TJ decisions are out

[Anonymous]

The results were posted on March 22nd last year, same day as AOS/AET results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The results were posted on March 22nd last year, same day as AOS/AET results.

That does not answer the question. The question was does TJ release the finalist decisions ahead of the stated deadline? It looks like the advertised deadline is in April, but the results were out on March 22 last year. Is this typical practice?

[Anonymous]

Yes. The TJ results typically come out in March / early April at 5 pm on a Friday afternoon. It often aligns with Spring Break starting or the Friday during Spring Break— but Spring Break is late this year. It’s like college acceptance— you will hear by the stated date, but likely earlier.

I think they build some give into the schedule because things go wrong—- often weather related delays and cancellations, which is less of an issue this year. There have been technology glitches in the past too.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! Very clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Got a denial from TJ today - Can anyone pls. provide any thoughts on what could have gone wrong to get a straight denial?

TJ Test - Reading/Quant/Science : 100/99/98
7th Grade GPA in core subjects: 4.00 (A)
Summer Geometry: A
8th Grade Algebra II (1st and 2nd Qtr ) : A and A-

Did well on SIS/Essays (unknown factor)
Excellent Teacher recommendations

Maybe the essays/sis were not as well done as you thought? They are not looking for the right answer, they look for how you explain yourself. Maybe that is what was lacking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year seems to have weeded out the over prepped kids. Kids who’ve been going to prep classes for years are the ones who haven’t got in, and the ones who didn’t prep are the ones who’re getting in. It was more like an iq test this year apparently, the math especially couldn’t be prepped for. So the prepped kids were at a disadvantage because they were ‘too prepped’ if that’s a thing.

I am not a fan of preparing for such test. But how can they tell?

Btw those preparing classes are way overrated.

Prepped kids all follow the same essay patterns. Their essays lack spontaneous creativity and do not reflect deep thinking. Basically, their answers are probably boring or over the top adult talking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC got in and in algebra-2.

What exactly is Math 4 & Math 5? Are they equivalent to pre-calculus?

Only if DC satisfies the requirement for Placement test, can she take Math 4/5?

Any guidance please. Thank you!

Why don't you ask the school!?

They place you after Fall semester. Algebra 2 is nothing to brag about. If they don’t feel your child has a solid understanding, it is your child’s best interest not to be pushed. Struggling in later advanced math courses is much much worse. You can’t go back after freshmen year, so trust the math placement. TJ math is no joke and is nothing like your base school math. Don’t let your ego get bruised if the placement is not what you want. Think mental health for your teen!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:For those who are accepted. Congratulations!! Please share how your kids prepare for the test and what is the highest math course the kids are taking in 8th grade. Thanks!!

Purchased ACT aspire reading/science books from amazon, solved amc-8 and math counts from AOp.
Algebra-2 in eight grade. In math counts club.

No other external preparation. Dc got in with 90-95 scores for all three.

DC is doing Algebra 1 right now in 7th. To do Algebra 2 in 8th will mean that DC needs to do geometry in summer which I really hesitate. Any advice?

Don’t. These are foundational math classes and A2 vs geometry does not give your kid an edge— in the test or in admissions. 60-70% of the class usually comes in with Geometry. 10% with A1. The rest with A2, except for a handful that are through pre-Calc. Most kids go into Math 2,5 or 3 out of geometry. Lots of A2 kids don’t get in. TJ is pretty clear it would rather have less Math well. My own kid had a tough transition to MS, and a rocky start in A1 that haunted him freshman year. Once you hit geometry, a strong foundation is more important than another year.

Can’t say it enough, let your child chill in the summer. TJ is intense, let them breathe and have fun in the summer. Kids get brunt out because their parents pushes too hard.


DC1 did Honors Geometry in 8th grade and subsequently got into TJ and is now a Junior.

DC2 is in Hon Alg 1 in 7th grade. We are seriously considering Honors Geometry over the summer now that we know what it entails and the fact that DC2 is more gifted with Math and would "get it" much faster than DC1. However, DC2 has no TJ aspirations and we are not really sure that it would really help to enter a base HS for pre-calc in 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If grades are awesome and the scores are brilliant, then the only reason has to be the SIS or the recs. Perhaps the recommendations aren’t as excellent as you think, or the child didn’t actually want to go and that was reflected in the SIS

+1. The three test scores are only part of it! Grades, SIS, teacher recs are considered in addition. Those of you posting three test scores are missing the point.

The point is that most weight is given to subjective scoring of essays/SIS. It is certainly not choosing
The top stem candidates

TJ no longer seems to be a STEM school at this point. I think this is good and bad but it looks like they are more about creating a well balanced instead of kids who are interested in STEM which I thought was a prerequisite since it is a STEM school

One possible strategy is that they take semi finalists off of test scores but then for who gets in it's much more subjective which might be how they are weeding out the cookie cutter hard core STEM folks but again why call it a STEM school if you aren't taking people actually interest in STEM

On what are you basing this strong statement? The speculation on an anonymous board? I guarantee you TJ is still a STEM school. I have two kids there and they have access to so many advanced STEM offerings and are surrounded by kids who mostly love STEM. They also have great humanities offerings but TJ specializes in STEM.

They aren't taking the strongest STEM folks from the semifinialist group. They are doing holistic admissions to create some kind of balanced class bs.

Only if you believe the test scores identify “the strongest STEM folk”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's something they'll never tell you in the admissions process...

If a kid doesn't want to go to TJ and doesn't want their parents to know, all they have to do is perform regularly on the initial exam, sit for the essays, and write "I don't want to go to this school", and they will be denied.

