If a kid will fall in top 30-50% in TJ, is going to TJ a better idea

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both my kids ended up at HYPSM (same STEM major)
DC 1 attended top 5 FCPS.
DC 2 attended TJ.

The kid that attended TJ was way more prepared and had easier time academically than kid that went to base HS.

Also, my kid that went to base HS had friends they met at college who went to TJ and said TJ classmates were way more prepared for the STEM classes than they were despite taking the "same" courses in HS. BC calc at base high school is not the same as BC calc at TJ (not even close).

How many can be in this sampling? It would need to be:

- kids attending the same college as your kid

Further narrowed by

- TJ grads your kid met at the college

Compared to
- base HS kids

Narrowed by

- those taking the same Calc BC titled course

Narrowed by those

- taking the same course by the same professor at the same college

Narrowed by those who shared info with your kid

The number of kids from TJ going to UVA and VT for STEM that have friends from their base school also going to UVA or VT for STEM is fairly significant.

You can only compare if they all know your kid well enough to share their experience AND they are in the same class together (base and TJ grads) so that you’re getting an evaluation of the same professor and content (testing, grading, etc).

As you’d acknowledge I am sure, one college prof could be easy and another hard, so you can’t say: “I struggled in Calc 3 (with a teacher out sick 3/4 of the year)” is the same as “Mine curves all grades so the lowest is a B” and say the former student struggled bc he was at a base HS and the latter got an easy A bc of TJ.

So again, your kid doesn’t know

It's not about grades, it's about grok. The better trained kids understand stuff easier and faster than the less trained kids.
It you're asking for a peer reviewed study saying that going to TJ will make college easier for you than if you go to your base school, I don't think it exists.
But if you are asking whether there is a consensus among kids that went to TJ that college was easier for them than their classmates then the consensus is pretty much unanimous

Our base school is an IB school and the IB supporters keep going on and on about how the IB kids are so much better prepared than the AP kids. I keep rolling my eyes and pointing to all the AP kids who do very well in college. My point? People love to point to their experiences and say it is better to make what they have more special. Parents of kids who have not and will not complete the IB diploma have bought into the IB is superior message because it makes them feel special.

TJ is a great school with a unique student population and some really cool classes. It is challenging and can help the right student really engage in school with similar peers. The students at TJ will do amazingly well at their base school. A kid who can choose between SLHS and TJ is probably more likely to get accepted at a higher ranked school out of SLHS because fewer kids from SLHS are applying to those schools then a kid out of TJ. The TJ kid has rigor on their side and high grades at a stronger school. The SLHS kid has less competition, a good program, and high grades. They still have a small probability of being selected because all of those schools are highly competitive.

Let your kid attend the HS they want to attend, that they feel is a good fit. A smart kid will do well in life regardless of the HS or the college. I make the same amount of money as my husband and I attended a college known of you know while he attended one all of you know. It really doesn’t matter that much.

This is true only if the student were to go to TJ and take a relatively narrow path - max out all of their STEM APs and limit their non-STEM extracurricular participation to the traditional old-school TJ route of Model UN/Debate, Indoor/Outdoor Track, and iNite clubs.

There are a ton of activities that are of great value to colleges but that are significantly harder to participate in at South Lakes than they are at TJ - team sports and theatre come to mind immediately.

The answer is that absolutely if a top college ranking is very important to you, it is typically better to go to the base school. This is true no matter how many people will tell you that TJ as a HS is so great that college outcomes don't matter, you don't pick TJ if you value education - but it means that you value education most 9-12th grades not so much beyond, etc.

As specifically what is written above by the prior poster: a college applicant can have amazing activities both in and out of school. So please don't pick your HS based on the HS's EC offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.

Thanks…hard decision four years ago - but we felt it was the right one for us then and we are very glad we did it.

No offense but I don't buy that it is a LOT harder to get into elite schools from TJ.

None of the kids I know that got into HYPSM from Langley would have had much trouble at TJ.
Most of the handw5ringing these days is the gross underperformance of the kids that are getting in under the new admissions process that would not have gotten in under the prior admissions process.
Aside from that there is a fairly significant effect for kids that might have gotten into UVA from their base school that will not get in from TJ.

