Hello Bronx Science!

We, the Managing Editors, Copy Chiefs, and Editor-in-Chiefs of The Science Survey are here to answer your questions about student life and time management at Bronx Science, including advice on how to get a jumpstart on the college application process, where to grab a tasty bite outside school, and even suggestions on how to battle phone addiction. The winter months are a transitional period, we are so excited to offer our knowledge regarding to navigate the challenges that come with it. We hope that our advice helps you!

Best,

Sophia Birman ’26, Alexandra Ghile ’26, Simone Ginsberg ’26, Winnie Huang ’25, Willa Huber ’26, Dara King ’25, Amanda Ro ’26, Marissa Talushllari ’25, Tori Wee ’25, and Sasha White ’26

Simone Ginsberg: How can I balance academics, sleep and social life in high school?

As students, we naturally hope to excel in all aspects of our lives: academics, extracurriculars, and social activities. Unfortunately, accomplishing all of this while concurrently maintaining a healthy lifestyle can appear a daunting feat. The impending sense of doom surrounding time management is only amplified at a school like Bronx Science, infamous for its rigor and heavy workloads.

However, it is far from impossible to find a time management system that works for you. It simply takes experimentation and a willingness to develop one in the first place. Over the course of my two years at Bronx Science, through trial and error, I’ve found an equilibrium that allows me to maintain merit in all departments of my life — without excessive sleepless nights and energy drinks. Here are a few tips to help you find your equilibrium!

1. Know your schedule.

To distribute your time well, you need to be in tune with your schedule. There are simply too many important assignment deadlines, events, and exam dates for you to remember off the top of your head. The best and most simple way to organize your schedule and keep track of all of these important deadlines and dates is to curate any variation of a calendar.

At the beginning of every school year, Bronx Science gifts us a free planner — try to use it. If a planner isn’t your cup of tea, there are countless online resources that you can leverage to create your calendar. I strongly recommend Notion, which is entirely free and customizable. All important dates can be found on my calendar such as debate tournaments, birthdays, application deadlines, and so on. Knowing precisely what you need to do is extremely helpful when determining how you’re going to allocate your time.

2. Plan in advance.

Be as meticulous as possible when organizing your time, as there’s generally not enough of it to go around.

At the start of every day, to the best of your ability, plan exactly what tasks you need to complete and when you’re going to complete them and update your plan throughout the day. Having a daily to-do list holds you accountable for the work you need to do, which I’ve found deters procrastination — the nemesis of time management. However, many forget that you should always plan your daily schedule with your broader, often weekly or monthly schedule in mind.

For example, if you know you have an important exam and project due on Friday, don’t view them both as Thursday’s problem. You might want to plan your days such that you finish studying on Monday and Tuesday and finalize your project on Tuesday and Thursday. Or if you have an event that will occupy your entire weekend and an exam the following Monday, studying for that exam is probably better off as a task for the weekdays before the event.

When planning your schedule, ensure that you also designate time for activities that make you happy. For me, Friday afternoons after school are my “responsibility-free time.” I leverage that time to hang out with friends, shop, watch TV or, when I’m truly exhausted, simply take a nap.

Overall, don’t be afraid to be creative with how you distribute your time — whatever fits best into your schedule is going to be best for you!

3. Know your limits.

There comes a number of responsibilities so high that not even flawless time management can enable you to juggle them all at once. Don’t be afraid to modify your schedule to make it more manageable and disregard activities that are overwhelming you. Last year, I was a member of multiple clubs and outside organizations, a sports team, and the debate team, which was highly unsustainable for me. I decided to prioritize maintaining a healthy schedule and leave my sports team, a decision that was saddening, but necessary in balancing all of my other duties.

Your mental and physical health should always remain your top priority. When it’s 12 a.m. and you still have multiple assignments unfinished, it is probably ideal to go to sleep and complete them the next morning. Or if you do choose to stay up, plan to take a nap the next afternoon. It is always better to place your personal well-being before academics.

