TJ. vs the privates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why all the angst towards TJ? Because rich people hate meritocracies.

They want the outcome determined by who has the most money, not by who is most deserving.

[Anonymous]

Admission by testing is hardly a meritocracy.

[Anonymous]

We did both private and TJ. TJ is brutal. It’s an Asian school and the Asian students haven’t gotten the memo “don’t be a rasist”. Many people will tell you how much they loved TJ for their kids — and you will find out they mean TJ circa 2000. TJ has changed a lot. Lots of cheating rings also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Admission by testing is hardly a meritocracy.

TJ is much more of a meritocracy than local privates, whichb largely admit kids based on their families’ wealth and social connections. It’s no surprise that, with the college admissions scandal still fresh, parents at local privates are feeling unusually defensive. That is part of their everyday world being exposed to the general public.

[Anonymous]

TJ students also spend so much time on homework they don’t build their social skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Admission by testing is hardly a meritocracy.

TJ is much more of a meritocracy than local privates, whichb largely admit kids based on their families’ wealth and social connections. It’s no surprise that, with the college admissions scandal still fresh, parents at local privates are feeling unusually defensive. That is part of their everyday world being exposed to the general public.

You would have us believe that the local private schools make admissions decisions in the exact same way all the way from PK to high school. Except that they don't.

Sure, wealth and social connections are much more relevant in PK and K when there's really not much that can be gleaned about a young applicant. But in terms of 9th grade admissions (i.e., apples-to-apples with TJ), it's just as much a "meritocracy" as how you define it. The wealth/connections folks likely got into these private schools well before high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Admission by testing is hardly a meritocracy.

TJ is much more of a meritocracy than local privates, whichb largely admit kids based on their families’ wealth and social connections. It’s no surprise that, with the college admissions scandal still fresh, parents at local privates are feeling unusually defensive. That is part of their everyday world being exposed to the general public.

You would have us believe that the local private schools make admissions decisions in the exact same way all the way from PK to high school. Except that they don't.

Sure, wealth and social connections are much more relevant in PK and K when there's really not much that can be gleaned about a young applicant. But in terms of 9th grade admissions (i.e., apples-to-apples with TJ), it's just as much a "meritocracy" as how you define it. The wealth/connections folks likely got into these private schools well before high school.

Even if you believe high school admissions to these privates are by merit ( which it is not, and no way apples-to-apples with TJ ), the 75% of any class at these schools is still full of students who are far behind a below average TJ kid. Yet, some of these parents feel entitled to the top colleges as if it is their birthright.

[Anonymous]

What's your evidence that HS admissions at private schools isn't by academic merit?

[Anonymous]

What's up with TJ college acceptances this year? I m curious as they are usually very good...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TJ students also spend so much time on homework they don’t build their social skills.

Do you have any evidence for that? I didn’t think so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's your evidence that HS admissions at private schools isn't by academic merit?

Just call any of the admission offices at these privates and ask them if a straight A kid with high level math and science with superior writing skill and a 99 percentile in SSAT (this is what they use) is guaranteed an admission and compare what they say with the TJ admission process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's up with TJ college acceptances this year? I m curious as they are usually very good...

This is from last year (I think), this year stats will probably be out later in the year. I don't think any of the private school publishes their stats on a yearly basis, i am sure everyone knows why.

https://tjhsst.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/inline-files/TJProfile1819.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's your evidence that HS admissions at private schools isn't by academic merit?

Just call any of the admission offices at these privates and ask them if a straight A kid with high level math and science with superior writing skill and a 99 percentile in SSAT (this is what they use) is guaranteed an admission and compare what they say with the TJ admission process.

+1 Privates have legacies and set asides for rich parents like the Harvard fencing parent from St Alban’s who is in the news today for allegedly bribing the coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Admission by testing is hardly a meritocracy.

TJ is much more of a meritocracy than local privates, whichb largely admit kids based on their families’ wealth and social connections. It’s no surprise that, with the college admissions scandal still fresh, parents at local privates are feeling unusually defensive. That is part of their everyday world being exposed to the general public.

Nah, most people do not do what those idiots did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Admission by testing is hardly a meritocracy.

TJ is much more of a meritocracy than local privates, whichb largely admit kids based on their families’ wealth and social connections. It’s no surprise that, with the college admissions scandal still fresh, parents at local privates are feeling unusually defensive. That is part of their everyday world being exposed to the general public.

Nah, most people do not do what those idiots did.

Probably not. But they are paying 40k/year for their kid to be admitted. And there’s a much tinier pool of parents who can afford to do that, hence limited competition.