TJ sends almost as many kids to HYPSM as the rest of FCPS combined.

-1,000

Do you even have a current 11th-12th grade TJ student or a TJ grad from ‘25?

I'd love the answer to this...

I have a TJ grad, not '25.

Year? If you don't have current information, your input needs to be viewed through that lens. College admissions are not what they were even 4 years ago.

DP. I hate to be pedantic about this but strategizing a decision about TJ around college admissions is not a great value proposition. The delta between what you're getting at TJ vs. base school in FCPS is so much greater than the delta between typical TJ destinations and HYPSM - assuming you even get in.

- access to exceptional club opportunities *during the school day*
- access to extremely advanced STEM classes
- access to equipment and facilities that exceed what exists at many universities for first and second year students
- access to a student body that is 100% focused on school
- access to far greater athletic opportunities than are available at most FCPS schools
- access to TJ's insane alumni network

Now, if your kid can't handle it, or if your kid genuinely hates STEM, then yes, it's not the right fit. But to choose not to apply or to decline the offer without even trying it for a year for other reasons... tough to understand that.

I didn't see what year your TJ kid graduated in your response to my question asking for the year in which your TJ kid graduated.

That's because I'm a different person from the person to whom you responded. But you're probably not going to get an identifying response from someone on an anonymous forum. The reasons why you're wrong don't hinge on someone else's kid's graduation year. They come from your apparent lack of familiarity with the TJ product and its overall value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that each family should make a choice that they think works for their kid. There is no right answer.

The right answer is that it depends on the kid.
But some people around this time every year between exam day and when admissions are announced want you to believe that TJ is never the right answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.

Thanks…hard decision four years ago - but we felt it was the right one for us then and we are very glad we did it.

No offense but I don't buy that it is a LOT harder to get into elite schools from TJ.

None of the kids I know that got into HYPSM from Langley would have had much trouble at TJ.
Most of the handw5ringing these days is the gross underperformance of the kids that are getting in under the new admissions process that would not have gotten in under the prior admissions process.
Aside from that there is a fairly significant effect for kids that might have gotten into UVA from their base school that will not get in from TJ.

TJ sends almost as many kids to HYPSM as the rest of FCPS combined.

-1,000

Do you even have a current 11th-12th grade TJ student or a TJ grad from ‘25?

I'd love the answer to this...

I have a TJ grad, not '25.

Year? If you don't have current information, your input needs to be viewed through that lens. College admissions are not what they were even 4 years ago.

So you're saying that 4 years going to TJ was possibly a good idea but it isn't today? Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that each family should make a choice that they think works for their kid. There is no right answer.

The right answer is that it depends on the kid.
But some people around this time every year between exam day and when admissions are announced want you to believe that TJ is never the right answer.

^ This. A lot of folks want you to believe that they're just out to help you when what they're actually doing is removing competition for their kid to get the thing they're trashing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.

Thanks…hard decision four years ago - but we felt it was the right one for us then and we are very glad we did it.

No offense but I don't buy that it is a LOT harder to get into elite schools from TJ.

None of the kids I know that got into HYPSM from Langley would have had much trouble at TJ.
Most of the handw5ringing these days is the gross underperformance of the kids that are getting in under the new admissions process that would not have gotten in under the prior admissions process.
Aside from that there is a fairly significant effect for kids that might have gotten into UVA from their base school that will not get in from TJ.

TJ sends almost as many kids to HYPSM as the rest of FCPS combined.

-1,000

Do you even have a current 11th-12th grade TJ student or a TJ grad from ‘25?

I'd love the answer to this...

I have a TJ grad, not '25.

Year? If you don't have current information, your input needs to be viewed through that lens. College admissions are not what they were even 4 years ago.

So you're saying that 4 years going to TJ was possibly a good idea but it isn't today? Why?

DP - College admissions should not be the end-stage outcome nor should it be considered a pre-requisite for the end-stage outcome.

Even if it is slightly harder to get to certain schools from TJ than it is elsewhere (and I'm not convinced it is except in certain cases), it doesn't matter because college admissions just isn't that big a deal anymore.

