Confused about the high school admissions process? Department of Education enrollment officers will be traveling to each borough twice in October, offering evening information sessions to families of 8th-graders and 7th-graders who want to get an early start.

Prospective students may also learn about different high schools at borough fairs on the weekend of Oct. 22-23. Every school  is expected to send representatives and these fairs will be less-crowded than the citywide fair, offering a better chance for families to talk directly to students and school staff.

The info sessions, two in each borough, will all be held from 6:30-8 p.m. (The schedule is below and on the DOE's website.) The first one is Monday, Oct. 3 in Manhattan, at the High School for Health Professions and Human Servicesat 345 East 15th Street.

Insideschools has posted videos with tips about what to consider when you apply and slide shows of many high schools. Of course the best way to learn about a school and whether it's right for you, is to visit. We've posted the open house and tour dates for the citywide specialized high schools below.

Students interested in trying for one of the specialized high schools must request a "ticket" from your middle school guidance counselor by Oct. 12. You don't need to reserve a spot for school information sessions or open houses unless it is noted in the listing below.

Bronx Science: Open House Oct. 25, after school (time not posted yet)

Brooklyn Latin: Open House Oct. 27, 5-7 p.m.; Information sessions every Friday in October at 9 a.m.

Brooklyn Tech: Open House Oct. 26, 6-8:30 p.m.; 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. tours held Mondays through Oct. 31. Call 718-804-6442 to reserve a tour spot.

High School for American Students at Lehman College Open House Oct. 11, 5:30 p.m. in the campus Performing Arts Center.

High School for Math, Science & Engineering at City College Open House Oct. 19, 6-8 p.m. Self-guided tour, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

LaGuardia High School for Music & Art and the Performing Arts Open house in February for accepted students only. Best way to see the school before then is to attend a school performance.

Queens High School for the Sciences at York College Oct. 4, 6-8:30 p.m., York College Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.

Staten Island Tech: Open House Oct. 5, 7-9 p.m.

Stuvyesant: Open House Oct. 13 4:30-7:30 p.m. includes 30 minute building tour.

Department of Education Information Session Schedule: 6:30-8 p.m.

The Bronx

Wednesday, October 12

MS 194

2635 Waterbury Avenue                

Thursday, October 20

Theodore Roosevelt Educational Campus

500 East Fordham Road

Brooklyn

Thursday, October 6

John Jay Campus

237 7th Avenue

Tuesday, October 18

Boys and Girls High School

1700 Fulton Street

Manhattan

Monday, October 3

High School for Health Professions and Human Services

345 East 15th Street

Monday, October 17

Louis D. Brandeis Educational Campus

145 West 84th Street

Queens

Thursday, October 20, 2011

John Adams High School         

101-01 Rockaway Boulevard

Monday, October 24, 2011

Aviation Career and Technical Education High School

45-30 36th Street

Staten Island

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical Education High School

290 St. Marks Place

Monday, October 24, 2011

The Michael J. Petrides School

715 Ocean Terrace