McLean HS Senior is Regeneron Finalist

[Anonymous]

One of only 40 in the nation - congratulations!

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/education/two-high-school-seniors-in-northern-virginia-among-the-finalists-in-the-nations-most-prestigious-science-competition/65-ffc767c6-1418-423a-bddf-dd7a38cc0075?fbclid=IwAR2JUXtsFPWt1e5RJWqZ-dnuQMyZ7YqicGltmDTcyVlliC-NewoCKY4yQBU

[Anonymous]

MHS grad here! That’s awesome.

[Anonymous]

I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

Both of their projects seem doable with open source software, these kids were smart enough and skilled enough to come up with the ideas and do the work. These aren’t bio projects highly dependent on access to lab space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

I think PP is a troll who goes all-out in expressing disapproval of any type of academic recognition to lampoon the equity activists. He's been posting on the TJ threads a lot. People take him seriously until they don't.

To win an award like this you need more than opportunity and connections. You also need intelligence and persistence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

I think PP is a troll who goes all-out in expressing disapproval of any type of academic recognition to lampoon the equity activists. He's been posting on the TJ threads a lot. People take him seriously until they don't.

To win an award like this you need more than opportunity and connections. You also need intelligence and persistence.

Got it. I don't often read or post here, so I was not aware!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

I think PP is a troll who goes all-out in expressing disapproval of any type of academic recognition to lampoon the equity activists. He's been posting on the TJ threads a lot. People take him seriously until they don't.

To win an award like this you need more than opportunity and connections. You also need intelligence and persistence.

Nice try but that’s not me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike these kinds of competitions because they are just so unfair to begin with. Certain kids will just never have the opportunity or connections to begin to even fathom projects like these.

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

I think PP is a troll who goes all-out in expressing disapproval of any type of academic recognition to lampoon the equity activists. He's been posting on the TJ threads a lot. People take him seriously until they don't.

To win an award like this you need more than opportunity and connections. You also need intelligence and persistence.

Nice try but that’s not me.

OK. In that case you're not a troll, just a dolt.

[Anonymous]

This reminds me of the Marshall HS student who is one of the top skaters in the world now.

No doubt he enjoyed certain "opportunities and connections" due to his family's athletic background and ability to financially support his training regimen, but he wouldn't have gotten where he is now without his own talent and hard work.

We should be celebrating these kids doing great things, not constantly looking to find ways to denigrate success!

[Anonymous]

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

Eh. I am kind of in the middle on it. DH is an electrical engineer and I am a patent attorney with a degree in Mech E. My son has certainly not done as well as this McLean HS student, but he's always made a strong showing in terms of science fairs and engineering competitions. He's smart, and fairly motivated, but there is no way he would have accomplished what he did if he didn't have parents in science/technical fields to help him get on the right track in the beginning. It's a particular skill and approach that unfortunately, most schools don't do well enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

Eh. I am kind of in the middle on it. DH is an electrical engineer and I am a patent attorney with a degree in Mech E. My son has certainly not done as well as this McLean HS student, but he's always made a strong showing in terms of science fairs and engineering competitions. He's smart, and fairly motivated, but there is no way he would have accomplished what he did if he didn't have parents in science/technical fields to help him get on the right track in the beginning. It's a particular skill and approach that unfortunately, most schools don't do well enough.

+1 exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We're research scientists, and I can guarantee that my senior does not have the capabilities despite opportunity and connections! Finalists truly deserve the honor. Now are there smart and capable students who don't have the opportunity or connections? Sure, but you do realize you could say this about test prep, living in a good school district, having a supportive family or money for college, etc. It's unfair to target science competitions specifically, when inequity impacts all areas of one's life.

Eh. I am kind of in the middle on it. DH is an electrical engineer and I am a patent attorney with a degree in Mech E. My son has certainly not done as well as this McLean HS student, but he's always made a strong showing in terms of science fairs and engineering competitions. He's smart, and fairly motivated, but there is no way he would have accomplished what he did if he didn't have parents in science/technical fields to help him get on the right track in the beginning. It's a particular skill and approach that unfortunately, most schools don't do well enough.

What is it that you think McLean is doing that other schools aren't to support promising young scientists?

[Anonymous]

Eh. I am kind of in the middle on it. DH is an electrical engineer and I am a patent attorney with a degree in Mech E. My son has certainly not done as well as this McLean HS student, but he's always made a strong showing in terms of science fairs and engineering competitions. He's smart, and fairly motivated, but there is no way he would have accomplished what he did if he didn't have parents in science/technical fields to help him get on the right track in the beginning. It's a particular skill and approach that unfortunately, most schools don't do well enough.



What is it that you think McLean is doing that other schools aren't to support promising young scientists?

The point is not what McLean is doing or not doing. Lots of good schools, including TJ and Stuyvesant, do not have Regeneron Finalists.