1. EDUCATION
Brooklyn Tech is obviously known for its rigorous academic programs. What makes it stand out, especially, is its unique major system. In the major process students take a "major" in junior year and follow it through till graduation. This does not necessarily mean that the students have to take their selected major in their chosen universities.
For example, I am in the Electrical-Mechanical major. I thought I was good in the subjects the major offered but as I soon found out I was not. I was failing classes and for me that was a huge eye-opener. This led me to find out my passion for computer science. Even though we had a software major I was foolish enough not to take it because it had no "girls". But, to my disappointment, neither did Electrical-Mechanical Engineering.
The tough courses at Brooklyn Tech also helped me find my other passions. When I saw that I was not fond of engineering I started to involve myself more in media. I discovered my hidden passion for film-making because I did not like what I was given to study. It went to the point where I stopped caring about the classes which forced me to do drudgery. Ironically, this is unsurprising for anyone at Tech since we spend most of our time making up answers rather than actually doing them like we are supposed to.
2. SCHOOL LIFE
There are five thousand students in the high school. One can guess how it feels to be in a Brooklyn Tech elevator. But on the other hand, the high number of students mean that the school hosts a huge diversity of people. From the type of kids who study every day and every night to the type of students who skip school every day and night, Brooklyn Tech is full of surprises. However, that usually means a person will find their "best-friends" or even, if lucky, their "other half". So the good thing is if someone gets rejected once there are still four thousand nine hundred and ninety nine victims left. The bad part is "Engineer's Eye".
Engineer's eye is a term coined for students at Brooklyn Technical who have lowered their standards so much that the not so attractive people can look gorgeous. Even though this is blunt and offensive it could not be any more truer than the dictionary. People, therefore, usually end up with people they would not have been with when they first came to Tech.
Besides relationships school life does revolve around the actual architecture of Tech. As soon as someone enters Tech they are surprised by the first floor lobby which is painted head to toe. It is around this painted mural that the students spend most of their time. Whether it is just hanging with friends or taking an educational "leave" from class, the room is always riddled with bickering techies.
The school itself stays open for a long time but people sometimes hang out in the massive Fort Greene park right next to the school.
3. STAFF AND FACULTY
Since education plays such a major role so do the teachers. Although, we do have teachers who graduated from Cornell, NYU, and Columbia, the amount of bad teachers are surprisingly high. A good Physicist is not necessarily a good teacher of Physics. It is hard to say if the teachers who are good do make up for the ones that are bad. The reason being: an A in one class can not recover an F in another class.
Another reason is that a teacher can change a student's life but it does not work around the other way as much. For instance, my freshman global teacher was amiable to me. He made me feel individualized. At first I thought I was an introvert but soon he motivated me to find my true self. I began to gain more confidence by making funny remarks about him and he did not get angry. As a result I became more spontaneous and active and this I plan to carry through my entire life.
However, since we have a vast number of teachers finding the right teacher for tutoring is not tough. Even then, if there is one thing Brooklyn Tech has taught me is not to depend on teachers to do their actual job. Self-teaching is the best way and honestly it is not surprising that college is mostly self teaching. This is why most people graduating from Tech feel prepared for their universities because they know not to depend on anyone else.
4. COLLEGE OFFICE
The question that every parent asks is : "Will Brooklyn Technical High School get my child into a prestigious University?" The answer is a yes and no: 98% of Brooklyn Tech graduates get into 4 year colleges. However, people automatically think a 4 year university as a good educational establishment. A 4 year university could be a community college and a person could easily get in there without going to Brooklyn Tech.
The real question would be: "Will my son/daughter get into an Ivy League". This is a specific question but it has a harsh answer. The number of people from Brooklyn Tech getting into Ivy Leagues is comparatively high. Usually this means that the student will have to be at the top 10 percentile of their class. With an already rigorous program getting a 95-100 average is hard. Fortunately, some people do have those grades but those students find themselves working sleeplessly and continuously.Therefore, the Ivy leagues are far fetched for most of Tech students, including for me.
This is where the college office comes in. They work with the students to get them the best university which matches their choice. The college office does a great job of making sure that most students do not go over their heads. They work with the students for scholarships and colleges to get the right fit. Also Naviance, a website, allows students to organize their universities and write surveys about their choices.
5. SPORTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
People imagine all Techies as nerds with dorky glasses and huge backpacks. Even though that is true for 80% of the student body there still are the 20%. These people participate in sports and arecompetitive. Brooklyn Tech has won countless awards in wrestling, softball, bowling, handball etc. Students can aim in getting sports scholarships from Brooklyn Tech by being good in a sport.
The rest 80%, rejected by teams, conspire to form their own activities. New clubs spawn every few months. Brooklyn Tech is known for its Moot Court, Model UN and Robotics Team. These clubs let children work for their passion and allow them a chance to meet new people. Some clubs are more competitive: the Math Team is a club that gets enlisted as a student's class once they choose it.