And there is NO WAY for the parent to find out that they did this. Dozens of kids do it every year after performing well on the exam. The Admissions Office does not disclose anything about the reason for denial - they will simply mention that the process is holistic in nature.

Can confirm this. Obviously we're past this point in this year's admissions process, but parents - have a serious chat with your kids about whether or not they want to go to TJ. The kids have this very, very easy way to get out of the process and at this point, many of them know it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If grades are awesome and the scores are brilliant, then the only reason has to be the SIS or the recs. Perhaps the recommendations aren’t as excellent as you think, or the child didn’t actually want to go and that was reflected in the SIS

+1. The three test scores are only part of it! Grades, SIS, teacher recs are considered in addition. Those of you posting three test scores are missing the point.

The point is that most weight is given to subjective scoring of essays/SIS. It is certainly not choosing
The top stem candidates

TJ no longer seems to be a STEM school at this point. I think this is good and bad but it looks like they are more about creating a well balanced instead of kids who are interested in STEM which I thought was a prerequisite since it is a STEM school

One possible strategy is that they take semi finalists off of test scores but then for who gets in it's much more subjective which might be how they are weeding out the cookie cutter hard core STEM folks but again why call it a STEM school if you aren't taking people actually interest in STEM

On what are you basing this strong statement? The speculation on an anonymous board? I guarantee you TJ is still a STEM school. I have two kids there and they have access to so many advanced STEM offerings and are surrounded by kids who mostly love STEM. They also have great humanities offerings but TJ specializes in STEM.

They aren't taking the strongest STEM folks from the semifinialist group. They are doing holistic admissions to create some kind of balanced class bs.

Or, they are defining “strong in STEM” differently than you. Highest math test score does not necessarily mean “strongest in STEM”.

Read the mission statement and beliefs. Really read it and think about it. TJ practices this. Interdisciplinary. Global. Literature, art and music. Collaboration. Effective communication. Math prep, or even math talent is a piece. But only a piece. TJ is spelling out what it’s looking for in applicants. I have no idea why people then get their noses out of joint when their kid who has never demonstrated collaboration or teamwork, never demonstrated cross disciplinary skills, and never written a coherent sentence is turned down. You would never apply for a job and not read the company’s mission statement and beliefs. Why is your kid applying for TJ and not looking at TJs? And clearly they haven’t. Because you clearly haven’t.


If your kid did hundreds of hours of TJ prep, and you never had them read the mission statement and beliefs and think about what they have done that could show they would be a good fit, you did them a huge disservice. Every kid who wants to go should write a practice SIS on why they want to go to TJ, and one on what they could contribute, and line it up against these. If for no other reason than to decide whether they would enjoy going to school there. That, plus one practice test, is the only prep my kids did, and both got in with good but not top scores. And are doing very well.

https://tjhsst.fcps.edu/about

Well said !! Love this. Which practice test would you recommend we can’t afford private classes. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Stop wasting your time attention and money and stress and all of this your kids are going to end up at the same colleges with TJ or without TJ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop wasting your time attention and money and stress and all of this your kids are going to end up at the same colleges with TJ or without TJ

+1. Only the best at TJ go to Ivys. Several go to schools like UVA, VT, UMD, Purdue, etc. in fact, many TJ kids could have ended up at better colleges if they stayed at base school. However, if you’re genuinely interested in learning STEM, TJ is a wonderful place and I say this as one who’s kid went to VT after TJ. Really good school but by no means elite. His twin (similar academically) decided not to go to TJ and ended up at NYU Stern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop wasting your time attention and money and stress and all of this your kids are going to end up at the same colleges with TJ or without TJ

+1. Only the best at TJ go to Ivys. Several go to schools like UVA, VT, UMD, Purdue, etc. in fact, many TJ kids could have ended up at better colleges if they stayed at base school. However, if you’re genuinely interested in learning STEM, TJ is a wonderful place and I say this as one who’s kid went to VT after TJ. Really good school but by no means elite. His twin (similar academically) decided not to go to TJ and ended up at NYU Stern.

Because your first kid was dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a junior at TJ. Came off the WL. It is usually 50 kids. For class of 2020, they took the whole waitlist and the class was still underenrolled. My understanding is that is not the case every year through and 2020 was an anomaly. But the TJ waitlist is not a college waitlist with a 1000 people on it and they take 12 thing. It’s a real shot. Probably better than 50-50. Especially considering not everyone will stay on the WL.

BTW, once DC was admitted, they have done as well at TJ as any other kid. Solidly middle of the class and very active in non-STEM activities.

Having BTDT, here is my advice. If your kid really wants it, accept the WL slot and hold on because they have a good shot any you don’t want them asking what if? I know it’s been a long road. 9-10 months by the time WL decisions come out. And very hard to end MS with HS unsettled. It was a tough three months in our house, but very worth it.

If your kid doesn’t really want it, let it go. Release the WL spot and help your kid start to focus on where they are going to HS. TJ is a lot of sacrifice for the whole family— the kid, the parents, even siblings. I just isn’t worth it if your kid is begging to go. I have a base school kid who is thriving and succeeding too. There is life beyond TJ. I can’t imagine either kid anywhere but where they ended up.

That’s all I got. Good luck to the WL and congrats to the class of 2023.

That’s all

I have heard the same about the class of 2020, a friend's DD got off the wait list that year. But there is a rumor that FX waitlistees are somewhat favored. Not proof of it, but was told when DC was waitlisted for the class of 2021, that the chance is not great for a Loudoun kid. Never pushed for more info on that. DC didn't get off the WL and is now thriving in a different environment.

TJ is a great option, but just know that a good hearted, hardworking, and smart kid can find happiness elsewhere. Good luck.