Ultimately, I urge you to keep in mind that these tips are merely a starting point for developing a time management system; yours should be uniquely tailored to you, reflecting the nuances of your schedule and capacity for stress.

Tori Wee: How can I get to know my teachers better? What is a good way to get better acquainted with teachers for letters of recommendations?

I’m sure all Bronx Science students have heard this before, but the best thing you can do, starting as early as possible, is to go to Small Group Instruction (SGI), which is an amazing resource, to not only better your understanding of a topic, but also to get better acquainted with your teachers. Even if you don’t talk to your teachers every day in SGI,  just showing up can show them your dedication and how motivated you are to learn in their class.

If you frequently participate in class, whether that is done verbally or independently, it will leave an impression on your teacher and they will notice.  

When it comes to a closer relationship with your teachers, your teachers are not likely to walk up to you and start a conversation. It is up to you to take the first step and the best place to do this is, again, SGI. The best way to get closer to your teachers is to be a genuine and reliable student; show up to class on time and prepared, communicate with them regularly, and try your best.

When choosing which teacher you want to get a recommendation from, know that it doesn’t necessarily have to be from the class you have the best grades in. If you tend to struggle in that class and have a lower grade, do not be discouraged!

When determining who you want to be writing your recommendation letter, consider the following.

1. Do you want this teacher to write you a recommendation?  

First, note that during your junior year at Bronx Science you are expected to ask two teachers in the Spring for a letter of recommendation, preferably, one STEM teacher and one humanities teacher. If you’re struggling to come up with teachers to ask, this could help you narrow down your options.

Another thing to know is that you should be looking for a recommendation from a junior year teacher, not one from sophomore or ninth grade year, unless you’ve had them again during your junior year. During your years as an underclassman, you’re still working through trial and error, figuring out the type of student you are and how you learn best. You want to make sure that this teacher can advocate for the type of student you currently are.

2. What can they say about you and is it positive?

Now, although it may seem obvious, it’s important to keep in mind what is expected of you — you want to make sure that you are putting as much effort as possible into your classes and reflecting the kind of student you want to be in and out of the classroom.

This means that your teacher should be able to tell that you are enthusiastic about learning in their class. You want to demonstrate that you are excited to learn and the type of person they want in their classroom through actively working in your groups and participating.

If you actively show interest and willingness to improve in their class, especially if you’re struggling, they will take note. But, if you tend to sleep in their class or not participate at all, consider choosing another teacher.

What it comes down to is that your teachers are there to help you. They want to make sure you succeed and care more about your enthusiasm for the class than your numerical grade.

As a Bronx Science student, you most likely have a handful of responsibilities to tend to on top of schoolwork and extracurricular activities. The last thing you want to do is wait until the last minute to ask for a recommendation letter.

In a school with over 700 students per grade, it can feel overwhelming to ask a teacher for a recommendation. But if you don’t already have the strongest relationship with the teacher(s) you have in mind, asking in advance will only help you in the long run.

In this case, more than ever, putting yourself out there is absolutely necessary. It shows, both your teacher and colleges, that you are dedicated to your education and serious about your ambitions. As long as you don’t overwhelm yourself with stress and make sure to try your best, you’ll be set. You’ve got this!

Amanda Ro: How can I make boundaries with people in my life, ranging from classmates to my closest friends?

Friendships can make or break the high school experience, and it is important to surround yourself with people who support and uplift you. However, in such a competitive school environment, friendships can become a sensitive topic, as you and your friends may often have similar goals throughout high school.

The easiest way to set boundaries between friends is to avoid asking them to do something that will make them uncomfortable. It is important to remember that friends are there to help and support you when they can in a way that does not hurt or exploit them. The safest way to ensure you are not using your friends is to avoid asking them to do something you would feel uncomfortable doing for them.

Although it may seem selfish, it is essential to prioritize yourself. Just like on an airplane, you would put your own oxygen mask on first, before helping others; similarly, you should complete everything you need to get done before helping others. For example, if your friend needs help with their school work, make sure you have already completed your own. Good friends will understand that you come first and will find other solutions to any problem they may have without putting you in an uncomfortable position.  