I am a big fan of the clubs of Brooklyn Tech because there is something for everyone. I plan on making a film club senior year with few of my friends. Hopefully I will get to meet new people and form the next prestigious club in Tech. Until then I will have to be satisfied with Minecraft Club (I don't actually go there but you can imagine who does).
IN THE END I would like to say that Brooklyn Tech is not as much of a big deal as people make it. Making into the school is not tough, it is surviving and thriving that matters her at Brooklyn Tech. I do not know if I will get into a famous, brand-named university, but wherever life takes me I will not go down with out a fight. That is what Tech teaches you. The realization that no matter what life throws at you do not surrender. And even if you do remember:
Engineer's eye is a term coined for students at Brooklyn Technical who have lowered their standards so much that the not so attractive people can look gorgeous. Even though this is blunt and offensive it could not be any more truer than the dictionary. People, therefore, usually end up with people they would not have been with when they first came to Tech.
Besides relationships school life does revolve around the actual architecture of Tech. As soon as someone enters Tech they are surprised by the first floor lobby which is painted head to toe. It is around this painted mural that the students spend most of their time. Whether it is just hanging with friends or taking an educational "leave" from class, the room is always riddled with bickering techies.
The school itself stays open for a long time but people sometimes hang out in the massive Fort Greene park right next to the school.
3. STAFF AND FACULTY
Since education plays such a major role so do the teachers. Although, we do have teachers who graduated from Cornell, NYU, and Columbia, the amount of bad teachers are surprisingly high. A good Physicist is not necessarily a good teacher of Physics. It is hard to say if the teachers who are good do make up for the ones that are bad. The reason being: an A in one class can not recover an F in another class.
Another reason is that a teacher can change a student's life but it does not work around the other way as much. For instance, my freshman global teacher was amiable to me. He made me feel individualized. At first I thought I was an introvert but soon he motivated me to find my true self. I began to gain more confidence by making funny remarks about him and he did not get angry. As a result I became more spontaneous and active and this I plan to carry through my entire life.
However, since we have a vast number of teachers finding the right teacher for tutoring is not tough. Even then, if there is one thing Brooklyn Tech has taught me is not to depend on teachers to do their actual job. Self-teaching is the best way and honestly it is not surprising that college is mostly self teaching. This is why most people graduating from Tech feel prepared for their universities because they know not to depend on anyone else.
4. COLLEGE OFFICE
The question that every parent asks is : "Will Brooklyn Technical High School get my child into a prestigious University?" The answer is a yes and no: 98% of Brooklyn Tech graduates get into 4 year colleges. However, people automatically think a 4 year university as a good educational establishment. A 4 year university could be a community college and a person could easily get in there without going to Brooklyn Tech.
The real question would be: "Will my son/daughter get into an Ivy League". This is a specific question but it has a harsh answer. The number of people from Brooklyn Tech getting into Ivy Leagues is comparatively high. Usually this means that the student will have to be at the top 10 percentile of their class. With an already rigorous program getting a 95-100 average is hard. Fortunately, some people do have those grades but those students find themselves working sleeplessly and continuously.Therefore, the Ivy leagues are far fetched for most of Tech students, including for me.
This is where the college office comes in. They work with the students to get them the best university which matches their choice. The college office does a great job of making sure that most students do not go over their heads. They work with the students for scholarships and colleges to get the right fit. Also Naviance, a website, allows students to organize their universities and write surveys about their choices.
5. SPORTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
People imagine all Techies as nerds with dorky glasses and huge backpacks. Even though that is true for 80% of the student body there still are the 20%. These people participate in sports and arecompetitive. Brooklyn Tech has won countless awards in wrestling, softball, bowling, handball etc. Students can aim in getting sports scholarships from Brooklyn Tech by being good in a sport.
The rest 80%, rejected by teams, conspire to form their own activities. New clubs spawn every few months. Brooklyn Tech is known for its Moot Court, Model UN and Robotics Team. These clubs let children work for their passion and allow them a chance to meet new people. Some clubs are more competitive: the Math Team is a club that gets enlisted as a student's class once they choose it.
I am a big fan of the clubs of Brooklyn Tech because there is something for everyone. I plan on making a film club senior year with few of my friends. Hopefully I will get to meet new people and form the next prestigious club in Tech. Until then I will have to be satisfied with Minecraft Club (I don't actually go there but you can imagine who does).
IN THE END I would like to say that Brooklyn Tech is not as much of a big deal as people make it. Making into the school is not tough, it is surviving and thriving that matters her at Brooklyn Tech. I do not know if I will get into a famous, brand-named university, but wherever life takes me I will not go down with out a fight. That is what Tech teaches you. The realization that no matter what life throws at you do not surrender. And even if you do remember:
"What is defeat? Nothing but education; Nothing but the first step towards something better."
Wendell Phillips