TJ kids are increasingly exiting college early to found their companies that they'll sell for 7-8 figures and start over again. And the colleges they're leaving aren't Harvard or Princeton.

Don't screw your kid over because you're stuck in a 2005 mindset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.

Thanks…hard decision four years ago - but we felt it was the right one for us then and we are very glad we did it.

No offense but I don't buy that it is a LOT harder to get into elite schools from TJ.

None of the kids I know that got into HYPSM from Langley would have had much trouble at TJ.
Most of the handw5ringing these days is the gross underperformance of the kids that are getting in under the new admissions process that would not have gotten in under the prior admissions process.
Aside from that there is a fairly significant effect for kids that might have gotten into UVA from their base school that will not get in from TJ.

TJ sends almost as many kids to HYPSM as the rest of FCPS combined.

-1,000

Do you even have a current 11th-12th grade TJ student or a TJ grad from ‘25?

I'd love the answer to this...

I have a TJ grad, not '25.

Year? If you don't have current information, your input needs to be viewed through that lens. College admissions are not what they were even 4 years ago.

DP. I hate to be pedantic about this but strategizing a decision about TJ around college admissions is not a great value proposition. The delta between what you're getting at TJ vs. base school in FCPS is so much greater than the delta between typical TJ destinations and HYPSM - assuming you even get in.

- access to exceptional club opportunities *during the school day*
- access to extremely advanced STEM classes
- access to equipment and facilities that exceed what exists at many universities for first and second year students
- access to a student body that is 100% focused on school
- access to far greater athletic opportunities than are available at most FCPS schools
- access to TJ's insane alumni network

Now, if your kid can't handle it, or if your kid genuinely hates STEM, then yes, it's not the right fit. But to choose not to apply or to decline the offer without even trying it for a year for other reasons... tough to understand that.

The biggest difference in college admissions between Tj and base school is probably UVA. If UVA is a target at base school it can become a reach at TJ both because of the effect TJ rigor has on GPA and because UVA gets so many TJ applications.

But if you have what it takes to be successful at TJ, then all other things being equal, having the TJ name on your application is undeniably a benefit. The primary downside is the effect of rigor on GPA.
Top schools are used to taking more students from TJ than they are getting right now so they are not saying no to TJ because they already have too many kids from TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.

Thanks…hard decision four years ago - but we felt it was the right one for us then and we are very glad we did it.

No offense but I don't buy that it is a LOT harder to get into elite schools from TJ.

None of the kids I know that got into HYPSM from Langley would have had much trouble at TJ.
Most of the handw5ringing these days is the gross underperformance of the kids that are getting in under the new admissions process that would not have gotten in under the prior admissions process.
Aside from that there is a fairly significant effect for kids that might have gotten into UVA from their base school that will not get in from TJ.

TJ sends almost as many kids to HYPSM as the rest of FCPS combined.

-1,000

Do you even have a current 11th-12th grade TJ student or a TJ grad from ‘25?

I'd love the answer to this...

I have a TJ grad, not '25.

Year? If you don't have current information, your input needs to be viewed through that lens. College admissions are not what they were even 4 years ago.

So you're saying that 4 years going to TJ was possibly a good idea but it isn't today? Why?

DP - College admissions should not be the end-stage outcome nor should it be considered a pre-requisite for the end-stage outcome.

Even if it is slightly harder to get to certain schools from TJ than it is elsewhere (and I'm not convinced it is except in certain cases), it doesn't matter because college admissions just isn't that big a deal anymore.

TJ kids are increasingly exiting college early to found their companies that they'll sell for 7-8 figures and start over again. And the colleges they're leaving aren't Harvard or Princeton.

Don't screw your kid over because you're stuck in a 2005 mindset.

I think what a lot of parents don't understand is that undergrad is not really a terminal degree anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.

Thanks…hard decision four years ago - but we felt it was the right one for us then and we are very glad we did it.

No offense but I don't buy that it is a LOT harder to get into elite schools from TJ.

None of the kids I know that got into HYPSM from Langley would have had much trouble at TJ.
Most of the handw5ringing these days is the gross underperformance of the kids that are getting in under the new admissions process that would not have gotten in under the prior admissions process.
Aside from that there is a fairly significant effect for kids that might have gotten into UVA from their base school that will not get in from TJ.

