Choose carefully. Once you enroll, it’s really hard to transfer. Carefully read our school profiles for your ranked schools, including the School Stats section and the comments to see what current and former students have to say about the school.

Don't let your friends sway your decision. No school can accept every student who wants to attend it, so it's likely that friends will attend different high schools. Trust that you will make new friends.

Make sure you meet the school's admissions requirements If you apply to a school that wants you to complete an assessment or submit sample work, make sure you do so by the deadline. Check the Department of Education's (DOE) website for more information.

Triple check your application form. Your MySchools account will include a personalized application listing key information such as your 7th grade final report card grades in core subjects and your zoned school, if you have one. Read the application carefully and tell your guidance counselor if any information is incorrect.

Practice before auditions. Whether you audition for an arts program online or in-person, practice! For in-person audtions, the experience varies by school, but some may take hours with students spending a lot of time waiting for their turn. Our advice: Bring a snack, something to drink and something to keep you calm while you pass the time such as a book, puzzles, or music to listen to with headphones. Watch our video, How to Apply to an Audition School and read more about auditions on the DOE's website.

For interviews - be prompt, be prepared, be enthusiastic and be yourself. Talk about what you genuinely like to do and why you like the school in your own words. Some schools interview students in small groups, so if you are on the quiet side, do your best to speak up. And, if you love to talk, that’s great, but remember to be polite and not interrupt when the interviewer or another student is speaking.

After you submit your application, relax! There's nothing more for you to do until the results are in.