We publish 41 in-depth prep guides covering 25 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in New York, including Bard High School Early College Bronx (BHSEC Bronx), Bard High School Early College Brooklyn (BHSEC Brooklyn), Bard High School Early College Manhattan (BHSEC Manhattan), Bard High School Early College Queens (BHSEC Queens), Brooklyn Technical High School, Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, Canisius High School, Catholic High Schools — Archdiocese of New York & Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens (TACHS schools), and 17 more — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.
Beacon High School switched to a timed, in-person handwritten essay for the 2026–27 admissions cycle — and most families don't know what changed or why. This guide covers the new format, the two published prompts, how the rubric scores responses, and exactly how to practice so your child walks in confident on essay day.
Beacon High School's admissions essay counts for roughly 50% of your score — and the format may have changed for the 2026–27 cycle. This post breaks down exactly what Beacon's published rubric rewards, shows annotated strong vs. weak response examples, and gives you a week-by-week prep plan for before November.
Choosing between Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, and Brooklyn Tech is one of the highest-stakes decisions an NYC family makes in middle school. This guide gives you current SHSAT cutoff score estimates, a school-by-school culture comparison, and a ranking strategy built around your child's actual score target — so you submit the right list on day one.
The Brooklyn Latin School admits students on one number: their SHSAT composite score. This guide explains exactly which critical thinking and logical reasoning skills drive that score — and how the new 2025–2026 digital format, including Tech-Enhanced Items, changes what your child needs to practice.
Only 60 students out of 400+ nominees earn a seat in the UB Gifted Math Program each year — and most Western NY families have no idea what the three-hour entrance exam actually covers. This guide breaks down every section of the GMP Entrance Exam Battery, explains the high-stakes retesting rule, and tells you exactly how to start preparing right now.