TJ sends almost as many kids to HYPSM as the rest of FCPS combined.

-1,000

Do you even have a current 11th-12th grade TJ student or a TJ grad from ‘25?

I'd love the answer to this...

I have a TJ grad, not '25.

Year? If you don't have current information, your input needs to be viewed through that lens. College admissions are not what they were even 4 years ago.

DP. I hate to be pedantic about this but strategizing a decision about TJ around college admissions is not a great value proposition. The delta between what you're getting at TJ vs. base school in FCPS is so much greater than the delta between typical TJ destinations and HYPSM - assuming you even get in.

- access to exceptional club opportunities *during the school day*
- access to extremely advanced STEM classes
- access to equipment and facilities that exceed what exists at many universities for first and second year students
- access to a student body that is 100% focused on school
- access to far greater athletic opportunities than are available at most FCPS schools
- access to TJ's insane alumni network

Now, if your kid can't handle it, or if your kid genuinely hates STEM, then yes, it's not the right fit. But to choose not to apply or to decline the offer without even trying it for a year for other reasons... tough to understand that.

The biggest difference in college admissions between Tj and base school is probably UVA. If UVA is a target at base school it can become a reach at TJ both because of the effect TJ rigor has on GPA and because UVA gets so many TJ applications.

But if you have what it takes to be successful at TJ, then all other things being equal, having the TJ name on your application is undeniably a benefit. The primary downside is the effect of rigor on GPA.
Top schools are used to taking more students from TJ than they are getting right now so they are not saying no to TJ because they already have too many kids from TJ.

I actually think this is correct but it's a function of UVA prioritizing extracurricular heft in the form of activities that are service-oriented.

You're correct that it's about the effect of rigor on GPA, I think. Would be interesting if UVA and other schools had insight into the students who were offered at TJ and turned it down to go to base. If that were somehow public, I would think it would be a huge strike against a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.

Thanks…hard decision four years ago - but we felt it was the right one for us then and we are very glad we did it.

No offense but I don't buy that it is a LOT harder to get into elite schools from TJ.

None of the kids I know that got into HYPSM from Langley would have had much trouble at TJ.
Most of the handw5ringing these days is the gross underperformance of the kids that are getting in under the new admissions process that would not have gotten in under the prior admissions process.
Aside from that there is a fairly significant effect for kids that might have gotten into UVA from their base school that will not get in from TJ.

TJ sends almost as many kids to HYPSM as the rest of FCPS combined.

-1,000

Do you even have a current 11th-12th grade TJ student or a TJ grad from ‘25?

I'd love the answer to this...

I have a TJ grad, not '25.

Year? If you don't have current information, your input needs to be viewed through that lens. College admissions are not what they were even 4 years ago.

So you're saying that 4 years going to TJ was possibly a good idea but it isn't today? Why?

DP - College admissions should not be the end-stage outcome nor should it be considered a pre-requisite for the end-stage outcome.

Even if it is slightly harder to get to certain schools from TJ than it is elsewhere (and I'm not convinced it is except in certain cases), it doesn't matter because college admissions just isn't that big a deal anymore.

TJ kids are increasingly exiting college early to found their companies that they'll sell for 7-8 figures and start over again. And the colleges they're leaving aren't Harvard or Princeton.

Don't screw your kid over because you're stuck in a 2005 mindset.

I think what a lot of parents don't understand is that undergrad is not really a terminal degree anymore.

Spot on. Or how easy transferring can be in a lot of cases, especially in-state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.

Thanks…hard decision four years ago - but we felt it was the right one for us then and we are very glad we did it.

No offense but I don't buy that it is a LOT harder to get into elite schools from TJ.

None of the kids I know that got into HYPSM from Langley would have had much trouble at TJ.
Most of the handw5ringing these days is the gross underperformance of the kids that are getting in under the new admissions process that would not have gotten in under the prior admissions process.
Aside from that there is a fairly significant effect for kids that might have gotten into UVA from their base school that will not get in from TJ.

TJ sends almost as many kids to HYPSM as the rest of FCPS combined.

-1,000

Do you even have a current 11th-12th grade TJ student or a TJ grad from ‘25?

