Ep.15/The calm before the lottery numbers

In this episode of the School Smarts NYC podcast, host Carolyn DeFir provides a comprehensive guide to navigating the high school admissions process in New York City. With the application opening soon, she discusses the importance of understanding the lottery number system, the updates in admissions data, and the changes in essay and audition requirements. Carolyn emphasizes the need for parents to manage stress, stay organized, and make informed decisions while supporting their children through this critical time.

Takeaways:

• The application for NYC public high schools opens on October 7th.

• Understanding the lottery number system is crucial for parents.

• The lottery number is random and does not depend on application submission time.

• Parents should screenshot important information throughout the process.

• Staying organized and managing stress is key during admissions season.

• New data and tools will be available to help families make informed choices.

• Essay and audition requirements may change, so stay updated.

• It's important to balance the application list with likely schools and dream schools.

• Parents should not succumb to peer pressure during the admissions process.

• The journey is about finding the right fit for the child, not just the prestige of the school.

• Listen: