TJ Admit, but worried!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are conflating two things

1. Old process is flawed

Hence, it seems the assumption seems to be

2. New process is good/better

I would agree the old process is flawed but new process is even more flawed. I do like the idea of some percentage of kids from each HS getting into TJ. That is a good decision. Dropping recommendation letters is the most damaging of all.

We need reform, but in a thoughtful way. Not like the rushed half baked job they did in the middle of a pandemic.

The new process is significantly better for the overall health of the community. It has massively reduced the incentive for participation in TJ-prep programs, and children who are denied admission are faring much better than they were previously because parents are blaming the new process instead of their children. The trauma that kids in my community would suffer in the old days was awful... the new process has saved many abusive parents from themselves in a way.

Um. Go to any prep place. They still have TJ prep, but it is now geared towards essays and writing. It is full of students as early as 5/6th grade. New process just shifted everything over to writing. The prep places list all the TJ admissions still. Old process let in naturally gifted math students and some prepped students. New process mostly results in naturally gifted writers and prepped students + experience factored students. The problem is TJ is supposed to be a STEM school. I mean why didn't they just add experience factors to the old system?

Because SB members are idiots and think Asian students can't write. Guess what, Asian students excel in writing/reading and math so their own prejudice and stupidity resulted in moronic process.

Our school ended up with more Asians than I think would have happened under the old system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are conflating two things

1. Old process is flawed

Hence, it seems the assumption seems to be

2. New process is good/better

I would agree the old process is flawed but new process is even more flawed. I do like the idea of some percentage of kids from each HS getting into TJ. That is a good decision. Dropping recommendation letters is the most damaging of all.

We need reform, but in a thoughtful way. Not like the rushed half baked job they did in the middle of a pandemic.

The new process is significantly better for the overall health of the community. It has massively reduced the incentive for participation in TJ-prep programs, and children who are denied admission are faring much better than they were previously because parents are blaming the new process instead of their children. The trauma that kids in my community would suffer in the old days was awful... the new process has saved many abusive parents from themselves in a way.

Um. Go to any prep place. They still have TJ prep, but it is now geared towards essays and writing. It is full of students as early as 5/6th grade. New process just shifted everything over to writing. The prep places list all the TJ admissions still. Old process let in naturally gifted math students and some prepped students. New process mostly results in naturally gifted writers and prepped students + experience factored students. The problem is TJ is supposed to be a STEM school. I mean why didn't they just add experience factors to the old system?

Because SB members are idiots and think Asian students can't write. Guess what, Asian students excel in writing/reading and math so their own prejudice and stupidity resulted in moronic process.

The process is race-blind and a clear improvement over the old one where people were buying the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are conflating two things

1. Old process is flawed

Hence, it seems the assumption seems to be

2. New process is good/better

I would agree the old process is flawed but new process is even more flawed. I do like the idea of some percentage of kids from each HS getting into TJ. That is a good decision. Dropping recommendation letters is the most damaging of all.

We need reform, but in a thoughtful way. Not like the rushed half baked job they did in the middle of a pandemic.

The new process is significantly better for the overall health of the community. It has massively reduced the incentive for participation in TJ-prep programs, and children who are denied admission are faring much better than they were previously because parents are blaming the new process instead of their children. The trauma that kids in my community would suffer in the old days was awful... the new process has saved many abusive parents from themselves in a way.

Um. Go to any prep place. They still have TJ prep, but it is now geared towards essays and writing. It is full of students as early as 5/6th grade. New process just shifted everything over to writing. The prep places list all the TJ admissions still. Old process let in naturally gifted math students and some prepped students. New process mostly results in naturally gifted writers and prepped students + experience factored students. The problem is TJ is supposed to be a STEM school. I mean why didn't they just add experience factors to the old system?

Because SB members are idiots and think Asian students can't write. Guess what, Asian students excel in writing/reading and math so their own prejudice and stupidity resulted in moronic process.

The process is race-blind and a clear improvement over the old one where people were buying the test.

Actually, for FCPS, Young Scholars identification is part of the application process. Young Scholars criteria tracks along racial lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are conflating two things

1. Old process is flawed

Hence, it seems the assumption seems to be

2. New process is good/better

I would agree the old process is flawed but new process is even more flawed. I do like the idea of some percentage of kids from each HS getting into TJ. That is a good decision. Dropping recommendation letters is the most damaging of all.

We need reform, but in a thoughtful way. Not like the rushed half baked job they did in the middle of a pandemic.

The new process is significantly better for the overall health of the community. It has massively reduced the incentive for participation in TJ-prep programs, and children who are denied admission are faring much better than they were previously because parents are blaming the new process instead of their children. The trauma that kids in my community would suffer in the old days was awful... the new process has saved many abusive parents from themselves in a way.