The academic rigor of our school often pits similar people against each other, which can strain friendships due to competition. The easiest way to make friends at our school is through extracurricular activities. Yet, competition often arises within extracurriculars as well — whether it’s competition to be the  captain of a sports team, the president of the debate team, or leadership in a club, there will inevitably be some level of rivalry. The best way to set boundaries when competing for specific positions is ultimately avoiding the subject, especially when in the middle of the application/results process. In the end, jealousy is completely normal, but being a good friend means celebrating your friends’ achievements alongside your own.

At our school, imposter syndrome is very common, and almost everyone experiences it in some shape or form. When you compare the achievements of your friends to your own, you can feel inferior or like you don’t belong. The easiest way to set boundaries between your friends is to maintain a little privacy. Keeping grades and test scores private will allow you to separate your friendships from your academics and prevent you from comparing yourself to them.

Ultimately, we are all here to learn and grow from each other, and a good friendship maintains a balance between necessary boundaries and honest, open support.

Sophia Birman: How can I improve my public speaking skills?

Public speaking can seem intimidating to many. As a shy student growing up, it was one of my biggest fears. However, as I grew up and familiarized myself with the concept, it became one of my favorite outlets for expression.

I have found that practice and exposure is absolutely necessary to improve public speaking skills. The biggest problem many encounter in public speaking is being overly nervous, and the best way to overcome this is to destigmatize this looming concept of public speaking via constant practice.

Luckily, Bronx Science offers many opportunities for students who want to improve and practice their public speaking skills. From our renowned Speech and Debate team to the school’s annual theatrical performances, there are various groups that students can join to do just that.

Participating in these extracurriculars is not at all necessary, however — public speaking is embedded in our daily lives at Bronx Science. For example, things as common as in-class presentations can help you to hone these skills.

Overall, when practicing public speaking, no matter the environment, there are a few tips in particular that I recommend taking into account.

1. When speaking, know your audience.

Keep in mind the preconceptions of your audience — how much do they already know about the topic at hand? How formal do they expect your presentation to be? Can you crack a few jokes and add your own flair, or would that disrupt the environment? Answering these questions will be key to preparing your presentation.

Throughout your presentation, it is also important to keep your audience at the forefront of your mind. Look for the audience’s reactions — do they seem to be more engaged when you discuss certain topics? If so, consider going a bit more in-depth into these areas. Try to make eye contact with members of the audience to gauge their interest and enhance connection.

Once you familiarize yourself with your audience and build a connection with them, huge audiences won’t make you nervous — they’ll only motivate you.

2. Utilize body language.

An underappreciated aspect of public speaking is body language; often, our body language matters just as much as our verbal communication.

Try to maintain eye contact with your audience. Memorize an outline of your presentation beforehand so that you are not reading off of slides, but rather looking at the audience, to gauge interest and form connections throughout your presentation.

Don’t be afraid to use your hands as well. Many people simply give presentations with their arms at their side, but using hand gestures to emphasize certain ideas, or point to certain aspects of your presentation (such as a graph), can be extremely effective and engaging.

Additionally, if the situation permits, use your stage! If you introduce a new point, it may be helpful to shift to face another area of the room. This indicates to your audience that you’re making a new argument and can help add structure to your presentation.

3. Use feedback!

If you have friends in the audience, or people who are presenting with you, ask for their feedback and take it into consideration. Your audience can often notice small mistakes that you overlook, and their constructive criticism can always be helpful.

Ultimately, although public speaking may seem intimidating, through consistent practice and conscious decisions, anyone can master the art — don’t let fear hold you back!

Winnie Huang: What should I prioritize in college applications for my junior year? Where can I find summer internships or jobs relating to my major and interests?

You may have heard from the seniors around you that senior year is an extremely hectic time. Senior year introduces the addition of college applications to a list of ongoing school and extracurricular commitments. As a current senior, I can tell you from my personal experience that this is not a fun combination. Senior year can often be a long and taxing process as you’re trying to navigate college applications for the first time, so it’s highly recommended that you get a head start as a junior.

