The Types
There are only 9 of me, and I am very competitive. You will take my test prep in the fall, and take the test in October. What am I?
What are the specialized high schools?
This is a factor that many school types take into consideration when accepting students. For the high school application process, it will all be dependent on your 7th grade results of this thing. They come from your classes, and should be over 85% if you are a Breakthrough student. What is this?
What is a GPA?
This is something that you started taking in your 7th grade summer. Even before you might have began thinking about high school, this thing at BTNY helped you to begin thinking about the process early on. Now you will continue taking this through the school year, into the summer, and finally into next fall. What is this?
What is High School Options class (HSO)?
This is the tab that you should use on a school's website when looking into admissions criteria for that specific school. This tab helps you to see all of the different pieces that you need to complete, from the application, to teacher recommendation forms and interview process to apply to that school. What is this tab called?
What is the admissions tab?
We will take this official exam over the summer on August 5th. What is it?
What is the official SSAT?
There are over 500 of me, but only 55 are considered college prep. Not all of us are created equally, and you should already do research about me.
What are the selective public schools?
This is a part of the application process that can sometimes get students nervous and/or excited. It requires some practice, but will the help of BTNY preparation. Once you schedule this, you go to the school and speak with a representative or two of the school. What is this part of the process?
What is an interview?
This is an event that is hosted every once in a while so that your families can learn as much as you know about your high school options. There was one in March and now in April. What is this event?
What are HSO Info Sessions?
[The team to answer both parts the question correctly get 200 points. If a team can only answer 1, they receive 100 points]
These two data points can be helpful for us to look at when researching into public schools. They tell us how well a percentage of students do in high school, as well as once they are in college. What are these two data points?
What are graduation rates and college enrollment rates?
This is the exam you will begin preparing for in the fall with Breakthrough. This will help you apply to specialized high schools, and is the only way to apply to these schools. What exam is this?
What is the SHSAT (Specialized High School Admissions Test)?
I am usually tied to some kind of religion. You have to take the TACHS exam to apply. There are even many options for single-gender schools, throughout New York City. What am I?
What are parochial schools?
This is the exam that you take if you apply to parochial schools. This is not a part of BTNY test prep, but we will remind you when to sign up for the test. What is this entrance exam called?
What is TACHS?
This is a part of your routine at Breakthrough that prepares you for something important, which is also a big part of the application process. You practice for this by taking the mock version of the real thing, and this part of your routine should always be taken seriously. What is this?
What is SSAT prep?
This is a website resource that gives us information about students' and families' perspectives about different schools. There are two different types of this kind of website. Can you name one of them?
What is niche or insideschools?
This is something you are expected to do within 24 to 48 hours. We send you many of these every month, and always you remind you that it will be a big part of the application process, regarding communication from schools and BTNY. What is this?
What are emails or answering emails?
This is the kind of school where you sleep in dorms there and build close bonds with your peers. You may choose a school that is miles away from home. What kind of school is this?
What are boarding schools?
This is the type of selective public school that admits students randomly, in order to accept a diverse group of student learners. It is important to put this type of school on your public school application to create what we call a balanced list. What is this type of selective public school?
What is an educational option school?
These two people will support you through the entire application process, the entire way through. They are around during program and work at the main Breakthrough office when they're not at site. They will be calling your families also to keep them supported and feeling good about the application process. Who are these people?
Who are your Program Manager and High School Placement Associate?
This is the website you can use to look into specific information about public schools in NYC. You have used this website when you completed a research card for public schools during HSO. What is this website called?
What is NYC School Finder?
This idea, in general, helps us to determine our chances of being accepted to a school. This idea is particularly helpful when we create our public school list in the fall. It contains three words, and will help us when we even apply to college. What is this phrase?
What is safety, target, and reach?
There are a number of these schools in New York City. You travel to and from the school everyday, and you have to complete a whole application process to apply. It costs tuition to attend, but there is financial aid to help with that. What type of school is this?
What are independent day schools?
This is a part of the application process that requires input from staff members at your school. You must request these people at school to complete this form. You even did something like this when you applied to BTNY. What is this form or part of the process?
What is a teacher or guidance counselor recommendation?
This person will help you on an individual basis to fill out applications, edit your essays, and generally help you to keep stay organized. You'll have weekly calls with them, and will trust in them to help you get this process completed. Who is this person?
Who is a High School Application Mentor (HAM)?
[All or Nothing - The team that can name all 4 categories receive all 500 points]
Name the 4 college prep criteria or resources at a school.
What are:
- Challenging academic course options
- Critical thinking & well rounded students
- Study habits
- College knowledge
[DOUBLE POINTS - The team that can name at least 2 categories will win 1,000 points total]
School fit is the idea that we research into and apply to schools that best fit our academic, emotional, and social needs. We look into these specific school fit categories when considering the right schools for us. What are the school fit categories to determine which school types and specific high schools are right for me?
What is school environment, school community/student body, school academics, and my academic fit/performance?