Um. Go to any prep place. They still have TJ prep, but it is now geared towards essays and writing. It is full of students as early as 5/6th grade. New process just shifted everything over to writing. The prep places list all the TJ admissions still. Old process let in naturally gifted math students and some prepped students. New process mostly results in naturally gifted writers and prepped students + experience factored students. The problem is TJ is supposed to be a STEM school. I mean why didn't they just add experience factors to the old system?

Because SB members are idiots and think Asian students can't write. Guess what, Asian students excel in writing/reading and math so their own prejudice and stupidity resulted in moronic process.

The process is race-blind and a clear improvement over the old one where people were buying the test.

At most any test-buying was for two years, unless they were bribing the test company directly, in which case it was for three years.
And they are still buying the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are conflating two things

1. Old process is flawed

Hence, it seems the assumption seems to be

2. New process is good/better

I would agree the old process is flawed but new process is even more flawed. I do like the idea of some percentage of kids from each HS getting into TJ. That is a good decision. Dropping recommendation letters is the most damaging of all.

We need reform, but in a thoughtful way. Not like the rushed half baked job they did in the middle of a pandemic.

The new process is significantly better for the overall health of the community. It has massively reduced the incentive for participation in TJ-prep programs, and children who are denied admission are faring much better than they were previously because parents are blaming the new process instead of their children. The trauma that kids in my community would suffer in the old days was awful... the new process has saved many abusive parents from themselves in a way.

Um. Go to any prep place. They still have TJ prep, but it is now geared towards essays and writing. It is full of students as early as 5/6th grade. New process just shifted everything over to writing. The prep places list all the TJ admissions still. Old process let in naturally gifted math students and some prepped students. New process mostly results in naturally gifted writers and prepped students + experience factored students. The problem is TJ is supposed to be a STEM school. I mean why didn't they just add experience factors to the old system?

Because SB members are idiots and think Asian students can't write. Guess what, Asian students excel in writing/reading and math so their own prejudice and stupidity resulted in moronic process.

The process is race-blind and a clear improvement over the old one where people were buying the test.

True because it's illegal in the United States to do otherwise. And if there was a shred of proof there would be lawsuits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, congrats to all whose kids were admitted.

We were fortunate to see that our son was also admitted.

I do have question.

He will land up at TJ having to take TJ Math 1 ie Geometry and due to the path TJ has for math, he will be able to take AP Calculus only by senior year.

I hear other kids typically start at much faster pace. Will he be at a significant disadvantage in terms of other courses dependent on Math and in the end for college applications?

If your kid can handle it (studies math at home, got A++ in Algebra 1 in 8th), the common thing to do to catch up is to take Geom and Alg 2 concurrently, using an elective slot. Geometry is the easiest of all the math classes, a semester class stretched out over a whole year. If your kid was super strong in Alg 1, and doesn't have a year gap in algebra due to Geometry year, then they can breeze through the 1/3rd of Alg 2 that is a review of Alg 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd ask his current math teacher whether they think your child would struggle with the TJ math. TJ math is pretty intense, and it could be quite challenging for a kid who isn't particularly strong at math.

If he's only going to complete Calculus in 12th grade, he might struggle to get admitted for Comp Sci or engineering in college. Both majors tend to have very competitive admissions, and he'll look weak compared to other kids graduating from TJ.

This is an absolutely ridiculous claim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are conflating two things

1. Old process is flawed

Hence, it seems the assumption seems to be

2. New process is good/better

I would agree the old process is flawed but new process is even more flawed. I do like the idea of some percentage of kids from each HS getting into TJ. That is a good decision. Dropping recommendation letters is the most damaging of all.

We need reform, but in a thoughtful way. Not like the rushed half baked job they did in the middle of a pandemic.

The new process is significantly better for the overall health of the community. It has massively reduced the incentive for participation in TJ-prep programs, and children who are denied admission are faring much better than they were previously because parents are blaming the new process instead of their children. The trauma that kids in my community would suffer in the old days was awful... the new process has saved many abusive parents from themselves in a way.

Um. Go to any prep place. They still have TJ prep, but it is now geared towards essays and writing. It is full of students as early as 5/6th grade. New process just shifted everything over to writing. The prep places list all the TJ admissions still. Old process let in naturally gifted math students and some prepped students. New process mostly results in naturally gifted writers and prepped students + experience factored students. The problem is TJ is supposed to be a STEM school. I mean why didn't they just add experience factors to the old system?

Because SB members are idiots and think Asian students can't write. Guess what, Asian students excel in writing/reading and math so their own prejudice and stupidity resulted in moronic process.

Our school ended up with more Asians than I think would have happened under the old system.

It's a race-blind process. I guess that's who was the top 1.5% of your school.