How can you do this? Well, the college application process is different for everyone, but here are some things you should consider doing in junior year:

1. Researching Colleges

Throughout high school, you may or may not have been building a list of colleges that you might want to go to. If you haven’t, it’s a good idea to start now. When deciding whether or not you are going to apply to a school, there are many factors you have to consider, such as the cost, programs, and campus, among other things. Since this research is specific to you, it’s not going to be a single Google search away. College research requires a decent amount of time, whether you are attending a college fair, touring a campus, or scrolling through a school’s website.

You will most likely find yourself lacking time in senior year, so starting college research early will help to conserve time to spend on other parts of your college application. Additionally, having a finalized list of colleges that you want to apply to before senior year can be a lifesaver when trying to figure out all the deadlines and essays you have to write.

2. Brainstorm Essay Ideas

One of the most dreaded aspects of college applications is the numerous essays that you have to write. Depending on the number of schools you plan on applying to, the number of essays you will write can vary. The average high schooler writes about 12-20 essays for the college application process. At Bronx Science, however, the number tends to be much higher. It is also important to note that these numbers don’t account for the countless drafts and discarded essays that you will most likely also write as part of the process.

To lessen this burden, something that you can start doing in junior year is brainstorming essay topics. Take this time to write down notable events, interesting anecdotes, and inspiring phrases that you can use. Since the Common App and supplemental essays don’t differ much from year to year, it would be logical to look at the questions for the colleges you are looking to apply to.

When looking at these questions, think about how you can respond to them, and write any ideas  down. Even if you don’t end up using everything, having anything written down combats writer’s block and will inevitably lessen your workload in senior year.

3. Finish testing

If you plan on submitting your SAT or ACT score to college and haven’t taken the exam yet, your junior year is a good time to start. Compared to senior year, there is more free time for you to prepare and study for the exams. This time can lead to better results as you can better familiarize yourself with the tests and possible questions. Additionally, more time allows for experimentation between the SAT and the ACT so you can choose the test that you perform better on. Having a score you are satisfied with before senior year is a relief, as you have one less thing to worry about when doing college applications.

4. Find jobs/internships

Since junior year is the last year before the start of college applications, it’s a good idea to take part in internships or jobs that will demonstrate your interests to college.

You might be wondering how exactly you can find an internship. Well, there are many ways that you can go about internship searching, but I would recommend starting with resources here at Bronx Science. On the Bronx Science website, there is a list of opportunities in the arts that include possible internships you can attend. If the internship aligns with your interests, apply.

If you are looking for an internship in a field that the list doesn’t cover, I would recommend talking with your guidance counselor. Your guidance counselors are often knowledgeable of internships that students from previous years have attended and would be happy to give you this information.

If you are still struggling with finding an internship, the internet can be a useful tool. Simply search up “New York high school internship in (insert field of interest)” and explore the results until you find something with potential.

During this internship-seeking process, it’s important that you’re not afraid to reach out to others. The opportunity can come from literally anywhere whether it’s family, friends, or a professional that you cold emailed about a prospective job. The possibilities are endless and the opportunity just right for you will certainly come.

5. Work on any other existing commitments  

As a high schooler, there is often a lot on your plate, whether it’s clubs, teams, competitions, or outside jobs. These responsibilities can be hard to maintain as you’re working on college applications; if possible, try to accomplish some of these tasks in advance.

An example is the Regeneron Science Talent Search which many research students will apply to. The deadline for this year was early November which is the same time as early college deadlines. I, along with many other seniors, rushed to finish both applications at the same time, which was a stressful process. You can avoid some of this stress. Something that you could do in junior year is to work on your research and Regeneron essays in advance so they won’t be piled together with college essays.

Even if you are not doing a science competition, this advice can still be applicable to parts of your life. Completing tasks like making lesson plans, organizing schedules, or working on a not-time-specific part of your job early can help you save time and lessen stress in senior year by giving you more time to focus on your college applications.