I'd love the answer to this...

I have a TJ grad, not '25.

Year? If you don't have current information, your input needs to be viewed through that lens. College admissions are not what they were even 4 years ago.

So you're saying that 4 years going to TJ was possibly a good idea but it isn't today? Why?

DP - College admissions should not be the end-stage outcome nor should it be considered a pre-requisite for the end-stage outcome.

Even if it is slightly harder to get to certain schools from TJ than it is elsewhere (and I'm not convinced it is except in certain cases), it doesn't matter because college admissions just isn't that big a deal anymore.

TJ kids are increasingly exiting college early to found their companies that they'll sell for 7-8 figures and start over again. And the colleges they're leaving aren't Harvard or Princeton.

Don't screw your kid over because you're stuck in a 2005 mindset.

I think what a lot of parents don't understand is that undergrad is not really a terminal degree anymore.

Spot on. Or how easy transferring can be in a lot of cases, especially in-state.

I don't think people go to TJ thinking that college options will be worse for many (had they just stayed at their base school) but they realize they can just transfer. Our friends with current seniors are all disappointed right now (ED rejections, UVA deferrals).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.

Thanks…hard decision four years ago - but we felt it was the right one for us then and we are very glad we did it.

No offense but I don't buy that it is a LOT harder to get into elite schools from TJ.

None of the kids I know that got into HYPSM from Langley would have had much trouble at TJ.
Most of the handw5ringing these days is the gross underperformance of the kids that are getting in under the new admissions process that would not have gotten in under the prior admissions process.
Aside from that there is a fairly significant effect for kids that might have gotten into UVA from their base school that will not get in from TJ.

TJ sends almost as many kids to HYPSM as the rest of FCPS combined.

-1,000

Do you even have a current 11th-12th grade TJ student or a TJ grad from ‘25?

I'd love the answer to this...

I have a TJ grad, not '25.

Year? If you don't have current information, your input needs to be viewed through that lens. College admissions are not what they were even 4 years ago.

DP. I hate to be pedantic about this but strategizing a decision about TJ around college admissions is not a great value proposition. The delta between what you're getting at TJ vs. base school in FCPS is so much greater than the delta between typical TJ destinations and HYPSM - assuming you even get in.

- access to exceptional club opportunities *during the school day*
- access to extremely advanced STEM classes
- access to equipment and facilities that exceed what exists at many universities for first and second year students
- access to a student body that is 100% focused on school
- access to far greater athletic opportunities than are available at most FCPS schools
- access to TJ's insane alumni network

Now, if your kid can't handle it, or if your kid genuinely hates STEM, then yes, it's not the right fit. But to choose not to apply or to decline the offer without even trying it for a year for other reasons... tough to understand that.

The biggest difference in college admissions between Tj and base school is probably UVA. If UVA is a target at base school it can become a reach at TJ both because of the effect TJ rigor has on GPA and because UVA gets so many TJ applications.

But if you have what it takes to be successful at TJ, then all other things being equal, having the TJ name on your application is undeniably a benefit. The primary downside is the effect of rigor on GPA.
Top schools are used to taking more students from TJ than they are getting right now so they are not saying no to TJ because they already have too many kids from TJ.

The bolded is not factual.

Your penultimate paragraph is true: IF you will be a top TJ student, that’s better for college admissions than a top base student. Obviously, there is no way to tell where your kid’s GPA will land at TJ 3 years in, until it’s too late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.

Thanks…hard decision four years ago - but we felt it was the right one for us then and we are very glad we did it.

No offense but I don't buy that it is a LOT harder to get into elite schools from TJ.

None of the kids I know that got into HYPSM from Langley would have had much trouble at TJ.
Most of the handw5ringing these days is the gross underperformance of the kids that are getting in under the new admissions process that would not have gotten in under the prior admissions process.
Aside from that there is a fairly significant effect for kids that might have gotten into UVA from their base school that will not get in from TJ.

TJ sends almost as many kids to HYPSM as the rest of FCPS combined.

-1,000

Do you even have a current 11th-12th grade TJ student or a TJ grad from ‘25?

I'd love the answer to this...

I have a TJ grad, not '25.