[Anonymous]

Instead of fighting each other for scraps, y'all should be fighting FCPS to expand advanced/enriched classes to everyone who is qualified and interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Instead of fighting each other for scraps, y'all should be fighting FCPS to expand advanced/enriched classes to everyone who is qualified and interested.

This already exists in AAP… with multiple opportunities for advanced math and placement into the various AAP levels including Level IV, at multiple years of elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:coursework:
9: rs1 + math 1
10: math 2 + math 3
11: math 4 + math 5
12: ap calc ab/bc

that's the math progression, but if you take geometry over the summer

9: rs1 + math 3
10: math 4 + math 5
11: ap calc ab/bc
12: ap stats/ap calc bc/multi + linear

i would def do geometry over the summer..little downside and it can give your kid the opportunity to do multi

Kid will be totally burned out if he takes geometry over the summer and hasn’t gone over the material beforehand. It will be a serious 7hr commitment daily for 6 weeks. Summer is 9 weeks. That means no break.

The fact that he/she took algI in 8th means that you had some reason for not taking it in 7th. Either kid didn’t qualify or didn’t like math enough or wasn’t emotionally ready.

I’d find another way to speed up.

There is no better way to speed up than by taking Geometry in the summer. Of all the standard math classes, taking geometry over the summer will have the fewest negative effects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd ask his current math teacher whether they think your child would struggle with the TJ math. TJ math is pretty intense, and it could be quite challenging for a kid who isn't particularly strong at math.

If he's only going to complete Calculus in 12th grade, he might struggle to get admitted for Comp Sci or engineering in college. Both majors tend to have very competitive admissions, and he'll look weak compared to other kids graduating from TJ.

This is an absolutely ridiculous claim.

Assuming the comment means "good, selective college", it would be ridiculous at most high schools where calculus in 12th would be considered the most rigorous option, but at TJ it's nowhere close. Selective colleges practicing holistic admissions will compare applicants within the context of their school, which works against students at top schools like TJ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Instead of fighting each other for scraps, y'all should be fighting FCPS to expand advanced/enriched classes to everyone who is qualified and interested.

They have for decades now. FCPS has arguably the best, most robust advanced/enriched education programs of any school district in the US. I don't know if many other districts with an official way of allowing any qualified student even at underperforming title I schools to take algebra in 7th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are conflating two things

1. Old process is flawed

Hence, it seems the assumption seems to be

2. New process is good/better

I would agree the old process is flawed but new process is even more flawed. I do like the idea of some percentage of kids from each HS getting into TJ. That is a good decision. Dropping recommendation letters is the most damaging of all.

We need reform, but in a thoughtful way. Not like the rushed half baked job they did in the middle of a pandemic.

The new process is significantly better for the overall health of the community. It has massively reduced the incentive for participation in TJ-prep programs, and children who are denied admission are faring much better than they were previously because parents are blaming the new process instead of their children. The trauma that kids in my community would suffer in the old days was awful... the new process has saved many abusive parents from themselves in a way.

You would indeed suffer 'trauma' only if you entered without the necessary preparation and qualifications - entitlement mentality.

PP. I'm referring to the trauma suffered by students who were not selected by the old process. Imparted upon them by their parents. But go ahead and go off about something you don't understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are conflating two things

1. Old process is flawed

Hence, it seems the assumption seems to be

2. New process is good/better

I would agree the old process is flawed but new process is even more flawed. I do like the idea of some percentage of kids from each HS getting into TJ. That is a good decision. Dropping recommendation letters is the most damaging of all.

We need reform, but in a thoughtful way. Not like the rushed half baked job they did in the middle of a pandemic.

The new process is significantly better for the overall health of the community. It has massively reduced the incentive for participation in TJ-prep programs, and children who are denied admission are faring much better than they were previously because parents are blaming the new process instead of their children. The trauma that kids in my community would suffer in the old days was awful... the new process has saved many abusive parents from themselves in a way.

Um. Go to any prep place. They still have TJ prep, but it is now geared towards essays and writing. It is full of students as early as 5/6th grade. New process just shifted everything over to writing. The prep places list all the TJ admissions still. Old process let in naturally gifted math students and some prepped students. New process mostly results in naturally gifted writers and prepped students + experience factored students. The problem is TJ is supposed to be a STEM school. I mean why didn't they just add experience factors to the old system?

Because SB members are idiots and think Asian students can't write. Guess what, Asian students excel in writing/reading and math so their own prejudice and stupidity resulted in moronic process.

The process is race-blind and a clear improvement over the old one where people were buying the test.

At most any test-buying was for two years, unless they were bribing the test company directly, in which case it was for three years.
And they are still buying the test.

They might still be buying the test, but that's not a huge problem since a) the test is not secured like the Quant-Q was, and b) they're not buying the answers because there is no consistent answer that the admissions committee is looking for.

Indeed, if the admissions committee is doing their job properly, they should be looking for students with multiple different types of answers to the given questions.