More than 8,200 8th graders are still sweating out this year's high school admissions process, waiting to hear where they have been acceptedfor September, and it's now time for current 6th and 7th-graders to start thinking about high school admissions.

Some questions for families to consider:

Should I prep for the SHSAT (for neophytes, that stands for Specialized High School Admissions Test) for possible entrance to one of eight highly competitive exam schools? Will it be enough to just do a practice test from the booklet? Or should I sign up for an outside prep course?

What do I need to do to prepare for the audition for the specialized arts high school, and other performing arts schools?

Answers to  these and other questions can be found in our guide to enrolling in high school in the Basics section and in our high school admissions posts on the InsideSCOOP.  There is lots of good advice from parents such as Liz Willen who have been through the process (twice!), in the blog comments, and on our high school forum.

Note that a few high schools host tours and information sessions in the spring for parents who want to get a headstart on visiting schools.  Your best bet is to check school websites or call the parent coordinators to find out.

High School Info Sessions

For an official introduction to the high school admissions season,  the Department of Education is hosting May high school information sessions in all five boroughs for 6th and 7th grade students and their families.  All meetings run from 6-8 p.m. and begin May 10. The last sessions are on May 26.

In July, the DOE typically offers evening workshops on different types of high schools. Here's are links to our recaps of a few of last summer's sessions on specialized high schools,and selective and audition schools, and to the DOE's handouts from all eight sessions. (We'll post this summer's dates once we get them).

Parents of 8th and 9th-graders: Got any tips about the high school admissions process? Were the info sessions helpful last year? Please comment below.

See the list of info session dates and locations after the jump:<!--more--> The Bronx

Wednesday, May 11:

Theodore Roosevelt Campus

500 East Fordham Road

Thursday, May 19:

PS/MS 194 at 2365 Waterbury Avenue

Brooklyn

Tuesday, May 10:

Boys & Girls High School

1700 Fulton Street

Thursday, May 26:

Brooklyn High School of the Arts

345 Dean Street

Manhattan

Tuesday, May 10:

High School for Health Professions

345 East 15th Street

Tuesday, May 17:

PS 166

132 West 89th Street

Queens

Thursday, May 12:

Francis Lewis High School

58?20 Utopia Parkway

Thursday, May 26:

Long Island City High School

14?30 Broadway

Staten Island

Wednesday, May 18:

New Dorp High School

465 New Dorp Lane