Year? If you don't have current information, your input needs to be viewed through that lens. College admissions are not what they were even 4 years ago.

So you're saying that 4 years going to TJ was possibly a good idea but it isn't today? Why?

DP - College admissions should not be the end-stage outcome nor should it be considered a pre-requisite for the end-stage outcome.

Even if it is slightly harder to get to certain schools from TJ than it is elsewhere (and I'm not convinced it is except in certain cases), it doesn't matter because college admissions just isn't that big a deal anymore.

TJ kids are increasingly exiting college early to found their companies that they'll sell for 7-8 figures and start over again. And the colleges they're leaving aren't Harvard or Princeton.

Don't screw your kid over because you're stuck in a 2005 mindset.

I think what a lot of parents don't understand is that undergrad is not really a terminal degree anymore.

For most of the country, HS is a terminal degree. less then 50% of the country holds a Bachelors degree. Graduate degrees are held by something like 25% of the country. I come from a college minded family, there was no doubt that everyone of my cousins and siblings were going to college. There are 17 of us. There is 1 Phd, 2 Masters degree, and 1 law degree. Our parents put us all through college.

People talk about college and graduate degrees as if they are the norm, they are not. even among the UMC, graduate degrees are not the norm. I get that the people in this thread somehow think that everyone is aiming for a top 20 school and a Masters by 30 but they just aren’t. And, here is the surprise for some of you, there are kids who want to attend TJ who are not worried about getting into a top 20 or earning a Masters. They like math and science, they are smart. They will go to college but they are not, at 13, thinking about what college that will be or planning on a Masters degree already.

The folks posting in this forum that are worrying about these issues, we are the outliers.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP.

My kid is in grade7, but it is great to see so much people sharing.

Since we all prefer anonymous, sometimes it becomes challenging to figure out who is who.

Maybe put a fake name after the post can help people addressing you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.

Thanks…hard decision four years ago - but we felt it was the right one for us then and we are very glad we did it.

No offense but I don't buy that it is a LOT harder to get into elite schools from TJ.

None of the kids I know that got into HYPSM from Langley would have had much trouble at TJ.
Most of the handw5ringing these days is the gross underperformance of the kids that are getting in under the new admissions process that would not have gotten in under the prior admissions process.
Aside from that there is a fairly significant effect for kids that might have gotten into UVA from their base school that will not get in from TJ.

TJ sends almost as many kids to HYPSM as the rest of FCPS combined.

-1,000

Do you even have a current 11th-12th grade TJ student or a TJ grad from ‘25?

I'd love the answer to this...

I have a TJ grad, not '25.

Year? If you don't have current information, your input needs to be viewed through that lens. College admissions are not what they were even 4 years ago.

DP. I hate to be pedantic about this but strategizing a decision about TJ around college admissions is not a great value proposition. The delta between what you're getting at TJ vs. base school in FCPS is so much greater than the delta between typical TJ destinations and HYPSM - assuming you even get in.

- access to exceptional club opportunities *during the school day*
- access to extremely advanced STEM classes
- access to equipment and facilities that exceed what exists at many universities for first and second year students
- access to a student body that is 100% focused on school
- access to far greater athletic opportunities than are available at most FCPS schools
- access to TJ's insane alumni network

Now, if your kid can't handle it, or if your kid genuinely hates STEM, then yes, it's not the right fit. But to choose not to apply or to decline the offer without even trying it for a year for other reasons... tough to understand that.

The biggest difference in college admissions between Tj and base school is probably UVA. If UVA is a target at base school it can become a reach at TJ both because of the effect TJ rigor has on GPA and because UVA gets so many TJ applications.

But if you have what it takes to be successful at TJ, then all other things being equal, having the TJ name on your application is undeniably a benefit. The primary downside is the effect of rigor on GPA.
Top schools are used to taking more students from TJ than they are getting right now so they are not saying no to TJ because they already have too many kids from TJ.

The bolded is not factual.

Your penultimate paragraph is true: IF you will be a top TJ student, that’s better for college admissions than a top base student. Obviously, there is no way to tell where your kid’s GPA will land at TJ 3 years in, until it’s too late.

Class of 2024 had significantly better college admission results than class of 2025