Every year, 8th
graders face a decision that will determine the rest of their high
school career. That is whether or not to switch out of BSGE. People
switch out of BSGE for multiple reasons. But truth to be told, you
don’t “realize how much you like [BSGE] until after you’ve left,” says
Thomas Romero-North, 10th grader at BSGE. Thomas took the Specialized
High Schools Admission Test (SHSAT) and got into Bronx High School of
Science. He attended Bronx Science for a couple of weeks and quickly
transferred back to BSGE.
His reason for coming back to BSGE: He missed BSGE’s “friendly environment.”
But one student, Anca Dogariou, current 10th grader at Stuyvesant and
former BSGEer said that part of the reason she left BSGE was because
she “never particularly got along with people here.” Another student
who transferred out, 9th grader Aditya Nihalani, currently at Bronx
Science said that he “didn’t really like the atmosphere [at BSGE].” So
is BSGE really a school full of friendly people?
Honestly, it
depends on if you’ve found lots of friends and are comfortable here.
You probably have an easier time at BSGE if you have loads of friends
and aren’t subject to “loner” status.
Lack of friends,
however, may not be the reason some people would want to leave or stay
at BSGE. Lots of people have not transferred out of BSGE because their
parents forced them to. Arafat Chowdhury, BSGE 10th grader, said that
the reason he is still at BSGE is because his parents wanted him to be
with his older sister (who graduated last year). If his parents weren’t
protective in that sense, he may have transferred out. Another 10th
grader, Fiona Clarkson-Farrell says that she is still at BSGE “because
[her] mother goes on and on about how the school will help [her] get
ahead in life and refuses to let [her] go anywhere else.” The same
story probably goes for other BSGE students.
Parental pressure
has definitely played a factor in students switching in or out of BSGE.
There are the parents who see glory in receiving an IB diploma and the
parents who see value in other high schools. There are plenty of other
high schools in New York City. Some of these high schools are better
than BSGE at some things and visa versa. There are schools, like
Stuyvesant (one of the specialized high schools) where “there are more
opportunities when it comes to the classes you can take,” says Anca.
Stuyvesant High School
was formed in 1904 and BSGE, in 2002. Stuyvesant has over 100 years of
history full of traditions, clubs, teams, and actual class choices.
BSGE has yet to permanently adopt traditions, students don’t really
have a say in what classes they take and lots of clubs and teams have
yet to gain popularity.
Obviously, schools such as Stuyvesant have
the upper hand. It is really appealing to students to go and have a
“normal high school experience” where lockers are in hallways, teachers
don’t know you until you enter their class; you can choose lots of your
classes and most apealing of all, there is a systematic organization.
But one must consider that BSGE hasn’t been running for a century and
that it will take time for it to gain stability in those aspects.
BSGE, however, has its own good aspects. Although knowing everyone in
the school can get irritating, it is definitely a good thing. You don’t
have to worry about being alienated, wherever you are in BSGE. In
contrast, in schools with thousands of students, it is impossible to
know everyone and be friendly towards each and every person. Students
at BSGE can also take advantage of our newness by establishing their
own clubs and traditions; this is something many students have done.
But it really depends on what type of person you are and what you are
looking for from high school.
The bigger, more prominent NYC
high schools may offer other classes and lots of sports and
extra-curricular activities. If you want to specialize in something
such as the arts or you want to play for a sports team, BSGE is
not the place for you. Alexis Cotton, 8th grader at BSGE, for example
says she is “planning on switching to an art school, [her] first choice
being Frank Sinatra School of the Arts.” She says she is switching out
because she would rather go to a school specialized in the arts because
“we aren’t given opportunities like that in BSGE.” It is true that if
you are looking for opportunity in a specific area of interest, then
BSGE may not be your ideal high school.
| But smaller schools
such as BSGE offer a certain warmth and closeness that are not as
intimidating as schools with thousands of students. If you leave BSGE,
you will probably miss the students, the environment and maybe even
some teachers. Here at BSGE, there is more individual attention because
of the small amount of students. Teachers, for example make sure that
students don’t go out of line and that they keep up their grades. At
bigger schools with thousands of different students, one student would
never be scrutinized as much by teachers. Also, there’s a better chance
of standing out in a small school like ours.
The option to
switch out of BSGE is still available for current 8th and 9th graders.
But transferring isn’t a necessity. It depends on the type of person
you are and the type of school is good for you. There are so many
things you must consider before you decide to stay at or leave BSGE. So
don’t rush into a decision and think about where you see yourself and
what you want to accomplish in high school. But most of all, consider
this: Is BSGE your ‘home sweet home’?
Choosing a Public High School:
1. Take a look through the New York City Public High School Directory
2. Do some research online about the schools in the directory that appealed to you the most
3. Talk to Tim, BSGE guidance counselor about your choices
4. Possibly, visit open houses of the different schools you were considering
5. Fill out High School Application, applying to schools that interest you and BSGE.
6. Take the SHAT
7.
Once you have received your results indicating which high schools you
have gotten into, read up a little bit more on each of the schools.
Don’t feel bad if you didn’t get into your first choice school.
8. Make a Pros and Cons list for each school (they really do help)
9.
Talk to your parents (don’t let them govern your decision, though) and
consider where you will be more comfortable. Be completely honest with
yourself. If deep down you’re truly unhappy then you should leave but
if you secretly enjoy your life here then staying is certainly the best
option.
10. Make a decision. Don’t stress too much about it; most high schools will be just fine. It all depends on what you make of it.
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