Number of Applicants for TJ this year ?

[Anonymous]

I am not understanding how the essay/“holistic” piece is used. Does someone review it and select some to proceed to the lottery or does everyone get dumped in? I am watching and no one is talking about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not understanding how the essay/“holistic” piece is used. Does someone review it and select some to proceed to the lottery or does everyone get dumped in? I am watching and no one is talking about it.

Holistic review process is used to reduce Asian students and increase black/Hispanic students for the names that go on the list of names for the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Using a pandemic to punt on merit based admission is ridiculous. Go Megan.

Umm....don't get confused and think that Megan McLaughlin is gonna be an advocate for the status quo. She's pissed because this is rushed.

[Anonymous]

questions I have been thinking about -

1. What exactly is the holistic process into the lottery pool for each region?
2. Does the race or gender play any role in this holistic approach of getting placed into the pool in the holistic approach?
3. Can we say that, any kid who has GPA 3.5+, enrolled in Algebra I by 8th grade and answer the questionnaire with some reasonable essay (assume its some write up at home with help of parents about why you want to go to TJ??) will get into the pool for the each region and have an equal chance within the region? i.e., a kid with just 3.5+ GPA is as likely to get in to the pool (or not selected) as the kid with highest GPA of 4.0+?
4. Can we say that from among the kids who are in the pool, a female hispanic kid and a male asian kid have the same chance of getting picked by the lottery within the region?

[Anonymous]

So, they have divided the middle schools into five pathways. Will the slots be distributed equally within each pathway? I'd sure like to hear a few more details.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. This is about increasing Black and Hispanic enrollment at TJ. That is why they changed GT to AAP. Again, look at who is pushing to change TJ-- hint: it's not white people, except for SB members who are all social justice warriors.

They have never suggested changing admissions to a lottery and eliminating merit before. Only now that white applicants are declining.

Interesting conspiracy theory- white kids aren’t as interested in TJ so the school needs more black and Hispanic kids to attract the white kids, somehow. Novel theory, the presence of black kids and Hispanic kids isn’t usually thought to attract white kids, but I sure you’ve thought this through

You are so dense. Removing the challenging entrance metrics means all applicants have an equal shot, so more white kids will get in, too. Look at the proposal pie chart and you will see the huge increase in white kids by a lottery.

Subtext: Asian students are inherently better because the metrics that they currently use are the only ones that could possibly matter

You say this like it's the Asian students who came up with exams and made everyone take them.

[Anonymous]

Also, good luck with that holistic review when kids aren't even in school.
Keys-Gamarra sees this as an opportunity.

[Anonymous]

The current system is problematic but this lottery idea seems very poorly conceived. As I wrote on the other thread, I think this turns TJ into more of a science focus magnet school and diluted the prestige/gifted factor. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because I do think there are kids who could really benefit from TJ and who really might have a future in the sciences, who wouldn’t make the cut in the current system, but I think that would make more sense in a system where there were other magnet schools, arts, govt, etc..

As it currently stands TJ is functioning more like the elite Ffx school rather than as a science school in terms of how people view admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current system is problematic but this lottery idea seems very poorly conceived. As I wrote on the other thread, I think this turns TJ into more of a science focus magnet school and diluted the prestige/gifted factor. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because I do think there are kids who could really benefit from TJ and who really might have a future in the sciences, who wouldn’t make the cut in the current system, but I think that would make more sense in a system where there were other magnet schools, arts, govt, etc..

As it currently stands TJ is functioning more like the elite Ffx school rather than as a science school in terms of how people view admissions.

But, TJ carries more fame.

I do wonder if the companies who have donated to TJ will continue to do so.

But, FWIW, I know several kids who graduated from TJ about ten years ago. None are working in an advanced science job. Some are working in liberal arts areas. Nothing wrong with that, but I always thought TJ was supposed to be a pipeline to great scientific breakthroughs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:questions I have been thinking about -

1. What exactly is the holistic process into the lottery pool for each region?
2. Does the race or gender play any role in this holistic approach of getting placed into the pool in the holistic approach?
3. Can we say that, any kid who has GPA 3.5+, enrolled in Algebra I by 8th grade and answer the questionnaire with some reasonable essay (assume its some write up at home with help of parents about why you want to go to TJ??) will get into the pool for the each region and have an equal chance within the region? i.e., a kid with just 3.5+ GPA is as likely to get in to the pool (or not selected) as the kid with highest GPA of 4.0+?
4. Can we say that from among the kids who are in the pool, a female hispanic kid and a male asian kid have the same chance of getting picked by the lottery within the region?

Bingo! We have a winner.
I think you know the answer.

[Anonymous]

Brabrand keeps talking about the state task force members — this was a secretive process which did not represent a range if views. Maren talked about hearing from alums. Also a narrow range of views. Most people didn’t know this was going on and so didn’t offer their views.

Brabrand just talked about declining white applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current system is problematic but this lottery idea seems very poorly conceived. As I wrote on the other thread, I think this turns TJ into more of a science focus magnet school and diluted the prestige/gifted factor. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because I do think there are kids who could really benefit from TJ and who really might have a future in the sciences, who wouldn’t make the cut in the current system, but I think that would make more sense in a system where there were other magnet schools, arts, govt, etc..

As it currently stands TJ is functioning more like the elite Ffx school rather than as a science school in terms of how people view admissions.

But, TJ carries more fame.

I do wonder if the companies who have donated to TJ will continue to do so.

But, FWIW, I know several kids who graduated from TJ about ten years ago. None are working in an advanced science job. Some are working in liberal arts areas. Nothing wrong with that, but I always thought TJ was supposed to be a pipeline to great scientific breakthroughs.

I’m the PP and I guess that’s the question, what’s the school’s mission? I don’t really have a dog in this fight, I have a 9th grader that’s might have gotten in and considered it but decided not to apply and a 7th grader that would not be interested, although oddly enough could potentially be admitted with this new system (she would not choose to go).