TJ vs. private

[Anonymous]

Are you trying to decide between TJ and a great private? What factors are you weighing? What did you decide?

[Anonymous]

The cost (free vs. a lot) is a big factor.

[Anonymous]

Haven’t contracts already been signed for next year?

[Anonymous]

Yes but due to the late timing of TJ decisions there are always a few kids who forfeit the deposit and then go to TJ

[Anonymous]

TJ has better college admissions than most privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TJ has better college admissions than most privates.

In private schools, smart kids don’t have to work that hard on boring stuff just to crank up their GPAs. They can focus on finding and developing their interests and interact with teachers who actually want to teach.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid at each and would choose TJ 1000x over. our private school is much more of a pressure cooker than TJ. We would have done TJ for both, but TJ decisions a few years ago came out in June which was much more than losing a private school deposit, it was losing a private school year of tuition. the private school is fine, but the experience at TJ was much better overall than it has been at the private so far - both for STEM and humanities.

however I would disagree that TJ has better college admissions than private school. ask the current lot of TJ seniors if they agree with that. guarantee they will not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you trying to decide between TJ and a great private? What factors are you weighing? What did you decide?

TJ will be more academically challenging and have a stronger cohort but if money is of no concern, a private is a fine choice too. I guess it would be more about where I think they'd be happier which is specific to your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at each and would choose TJ 1000x over. our private school is much more of a pressure cooker than TJ. We would have done TJ for both, but TJ decisions a few years ago came out in June which was much more than losing a private school deposit, it was losing a private school year of tuition. the private school is fine, but the experience at TJ was much better overall than it has been at the private so far - both for STEM and humanities.

however I would disagree that TJ has better college admissions than private school. ask the current lot of TJ seniors if they agree with that. guarantee they will not.

TJ sends more numbers, but perhaps a lower percentage than some of the privates.
However, it is not a good comparison. It is hard to say what the difference would be for say the 50th best kid in a class at TJ, or #100, what would their college admissions be if they went to a private school.

The colleges have some caps for how many they will admit from TJ, as well as northern Virginia.
The education will be different over four years.
The caliber of students at TJ is higher than at these private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at each and would choose TJ 1000x over. our private school is much more of a pressure cooker than TJ. We would have done TJ for both, but TJ decisions a few years ago came out in June which was much more than losing a private school deposit, it was losing a private school year of tuition. the private school is fine, but the experience at TJ was much better overall than it has been at the private so far - both for STEM and humanities.

however I would disagree that TJ has better college admissions than private school. ask the current lot of TJ seniors if they agree with that. guarantee they will not.

TJ sends more numbers, but perhaps a lower percentage than some of the privates.
However, it is not a good comparison. It is hard to say what the difference would be for say the 50th best kid in a class at TJ, or #100, what would their college admissions be if they went to a private school.

The colleges have some caps for how many they will admit from TJ, as well as northern Virginia.
The education will be different over four years.
The caliber of students at TJ is higher than at these private schools.

I agree entirely. The hundredth best kid in the TJ senior class is easily on par with the vast majority of the class at any of the local privates and likely is looking at the following college options: UMD, Purdue, William and Mary, a SUNY school, and if they are lucky University of FL. 100 kids is approximately the size of the graduating classes at the top privates, who will send 2 kids to W&M, 2 kids to UMD, and zero to Purdue. Private schools undeniably have some kind of special sauce for college admissions.

Having said that, you pick TJ for the experience, the fit for the kid, and not what college they'll get into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haven’t contracts already been signed for next year?

Deposits have been paid but annual contracts have not been signed yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at each and would choose TJ 1000x over. our private school is much more of a pressure cooker than TJ. We would have done TJ for both, but TJ decisions a few years ago came out in June which was much more than losing a private school deposit, it was losing a private school year of tuition. the private school is fine, but the experience at TJ was much better overall than it has been at the private so far - both for STEM and humanities.

however I would disagree that TJ has better college admissions than private school. ask the current lot of TJ seniors if they agree with that. guarantee they will not.

TJ sends more numbers, but perhaps a lower percentage than some of the privates.
However, it is not a good comparison. It is hard to say what the difference would be for say the 50th best kid in a class at TJ, or #100, what would their college admissions be if they went to a private school.

The colleges have some caps for how many they will admit from TJ, as well as northern Virginia.
The education will be different over four years.
The caliber of students at TJ is higher than at these private schools.

Not really true. The big 3 this year are doing terribly. These days TJ does much much better even in terms of percentages.

[Anonymous]

Please decline your invitation to TJ. It's a terrible place these days. Only the worst students go there. I'm trying to do you a favor and not helping my waitlisted child. Really!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at each and would choose TJ 1000x over. our private school is much more of a pressure cooker than TJ. We would have done TJ for both, but TJ decisions a few years ago came out in June which was much more than losing a private school deposit, it was losing a private school year of tuition. the private school is fine, but the experience at TJ was much better overall than it has been at the private so far - both for STEM and humanities.

however I would disagree that TJ has better college admissions than private school. ask the current lot of TJ seniors if they agree with that. guarantee they will not.

TJ sends more numbers, but perhaps a lower percentage than some of the privates.
However, it is not a good comparison. It is hard to say what the difference would be for say the 50th best kid in a class at TJ, or #100, what would their college admissions be if they went to a private school.

The colleges have some caps for how many they will admit from TJ, as well as northern Virginia.
The education will be different over four years.
The caliber of students at TJ is higher than at these private schools.

Not really true. The big 3 this year are doing terribly. These days TJ does much much better even in terms of percentages.

Not getting in the top overall privates at this point. Maybe some with strong academics like Basis McLean, Pinnacle, Loudoun School for Advanced, or something similar where the academics are just as strong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at each and would choose TJ 1000x over. our private school is much more of a pressure cooker than TJ. We would have done TJ for both, but TJ decisions a few years ago came out in June which was much more than losing a private school deposit, it was losing a private school year of tuition. the private school is fine, but the experience at TJ was much better overall than it has been at the private so far - both for STEM and humanities.

however I would disagree that TJ has better college admissions than private school. ask the current lot of TJ seniors if they agree with that. guarantee they will not.

TJ sends more numbers, but perhaps a lower percentage than some of the privates.
However, it is not a good comparison. It is hard to say what the difference would be for say the 50th best kid in a class at TJ, or #100, what would their college admissions be if they went to a private school.

The colleges have some caps for how many they will admit from TJ, as well as northern Virginia.
The education will be different over four years.
The caliber of students at TJ is higher than at these private schools.

Not really true. The big 3 this year are doing terribly. These days TJ does much much better even in terms of percentages.

Not getting in the top overall privates at this point. Maybe some with strong academics like Basis McLean, Pinnacle, Loudoun School for Advanced, or something similar where the academics are just as strong.

Lol TJ > privates