Alexandra Ghile: How can I spend my Sundays to best prepare myself for Mondays? How can I store energy and prepare myself for the future while still living in the moment?

In the spirit of honesty, I must admit that, as a junior at Bronx Science, I have not perfected my Sunday schedule and could definitely improve the way I end my weekend and prepare for a new school week. But there are several things that all of us can try doing on Sundays to set ourselves up for a very successful week.

I find that the way you start your day dictates how you will spend the rest of it. Snoozing your alarm 15 times, waking up at 11 A.M., and opening social media as soon as you do, are not effective ways of setting yourself up for a good day. You will feel tired and lazy, and likely be unmotivated to get work done. I suggest waking up at a reasonable time and taking your time in the morning without immediately scrolling on your phone. Making yourself breakfast, opening your curtains and letting light into your room, journaling, or listening to music are all great options. Building a routine around the start of your morning can help you feel organized, peaceful, and grounded within the first hour of your day. Taking those moments of silence with your thoughts can go a long way.

Most of us will have work on Sunday, especially since so many of us procrastinate, and that’s understandable. What I would not recommend is leaving the procrastinated work until Sunday night. By Sunday night, you are frantic and stressed and all you want to do is go to sleep. So if you do have remaining work or studying you need to do, try spacing that out evenly throughout the day and handle it with relaxation. Give yourself breaks, whether these be short 10-minute breaks to walk around and talk to family, or longer breaks to eat lunch, watch a movie, or go outside.

By Sunday night, you should be wrapping up all of your homework and studying, and you will be grateful to have done so because nothing makes you more tired and ready to give up than a Sunday night. Look through your to-do list and try to plan for the rest of your week — how will you space out your work and studying? How busy will you be? In terms of thinking to the future, this tip will ensure that you have a realistic vision of your time in the upcoming week and should not get you too  worried about what’s coming up. Writing your workload down is usually helpful because everything looks more daunting in our imagination.

Finally, relax! It’s the end of a week in which you have worked hard. Some of my favorite ways to relax when I do manage to follow my advice and stop procrastinating include watching a movie, practicing self-care, taking long showers, talking to my friends, and going to sleep early. Try to take advantage of all this extra time to catch up on sleep, and limit your phone time before bed so that you aren’t tempted to stay awake on your phone. It will be difficult to adopt a healthy and enjoyable routine, but by recognizing this goal and focusing on accomplishing it, anyone can do it. Hopefully, by following these tips, you will feel your most refreshed and motivated self come Monday!

Willa Huber: How can I battle social media and phone addiction?

“Get off your phone!” We’ve heard this message countless times from teachers, parents, and maybe even friends. In an age when everything seems to circulate around our use of technology, how is it even possible to avoid our phones? While I can’t guarantee that these methods will work for you, here are a few tips and tricks to help limit the amount of time wasted on screens.  

1. Find something that interests you!

Whether this is an extracurricular activity, or a new book that you can’t put down, it’s important to have an alternative to your phone to turn to in your downtime. For me, this activity is dance, but it parallels many people’s passion for sports, acting or even debate. I’ve been dancing since I was two and I’m at my studio, booked with classes and rehearsals, six to seven days a week. Going somewhere where I can spend time with my friends and release stress and tension makes me feel astronomically better than sitting in my bed scrolling on social media.

While dance definitely keeps me busy, active and off my phone, there’s always the temptation to go on social media in the little bit of downtime I have. You likely encounter this same problem, and rather than looking at posts on social media that don’t interest you, I urge you to talk to friends, pick up a book, and if it’s nighttime, just go to sleep early; your mind will thank you in the morning.  

2. Track your screen time.

Social media has a seemingly hypnotic effect on our minds. As we mindlessly scroll through Instagram or Tiktok, time flies by, and before you know it hours have gone by. I’ve found that simply the awareness of just how many hours I waste on these apps helps me limit my overall usage. A strategy I’ve implemented to create such awareness is setting time limits on my most used social media apps. While some people use passwords to force themselves off certain apps, I find that just the reminder that I’ve spent an hour already on social media is enough to make me find something else to do.

