Two Sides to Stuy

Eighth graders from all around New York City, walking through Stuyvesant’s doors into its annual Open House event, are greeted with the jovial melodies of performances by the school band and by enthusiastic Big Sibs who introduce them to various areas of the institution. The night concludes with Principal Eric Contreras’s welcome speech in the Murray Khan Theater, where he introduces the rich academic and extracurricular life available to the student body. But the night’s presentations do not include Stuyvesant’s supposedly nonexistent school spirit and the hours of studying that prospective students often hear about.

A more accurate presentation of Stuyvesant lies between these two extremes. It is partly the image presented at the Open House, where everything is sugar, spice, and everything nice, and it is partly a scene straight out of AMC’s “The Walking Dead.” Every year, prospective students ask questions about both sides of the spectrum. However, it is crucial to recognize that the imagined Stuyvesant experience varies for each student, carved by a unique set of decisions and mentalities.

Do Stuyvesant students really go to sleep at 2:00 a.m. every day?
A: No, it’s actually 4:00 a.m.
B: Usually, if you don’t procrastinate you should be able to get a good night’s sleep.

How much homework do you get a night?
A: Nine to 10 hours.
B: How long your homework takes depends on your course load and your time management skills. If you have too many AP classes and you procrastinate, it very well might take you nine hours. However, if you understand your limitations and don’t get distracted, it should be more manageable.

How likely is it that I will have a 95 average?

A: It doesn’t matter what the likelihood is. You have to have a 95 or you’re a failure.
B: It’s not easy to get a 95 average, though it is possible. It is better to set realistic goals for yourself in terms of doing well in school, as well as doing the things you enjoy. Do a little bit every day to reach those goals.

How are the teachers?
A: They are not good. They don’t give high grades.
B: Every teacher at Stuyvesant is qualified to teach here, and they put a lot of effort into their teaching. Do your best in class and be engaged and you will realize that Stuyvesant teachers are some of the best.

How are the students?

A: They’re really mean and only care about their grades.
B: Some students can be very goal-oriented, which is tough to deal with. So don’t. Look for other people. Other than that, Stuyvesant has the nicest, most talented, and caring people you will ever meet. Find a group of friends that will push you to be your best while giving you the necessary support.

The questions asked at the Open House are fairly straightforward, but prospective students may receive very different responses depending on to whom they are talking. The cliché answer, “It’s hard, but it’s manageable” underplays the fact that being a Stuyvesant student requires much more effort than being a middle school student did. However, the “Stuy or Die” mentality morphs into an unhealthy mixture of competition, mistrust, stress, and even loathing, as some of New York City’s best students are left in the same environment to fight for the best grades. Or at least that’s how we come off to those outside our school.

These traits exist at Stuyvesant, but they are not its defining characteristics. Not everyone will have a 95 average here, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth working toward. While asking about the likeliness of getting a good grade or what the teachers are like brings a certain assurance, prospective students should be reminded to ask themselves, “Will this be a meaningful experience for me?” While the course load will be heavy, often to the detriment of one’s sleep, there are so many aspects of Stuyvesant that complement these sides. It will be difficult not to find friends, supportive clubs, and classes that appeal to one’s interests, even niche ones.

The Open House is important for students who are on the fence about coming to Stuyvesant. They already know about Stuyvesant’s reputation for harboring a cutthroat environment. Instead of listening to cliché, surface-level comments, we encourage prospective students to enter with an open state of mind and understand that the Stuyvesant experience is less about the influences it will cast on them than about what they make of it as an individual.