MCPS High School Magnet Decisions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS just told me he got his results. Into Blair, RM and Poolesville. Didn't expect this. He likely will decline all 3.

Why did he apply then.

To stroke his parents’ ego.

You sound upset.

There are many reasons why kids apply and then decline. I would encourage kids to go to the information nights, and they can make up their minds at that time after hearing the presentations and seeing the cohorts. No push from parents because magnet is a huge commitment that students endure (not the parents!).

DP. I agree with PP. Parent had 2 kids apply and get in to all programs. First turned tgem all down and now parent says second will likely turn down before ever visiting? That sounds like ego stroking to me. And, I am not upset -- had 2 kids go through this, get into great magnets (one got into all and chose carefully with a lot of visits/shadows etc), and now last is in early to top college. So, while it's fine to choose what's best, even if that is none, the immediate dismissal of the poster smacks of ego.

[Anonymous]

How many TPMS magnet students get in Blair SMCS this year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there's a fair amount of randomness at play. Maybe before, with an entrance exam, in-person written prompt, teacher recommendations, it was more scientific...but now it just seems...unclear.

My kid got into PHS Humanities+ PHS global. She got waitlisted at RM and SMCS. Her scores were 273 map M, 253 map r and she has a lot of good ECs + sports. Her BFF with nearly identical scores got into RM + SMCS but wait listed at the other 2.

DC also got into SMCS. Their scores were 300+ map-m and 250+ map-r. They are currently at TPMS Magnet, and Blair is our home school.

[Anonymous]

My kid got into Wheaton Bio and Engg. Wait Pool in Poolesville SMCS. Anyone have historical info on roughly what percentage of kids get invited from the wait pool? Map M was 267

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there's a fair amount of randomness at play. Maybe before, with an entrance exam, in-person written prompt, teacher recommendations, it was more scientific...but now it just seems...unclear.

My kid got into PHS Humanities+ PHS global. She got waitlisted at RM and SMCS. Her scores were 273 map M, 253 map r and she has a lot of good ECs + sports. Her BFF with nearly identical scores got into RM + SMCS but wait listed at the other 2.

Yeah my kid who got into global and RM had 269 Map M , straight As, some good extra curricular but I think it might be the essay that pushed her past the competition. It was pretty good for her age, but wasn't polished. We only proof read it to ensure word count and punctuation.

What was map-r?

Map r was 247

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how Einstein’s VAC waitlist works? Also, does anyone know the likelihood of getting chosen from the VAC waitlist? I’ve read that for some programs there doesn’t seem to be much movement. Lastly, (we are seriously anxious over HS choices), if we accept another criteria based program by their February deadline, are we removed from VAC’s waitlist? My kid really wants VAC. Our fingers and toes will be crossed until this is all over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS just told me he got his results. Into Blair, RM and Poolesville. Didn't expect this. He likely will decline all 3.

Why did he apply then.

To stroke his parents’ ego.

You sound upset.

There are many reasons why kids apply and then decline. I would encourage kids to go to the information nights, and they can make up their minds at that time after hearing the presentations and seeing the cohorts. No push from parents because magnet is a huge commitment that students endure (not the parents!).

DP. I agree with PP. Parent had 2 kids apply and get in to all programs. First turned tgem all down and now parent says second will likely turn down before ever visiting? That sounds like ego stroking to me. And, I am not upset -- had 2 kids go through this, get into great magnets (one got into all and chose carefully with a lot of visits/shadows etc), and now last is in early to top college. So, while it's fine to choose what's best, even if that is none, the immediate dismissal of the poster smacks of ego.

You realize that kids in the covid years never had a chance to visit the school right? They had to make decisions based on a zoom call.

And also, no one said without visiting. Read through the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Does anyone know how Einstein’s VAC waitlist works? Also, does anyone know the likelihood of getting chosen from the VAC waitlist? I’ve read that for some programs there doesn’t seem to be much movement. Lastly, (we are seriously anxious over HS choices), if we accept another criteria based program by their February deadline, are we removed from VAC’s waitlist? My kid really wants VAC. Our fingers and toes will be crossed until this is all over.

I don't know about VAC wait-list movement, but the materials we received said that if you accepted a criteria based program you lost all your other "invited" spots but NOT your wait pool/wait list spot. Which seems fair.

[Anonymous]

I was surprised that the CAP and RMIB welcome sessions are at the same time, so it's impossible to attend both. I would have thought a fair number of kids would get both (we did). Do you think they are unaware (because RMIB is countywide and CAP is DCC) or is it some kind of power play between the programs or assumption that all kids have a clear 1st choice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Does anyone know how Einstein’s VAC waitlist works? Also, does anyone know the likelihood of getting chosen from the VAC waitlist? I’ve read that for some programs there doesn’t seem to be much movement. Lastly, (we are seriously anxious over HS choices), if we accept another criteria based program by their February deadline, are we removed from VAC’s waitlist? My kid really wants VAC. Our fingers and toes will be crossed until this is all over.

I don't know about VAC wait-list movement, but the materials we received said that if you accepted a criteria based program you lost all your other "invited" spots but NOT your wait pool/wait list spot. Which seems fair.

Thank you! I just read the letter in ParentVue that had details on how to accept and waitlists. Would still love to hear if anyone knows how much movement there is on VAC's waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was surprised that the CAP and RMIB welcome sessions are at the same time, so it's impossible to attend both. I would have thought a fair number of kids would get both (we did). Do you think they are unaware (because RMIB is countywide and CAP is DCC) or is it some kind of power play between the programs or assumption that all kids have a clear 1st choice?

There were conflicts last year too. Not that particular conflict but DC had at least 2 days with conflicts so missed out on 2 open houses.

[Anonymous]

My kid was invited to rm. Where do you find the info for the welcome session?

[Anonymous]

About 60 students in Poolesville SMCS each year. In the beginning of 2023-2024 school year there were 62 smcs students in class 2027, so far 3 students dropped out of the program because it is too intense and they don’t fit.

Anonymous wrote:After the acceptances and declines, how many kids (freshmen) are there each year in Poolesville SMCS program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Does anyone know how Einstein’s VAC waitlist works? Also, does anyone know the likelihood of getting chosen from the VAC waitlist? I’ve read that for some programs there doesn’t seem to be much movement.

DD is in the VAC and her impression is that there is quite a bit of waitlist movement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was surprised that the CAP and RMIB welcome sessions are at the same time, so it's impossible to attend both. I would have thought a fair number of kids would get both (we did). Do you think they are unaware (because RMIB is countywide and CAP is DCC) or is it some kind of power play between the programs or assumption that all kids have a clear 1st choice?

There were conflicts last year too. Not that particular conflict but DC had at least 2 days with conflicts so missed out on 2 open houses.

The poolesville welcome sessions are all at the same time. Not sure how that's supposed to work if you are trying to decide between programs at the school.

[amaheshw]

Anytime have thoughts on RMIB vs Kennedy IB? I understand that the curriculum is standardized, but RM is larger and better known than Kennedy. Any objective advice on how to choose one over the other?