When choosing the amount of time to limit yourself to, remember to stay realistic. For example, If you typically spend three hours on social media, limiting your screen time to thirty minutes from the get-go is unfeasible, and you’ll likely find yourself ignoring the limit over and over again. However, thirty minutes a day can be a goal that you work towards. Over time, you can set your social media limits to be shorter and shorter, that way the transition won’t feel so abrupt.

3. Put your phone in another room.

As Bronx Science students, we all have large amounts of homework that needs to be completed each night. Balancing each subject with extracurriculars and enough sleep is already difficult, and the temptation of your phone likely makes it even harder to get things done. To get rid of the urge to mindlessly scroll, put your phone completely out of sight, ideally in another room where you can’t easily retrieve it. Tell yourself that you’ll get a certain amount of work done and then scrolling on your phone for five minutes can be a reward at the end! 

Marissa Talushllari: Are college tours worth attending? Do they impact peoples’ opinions?

If you have the opportunity to attend a college tour, take it. The first step to applying to college is actually finding colleges you’re interested in and determining what criteria you are looking for in a college. After all, you’re going to be spending four years of your life at a college. You want to make sure that the university you choose to attend is a good fit for you; the best way to do that is to learn as much as you can about each college you are applying to.

If you’re a sophomore or junior and just beginning to think about college, you’re in a great place. Research as many colleges as you can — everything from Ivy League colleges to state universities and CUNY schools. Look beyond the top universities and widen your search to the many incredible colleges out there.

Your goal should be to collect as much information as you can about your options; the year will fly by and you’ll be starting the college application process before you know it. Look at colleges’ websites, their brochures, and helpful YouTube videos from the perspective of current students there. Read about their academic programs, extracurricular activities offered, and general approach to learning. Don’t just apply to a school because of its name and status: you should dig deeper and find out what about that school actually makes you want to attend.

That being said, there’s only so much you can learn from perusing a college’s website or brochure. A college can seem perfect on paper, but not be a good fit for you specifically. You might decide on your dream college because of its strong pre-med program, then get to the college and realize the campus culture is completely different from what you expected. After all, college isn’t just about academics. Unless you plan to spend four years studying alone in your room, look beyond a college’s academic offerings.

A great way to do this is to attend a college tour. They’re free to attend (barring the cost of transportation) and can help you get a better idea of what the university offers. You don’t even need to travel far; in New York City alone, there are so many amazing colleges where you can take a college tour. They’re usually led by current students at the university, who give a lot more information than you can learn by researching the school online.

Applying to college is a big step in your academic career, but you shouldn’t regard the task with dread. Learning about colleges and deciding which ones to apply to — even finding your dream college — is a necessary step and an enjoyable experience. Attending college tours definitely has an impact, and I strongly recommend going to as many as you are able to.

Sasha White: What are some of the best restaurants around Bronx Science?

After a long day, Bronx Science students filter out of the school after classes are over for the day to grab a snack. Luckily, there is a diversity of multicultural food options that are all a walking distance away.

Perhaps the fastest and most common food choice comes from the nearby food trucks. Every morning, three trucks line up outside the school, eagerly awaiting their day’s customers.

El Gran Campeón, usually referred to as Jay’s food truck, has been a staple in the Bronx Science community since 2009. The crimson red truck is hard to miss: it parks right outside the main entrance and offers many breakfast and lunch options, ranging from burritos to bagels to simple snacks and candy. Flexible hours and welcoming workers create an enticing food choice for both Bronx Science students and staff.

Right next to El Gran Campeón is Ned’s truck, a more affordable but equally popular food option for students. Ned’s popular dish is warm fries with a choice of sauces, such as ketchup or Chipotle mayo. He also offers quick snacks, wraps, and quesadillas. He is available during all students’ lunch periods, usually between the hours of 10:30-1:30.

The third truck is the ice cream truck – my personal favorite. It offers a variety of ice cream flavors priced at $3.50 ( it also offers Cup Noodles for only $1.50). This truck stays at the school for all student lunch periods and until all after school activities end.

