Yes, the new-school dust is still swirling, but for families of eighth-graders, the high school admissions process looms large on the horizon. Much of what you've heard is true: The process is daunting and potentially confusing; it can be hard to know which of the city's 400+ high schools might best serve your child; and yes, this is the kind of decision that can have a profound effect on your child's life and future. High stakes? No kidding.

The DOE hosts a behemoth, two-day citywide high school fairand fairs for each borough (dates and times to come); we'll have more on the blog next week on how to navigate a fair without feeling swamped. OSEPO's high school admissions head, Evaristo Jimenez, took questions on the DOE website(responding mainly with generic 'see the directory/talk to your counselor/go to registration centers' answers); Insideschools' guide to high school admissions walks you through the basics; and faithful readers will be glad to welcome back Liz Willen, whose Middle School Muddlewill morph into High School Hustle this year. We'd also be glad to hear from readers about the process -- what works, what doesn't, and what surprises them along the way.

Stay tuned for more on fairs and open houses, and look for details on our Open House calendar, which is updated often in this pre-tour season. The process is intense and demanding, but at least it's fairly short-lived: By mid-December, your child will have completed his or her application and the decision-making will shift to the schools and to DOE.