Each and every day parents reach out to us with fascinating questions about every facet of the educational journey. How can I help my family manage stress during a competitive admissions process? To what extent should I allow my child to make learning mistakes? Is my child applying to too many colleges? As part of our on-going effort to educate and inform students and parents alike, we are launching a semi-regular series of “Tuesday Talks,” short Zoom sessions packed with tools to navigate the educational challenges that our families tend to encounter. These talks are free and open to anyone ..read more

Navigating the college admissions process is daunting. In this post, we will summarize the key components of the college application portfolio. Quantitative Components TRANSCRIPT GPA Course Rigor Academic Trends over Time College Credits TESTING ACT/SAT AP Scores IB Scores QUALITATIVE Components HOLISTIC Essay Supplemental Essays Letters of Recommendation Art or Talent portfolio Extracurriculars OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Legacy Demonstrated Interest Athletic Recruitment Interview/Video Now let’s look at some of these components in more detail. TRA ..read more

A few weeks ago, City Smarts co-founder Danielle was the featured guest on NYC Academic Solutions, an education podcast hosted by NYC learning-guru Alex Friedman. Alex brought Danielle on to discuss the role of executive functioning in the digital learning landscape. In a wide ranging and often fascinating conversation, they discuss a range of challenges students face today such as distractibility and the billion dollar attention economy, and share advise for parents overwhelmed by their kids’ smartphone usage. Danielle also touches upon the City Smarts approach to Holistic Coaching ..read more

High school admissions can be confusing. We’re here to help! We’ve created a robust guide to navigating the NYC high school admissions process. Need help? Check out our HS Admissions services Our guide is broken up into four sections: Overview of the public school admissions process Generalized public school admissions calendar Overview of the private school admissions process Generalized private school admissions calendar     PUBLIC SCHOOLS New York City students can apply to several categories of public schools simultaneously. This means a student can prospectively cho ..read more

Navigating the college admissions process is daunting. In this post, we will summarize the key components of the college application portfolio. Quantitative Components TRANSCRIPT GPA Course Rigor Academic Trends over Time College Credits TESTING ACT/SAT AP Scores IB Scores QUALITATIVE Components HOLISTIC Essay Supplemental Essays Letters of Recommendation Art or Talent portfolio Extracurriculars OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Legacy Demonstrated Interest Athletic Recruitment Interview/Video Now let’s look at some of these components in more detail. TRA ..read more

High school admissions can be confusing. We’re here to help! We’ve created a bite-sized guide to navigating the NYC high school admissions process. Our guide is broken up into four sections: Overview of the public school admissions process. Generalized public school admissions calendar. Overview of the private school admissions process. Generalized private school admissions calendar.     PUBLIC SCHOOLS New York City students can apply to several categories of public schools simultaneously. This means a student can prospectively choose between a Specialized High School, a ..read more

High school admissions can be confusing. We’re here to help. We’ve created a bite-sized guide to navigating the NYC high school admissions process. Our guide is broken up into four sections: Overview of the public school admissions process. Generalized public school admissions calendar. Overview of the private school admissions process. Generalized private school admissions calendar.     Public Schools New York City students can apply to several categories of public schools simultaneously. This means a student can prospectively choose between a Specialized High School, a S ..read more

In November, New York City 8th graders interested in attending specialized high schools will take the SHSAT. The two full length tests included in this year’s handbook suggest modest changes to the test format such as an expanded grammar section and math section that is somewhat easier than in years past. The 2019-2020 handbook features 2 full length tests. Download the 2020-2021 SHSAT handbook here. Because these tests are the most accurate reflection of the most current test design, we strongly encourage families to be strategic about when and how to incorporate these tests into study ..read more

Many of us are facing new and unfamiliar challenges at home: working from home while keeping children on task with remote learning; supporting students who feel detached from their communities and academics; navigating the sheer frustration of being cooped up…day after day. At City Smarts, we work hard to support our community holistically. Even amidst these circumstances, this has not changed. We’ve scoured the internet and curated a list of online resources that may help to support your family through this uncertain time.  COMMUNICATION: We are all struggling with the day-to-day impac ..read more

Why Mock Testing – We’re big believers in mock testing. For the past few years, we’ve operated our own mock testing classroom in Brooklyn, where students come to build test endurance, overcome test-day obstacles, and prove their mettle in a simulated setting. Our mock exam service is about test preparedness. It provides us with valuable feedback about how a student tests, and is something we rely on throughout a student’s prep schedule for insights into fine tuning. Our Concerns About At-Home Testing – Traditionally, we have been skeptical of at-home testing for a few reasons: 1. home is a saf ..read more