A bit further away, in front of Lehman College, there is a halal food truck stationed for students and passersby. Here, you can find chicken or lamb over rice, falafel, gyros, and samosas. This is only a 5 minute walk from school and accessible to students on their way home from school.

A ten minute walk, or a short bus ride on the Bx10 or Bx28 will get you to a street full of restaurants, which you can explore after school. You can find your favorite fast food chains such as KFC,  Popeyes, and Subway or coffee shops like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. Indulge in familiar foods with Taco Express and the $1 Pizza Place, all located around Jerome Avenue. Whispers among students even allege that a new Chipotle is opening soon in the same area.

There is an abundance of places to choose from. From trucks, to fast food, to coffee shops, there is something for everyone. And if you’re unsure, there is a community of people who can help you through this familiar struggle.

Dara King: How can I balance an interest in humanities with the school’s STEM emphasis? What opportunities are available to explore humanities interests?

Bronx Science — it’s in the name and it’s undeniable: we are a science-based school. Our school has amazing science programs and research opportunities, which allow students to excel to the highest level of distinction. Yet, not many students are aware of the amazing opportunities Bronx Science offers for those interested in humanities.

While Bronx Science is heavily focused on STEM, the school has a wide variety of humanities classes and clubs available to students. These spaces cultivate student’s interest in the humanities and stress the importance of a well-balanced education.

1. Classes

Straying from the science halls of the school, Bronx Science boasts numerous programs in the humanities. Classes that challenge your beliefs and preconceptions about the arts are important to the well-rounded education that Bronx Science offers. Other than the standard classes of English and History, here are classes unique to Bronx Science’s curriculum.  

Most prominently, Journalism Workshop: Newspaper & Yearbook allows students to produce quality writing and photography for two award-winning publications, The Science Survey and The Observatory.  Offered to sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are interested in creative and journalistic writing, this course teaches students about the realities of publishing.

The school is ever-expanding its courses, recently adding three new English classes: Exploring Graphic Novels: A Journey Through Visual Literature, Science Fiction and Fantasy, and AP English Literature: Science and Medicine. These classes analyze the different ways English applies to different genres and could be a fun way to explore a specific interest.

Other than English classes, another way to explore humanities at Bronx Science is through the History classes that are offered. Oftentimes, these classes expand beyond studying the past to understanding the influence of history on our modern world. Courses such as Race and Gender, Holocaust Leadership, and Human Geography are open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

2. Clubs & Extracurriculars

If you don’t have space in your schedule to fully explore your interests in liberal arts, clubs can also be a good source of expression. With over 100 clubs at Bronx Science, students have plenty of opportunities to explore the arts. Each club has a different goal and contribution to the humanities.

Some clubs— such as Dynamo, Exposition Magazine, and Vox Discipulorum — focus on writing and publishing. These clubs spend time analyzing submissions and creating their own pieces to publish in a magazine. Dynamo, the oldest club in Bronx Science, focuses evaluating prose, poetry, photography, and art submissions from students; Exposition Magazine covers current events, creating a social-studies based magazine to inform the student body; and Vox Discipulorum allows students to explore language and culture, accepting pieces in any language imaginable.

Other clubs are centered around the analysis of the humanities: Alive Poets Society, Book Club, History Club, and Modern Music Appreciation Club are some examples. Here, you can learn more about your interests and get to know others with the same interests as you.

If you are looking to create, look no further than clubs such as Digital Arts Club, Starving Artists Society, and Writing Club. These clubs dedicate their meetings to giving students the time and space to work on their interests. They also encourage collaboration and creativity.

Ultimately, Bronx Science is multi-faceted and the interests of the student body reflect that. There are opportunities at every stage of your high school career to get more involved in the humanities, and I’m sure you can find your niche!

We, the Managing Editors, Copy Chiefs, and Editor-in-Chiefs of The Science Survey are here to answer your questions about student life and time management at Bronx Science, including advice on how to get a jumpstart on the college application process, where to grab a tasty bite outside school, and even suggestions on how to battle phone addiction.