important.
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Post by Anne on Sept 24, 2009 2:23:58 GMT -5
Ooh, yeah, HUGE ego boost
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Post by Jo on Sept 24, 2009 5:29:51 GMT -5
Go for the smaller one. Maybe you can start your own club or something? I don't know how schools work. Go for the one you like the most, i.e. not the maths one.
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Uber Loodle
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Post by Uber Loodle on Sept 24, 2009 19:29:36 GMT -5
Go for the smaller one. You hate math and: Like Jo said, you can definitely start your own club, once you form bonds with the teachers, you're likely to find ones with similar interests to you, ad from there, it's pretty easy to start a club. Smaller schools also aren't all that bad. Mine is grades 7-12 and we have 550 something kids. It's nice because the teachers and students all know one another, so it's avery tight knit community of people (other than the juggalos, not like you'd have to worry about those...). Tis my opinion. I have spoken. *bows*
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Sorie
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Post by Sorie on Sept 25, 2009 0:46:42 GMT -5
Lauren touched on the point I was going to make. I love smaller classes because it's easier to bond with your classmates. Likewise with a school, it's not such a bad thing knowing most of the people around you. Plus, smaller classes = more likely to be able to talk with your teachers if help is needed. (when I go to a teacher after school and the room is already packed, I have a tendency to leave because the teacher is usually not as focused or detailed) Oh, and if you don't like math, you shouldn't be somewhere that stresses it. Lord, I couldn't imagine that. As for the clubs thing, eh, if it's really a problem for you, I'm sure there are places outside of school that you could join. There has to be some somewhere in New York, as there are several for any sort of interest in L.A.
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Post by Sofia on Sept 25, 2009 20:05:43 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure I want to go to the smaller school, but I'm not completely sure. Stuyvesant has always seemed like an awesome school to me, and I sort of want to go just so that I can say I go to Stuy. Also, it's in a cool neighborhood and the hour-long commute would be fun and good for homework-doing. Not that that really matters much.
I think I'll have to visit Stuyvesant, as the last time I was there was five ears ago for my dad's high school reunion.
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Post by Ice on Sept 27, 2009 12:22:59 GMT -5
I would have loved to go to Stuy (math/science nerd straight up here), but I dunno how I would have handled such a huge school. I'd recommend the smaller one because it's a lot easier to bond with teachers (=> really awesome recommendation letters => high chance of success in college apps). The low # of extracurriculars also provides you with the opportunity to start something on your own, which is a great leadership experience and will provide you with connections to faculty. And of course, as everyone else has said, it gives you a much better opportunity to know your classmates... I knew everyone in my class by name and was fairly acquainted with at least half of them, and had classes with a particular group of 20ish that I knew quite well. I've been inside Stuy once, for NYSML and I was hugely impressed. (Then again, it's like... 6-7x the enrollment of my HS.) Oh yeah... and of course, don't go to Stuy just because you want to say that you did. (Yeesh, this almost sounds like choosing the right college for you. XD) Honestly, your high school, just like college, is going to be what you make of it. I'm not trying to be patronizing, but you are still young and have quite a bit of time to figure out what you want to do... your interests might change. If you regret your choice of HS, then you're doing it wrong; there's always some way to enjoy yourself.
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Post by Sofia on Sept 27, 2009 15:31:46 GMT -5
This should have helped me a lot, but I'm still completely torn. Because, as I forgot to mention, I also don't particularity like history. I just feel like either of the schools are good enough to make me like math or history.
Feh.
The test isn't until November, anyway.
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Post by Ice on Oct 1, 2009 21:13:08 GMT -5
Oh. In that case, I still suggest the smaller school. Easier to get noticed, I would think. I dunno how many connections they have, but I'm sure that since it's one of the magnet schools, they've got plenty. I wouldn't worry about it too much, though. Like I said, you can end up happy wherever you go.
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Post by Mel on Oct 2, 2009 5:37:48 GMT -5
Ff. I have no advice. xD I completely understand your wanting to go partially so you can say that you go there, and both of them sound like really great schools.
And having few extracurriculars is only a problem if you really like them? Having a ton of electives should mostly make up for that, right? (I'm insanely jealous of that - electives are awesome. xD)
And not liking history or math shouldn't be too much of a problem. You get more freedom to pick courses, so you can kind of limit the ones that you take. (Well, freedom mostly started this year - eleventh grade that is. I'm not sure how it is over there.) Like, one of my friends is taking three different history classes this year.
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Post by Sofia on Nov 7, 2009 22:36:30 GMT -5
Took the test today it, it was terrifying. Not because it was actually that hard or imposing, but the proctor just remembered to tell us that we had two minutes left when we had two minutes left.
And I completely threw everyone's advice in the trash and put the Stuy in first preference.
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Sorie
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Post by Sorie on Nov 8, 2009 2:25:16 GMT -5
NO, Nut. I am appalled. Shame on you. *slaps you around* How dare you render our advice pointless? Disgrace! Whatever floats your boat.
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