TJ admission statistics from 2012

[Anonymous]

So if one parent is a foreigner and the other one was born in the US, is DC first or second generation?

Answer: One and one half (3/2) generation [see what a little math does for problem solving and critical thinking?]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think the need for physical activity is related to one's nationality or family background. Human beings in general require a certain amount of exercise every day for optimum health, regardless of race or nationality. I think this is pretty generally accepted in the medical community.

Unless you are amongst the posters who believe all those high performing Asian Americans in every zip code in America do not get the requisite amount of exercise for optimum health because they are "prepping"?

I don't know about that, I was just interested in the suggestion that hours of "prepping" for tests is the same as hours spent on ("prepping" for) physical activity. If a child spends the day in school and then spends an hour or two after school at a test prep, the child's academic needs are being addressed both during and after school. Whereas, if a child spends the day in school and then spends an hour or two after school engaged in physical activity, then we see the child's needs for both academics and physical activity being met. Hours spent on academics and hours spent on physical activity are both important for children's growth and development. Rather than either/or, I see them as a both/and proposition and that neither should be neglected in any child's life. As the old saying goes, "A sound mind in a sound body."
The need for academics and the need for physical activity are two different needs that children have and both need to be fulfilled. Plenty of students at TJ spend a couple hours every day after school engaged in physical activity and are also engaged in high level academics. There is no need to choose one over the other.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about that, I was just interested in the suggestion that hours of "prepping" for tests is the same as hours spent on ("prepping" for) physical activity. If a child spends the day in school and then spends an hour or two after school at a test prep, the child's academic needs are being addressed both during and after school. Whereas, if a child spends the day in school and then spends an hour or two after school engaged in physical activity, then we see the child's needs for both academics and physical activity being met. Hours spent on academics and hours spent on physical activity are both important for children's growth and development. Rather than either/or, I see them as a both/and proposition and that neither should be neglected in any child's life. As the old saying goes, "A sound mind in a sound body."
The need for academics and the need for physical activity are two different needs that children have and both need to be fulfilled. Plenty of students at TJ spend a couple hours every day after school engaged in physical activity and are also engaged in high level academics. There is no need to choose one over the other.

For a moment, my translation of your American English was Asian Americans, who have the highest test scores in every single State of our Union, were not getting enough physical activity and were therefore not strong and healthy. Thanks for clarification.

[Anonymous]

So racist to assume Asians do not value physical activity. This is based on stereotypes. There are all kinds of Asians just like all kinds of other races... Academic, introverted, extroverted, athletic...not all Asians are good at math! Second generation Asians, just like other immigrants, are increasingly facing obesity related to the western diet of fast food, junk food and sugar. At the end of the day, the kids who are the smartest and work the hardest get the reward of admission to TJ, as it should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This could all be rumor but I've heard that there are plenty of Asian - actually specifically Koreans - who move with mom to No Va in late elementary, rent a room, prep for test and enter into the FCPS system all in an effort to get into TJ. I've also heard that they've had to add an ESL/basic writing classes in the past few years to help out these kids who manage to get in but don't have the necessary English skills.

I would hope the admin is looking at the student data to see when a lot of these kids are arriving in the US. I'd also be curious to know if these are just rumors or if there's some merit to them.

In our area of the county which has lots of the minorities that aren't getting in (blacks/Hispanics), the successful TJ applicant is generally white, and has YEARS of grooming by parents via extracurricular activities, competitions, tutoring etc. They are very smart kids but they have been thoroughly groomed from the beginning of their school years by their driven parents.

My Korean hairdresser told me that this was the story of her family for her younger brother. THis is why they moved here from Korea, for her brother. Mom, big sis, lil bro. Dad still in Korea.

[Anonymous]

Entitled DCUMers do not get this...and will never get it. These DCUMMIES assume some other kid has taken their self-appointed seat at TJ, Big 3 of IVY. Geniuses are not born, they are made. A "99.9 percentile on an IQ test" doesn't confer intelligence or genius status just as "extraordinary tallness or height" does not confer all-star excelllence on the track or basketball court. Geniuses and all-star and all-pro NBA superstars are not born, they are made over a lifetime or career. It's a crying shame DCUMMIES curse their children with all these "gifted" and "genius" labels even before these poor souls are potty trained and no longer wetting the bed!

[Anonymous]

the kids aren't just "prepped" though. They're "packaged" from an early age. The right math contests, robo league, summer programs etc. There is a cottage industry around here that preps them on alot more than just math and verbal multiple choice tests. Like how to write the essay, what to say. "I have a passion for...", "my passion is..." If the deciding factor was an ethics question I think they would stumble initially but then figure out how to beat that one too. Anyway, TJ is getting to be an near all-Asian place and that will deter alot of smart kids from wanting to attend. I have given up on trying to keep up with this test-prep hell for my children. I doubt it is worth it in the long run.

[Anonymous]

The more I think about it, the more I think Ed Rendell is right. In China, they wouldn't be canceling X. They'd be walking and reciting calculus the whole way along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the kids aren't just "prepped" though. They're "packaged" from an early age. The right math contests, robo league, summer programs etc. There is a cottage industry around here that preps them on alot more than just math and verbal multiple choice tests. Like how to write the essay, what to say. "I have a passion for...", "my passion is..." If the deciding factor was an ethics question I think they would stumble initially but then figure out how to beat that one too. Anyway, TJ is getting to be an near all-Asian place and that will deter alot of smart kids from wanting to attend. I have given up on trying to keep up with this test-prep hell for my children. I doubt it is worth it in the long run.

I don't see anything wrong with math contests, robo league, summer programs, writing practice etc itself.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry Koreans got the highest average IQ (as a country, after Hong Kong).
Also Asians in general got the highest average IQ.
Maybe that's part of the reason so many Korans and Asians in TJ.
That and hard work.

http://sq.4mg.com/NationIQ.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know about that, I was just interested in the suggestion that hours of "prepping" for tests is the same as hours spent on ("prepping" for) physical activity. If a child spends the day in school and then spends an hour or two after school at a test prep, the child's academic needs are being addressed both during and after school. Whereas, if a child spends the day in school and then spends an hour or two after school engaged in physical activity, then we see the child's needs for both academics and physical activity being met. Hours spent on academics and hours spent on physical activity are both important for children's growth and development. Rather than either/or, I see them as a both/and proposition and that neither should be neglected in any child's life. As the old saying goes, "A sound mind in a sound body."
The need for academics and the need for physical activity are two different needs that children have and both need to be fulfilled. Plenty of students at TJ spend a couple hours every day after school engaged in physical activity and are also engaged in high level academics. There is no need to choose one over the other.

For a moment, my translation of your American English was Asian Americans, who have the highest test scores in every single State of our Union, were not getting enough physical activity and were therefore not strong and healthy. Thanks for clarification.

You're welcome. To the contrary, I was noting that all children need both academics and physical activity, one cannot and should not replace the other for children of any race or nationality. Test scores are such a small part of the total picture of a child that it would be short sighted to focus solely on tests, to the exclusion of other important aspects of a child's growth and development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the kids aren't just "prepped" though. They're "packaged" from an early age. The right math contests, robo league, summer programs etc. There is a cottage industry around here that preps them on alot more than just math and verbal multiple choice tests. Like how to write the essay, what to say. "I have a passion for...", "my passion is..." If the deciding factor was an ethics question I think they would stumble initially but then figure out how to beat that one too. Anyway, TJ is getting to be an near all-Asian place and that will deter alot of smart kids from wanting to attend. I have given up on trying to keep up with this test-prep hell for my children. I doubt it is worth it in the long run.

I don't see anything wrong with math contests, robo league, summer programs, writing practice etc itself.

if it's the kid's idea, fine. But not if the parent says you must do this stuff to get into TJ! That just creates a rat-race that I thik inhibits the normal healthy development of children.
Lucily, colleges spot these packaged kids a mile away and can limit their numbers in the student body, but apparently TJ choses not to. (I read that if Cal-Berkely went just by test scores and grades Asians would be about 80 percent of the student body. As it is, Asians are only around 50 percent of the student body. And it is the number one public university in the U.S.)>

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry Koreans got the highest average IQ (as a country, after Hong Kong).
Also Asians in general got the highest average IQ.
Maybe that's part of the reason so many Korans and Asians in TJ.
That and hard work.

http://sq.4mg.com/NationIQ.htm

I can't even follow this link because my corporate filter says it has such a poor reputation for untrustworthiness, spam attacks, and malware. It's hard for me to be persuaded.

[Anonymous]

How is this different from the preparation ("prep") and packaging other groups put their children through (e.g., sports jocks, home schoolers, Jewish schools, activities and synagogues, music, theatre or art "prep")?

Do you object to ethnic, cultural, and racial preferences for activities and life after school? Or do you object when these activities are not your own (or your children's preference) or they threaten some self-appointed goals for your own children?

Some parents prefer to guide and direct their young kids others do not. Get over it and do your own thing rather than envy others.

[Anonymous]

Even if it is the parent's idea their 5,6 and 10 year olds participate in math competitions this is a fantastic and great idea?

It is also a fantastic idea to give your kids lots of milk, fruits and vegetables even if they initially refuse or think it's a bad idea.

(applies to place of worship -- synagogue -- a good idea for some families and kids no matter whether the parent or young child is the driver))