TJ and colleges

[Anonymous]

So is there a list of schools that graduated of TJ attend and the numbers? Is there any followup?

I ask because in recent years (anecdotally) I have met several young adults (early 20s) that went to TJ and either dropped out of college completely or switched to an easier college after a few years. More on the drop out side though. They thrived at TJ but it appears they burnt out completely.

So do we see the universities these kids attend? Year to year.

And, do we know if they graduate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
So is there a list of schools that graduated of TJ attend and the numbers? Is there any followup?

I ask because in recent years (anecdotally) I have met several young adults (early 20s) that went to TJ and either dropped out of college completely or switched to an easier college after a few years. More on the drop out side though. They thrived at TJ but it appears they burnt out completely.

So do we see the universities these kids attend? Year to year.

And, do we know if they graduate?

This is all news to me.
For the most part TJ's biggest advantage is that it prepares you for college like no other school in the area.
MIT and Cal Tech are probably the only colleges that are a tough transitions for Tj students and they are murder for non-TJ students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
So is there a list of schools that graduated of TJ attend and the numbers? Is there any followup?

I ask because in recent years (anecdotally) I have met several young adults (early 20s) that went to TJ and either dropped out of college completely or switched to an easier college after a few years. More on the drop out side though. They thrived at TJ but it appears they burnt out completely.

So do we see the universities these kids attend? Year to year.

And, do we know if they graduate?

This sounds fake. Not every TJ student is MIT caliber but they don't drop out. Maybe you need to change your circle.

[Anonymous]

As an MIT grad of a non-TJ high school, I wouldn't say it's "murder" for non-TJ students. Like many other competitive schools and competitive programs within state universities or lower-ranked universities, MIT is challenging and isn't a cakewalk for anyone. It doesn't matter whether you go to TJ or another high school. If you're making it into MIT, Princeton, CalTech, or any T10, whether you make it from TJ or Woodson High (or fill in your non-TJ high school), you know what you're getting into and you also have the caliber to succeed and graduate. The profiles of the students making it into these schools are atypical. We didn't just get into the schools solely on our academic standing. The path to the T10 starts young and most of us far exceed the norm when it comes to academic performance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So is there a list of schools that graduated of TJ attend and the numbers? Is there any followup?

I ask because in recent years (anecdotally) I have met several young adults (early 20s) that went to TJ and either dropped out of college completely or switched to an easier college after a few years. More on the drop out side though. They thrived at TJ but it appears they burnt out completely.

So do we see the universities these kids attend? Year to year.

And, do we know if they graduate?

This sounds fake. Not every TJ student is MIT caliber but they don't drop out. Maybe you need to change your circle.

Not fake at all. Maybe they are the bottom of their TJ class or something (not something I can ask of them or their parents). But I am shocked at the dropping out of college halfway through -- and it doesn't appear to be grades. They just seemed "fried" and the loved TJ and their experiences there.

I just didn't know if FCPS tracks college graduation for their TJ kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So is there a list of schools that graduated of TJ attend and the numbers? Is there any followup?

I ask because in recent years (anecdotally) I have met several young adults (early 20s) that went to TJ and either dropped out of college completely or switched to an easier college after a few years. More on the drop out side though. They thrived at TJ but it appears they burnt out completely.

So do we see the universities these kids attend? Year to year.

And, do we know if they graduate?

This sounds fake. Not every TJ student is MIT caliber but they don't drop out. Maybe you need to change your circle.

Not fake at all. Maybe they are the bottom of their TJ class or something (not something I can ask of them or their parents). But I am shocked at the dropping out of college halfway through -- and it doesn't appear to be grades. They just seemed "fried" and the loved TJ and their experiences there.

I just didn't know if FCPS tracks college graduation for their TJ kids.

You're probably missing something in the story--perhaps the details weren't fully explained. If they are "fried" they would just sit out a year or two, rather than "drop out". Dropping out implies they have no intention of finishing their degree in the near future and you unenroll (meaning you would need to reapply). For those who successfully completed TJ to the point where they make it into the likes of MIT, likely without much financial aid if you are in an SES area, it seems quite uncharacteristic. As the previous poster explained, gaining admission to MIT requires more than just academic competitiveness; these kids are atypical and bring something to the school beyond perfect grades (which is a given if you even intend to apply). Perhaps they are dropping out to do something entrepreneurial in nature, where they don't need to necessarily rely on the degree. But for those who are in MIT and have an entrepreneurial bend, even that is strange because these colleges hold a lot of pathways to make your business dreams a reality so dropping out of college entirely would only hurt you wrt to access to capital.

[Anonymous]

There are a few recent TJ grads that are taking a break from college to work on AI startups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So is there a list of schools that graduated of TJ attend and the numbers? Is there any followup?

I ask because in recent years (anecdotally) I have met several young adults (early 20s) that went to TJ and either dropped out of college completely or switched to an easier college after a few years. More on the drop out side though. They thrived at TJ but it appears they burnt out completely.

So do we see the universities these kids attend? Year to year.

And, do we know if they graduate?

This sounds fake. Not every TJ student is MIT caliber but they don't drop out. Maybe you need to change your circle.

Not fake at all. Maybe they are the bottom of their TJ class or something (not something I can ask of them or their parents). But I am shocked at the dropping out of college halfway through -- and it doesn't appear to be grades. They just seemed "fried" and the loved TJ and their experiences there.

I just didn't know if FCPS tracks college graduation for their TJ kids.

You're probably missing something in the story--perhaps the details weren't fully explained. If they are "fried" they would just sit out a year or two, rather than "drop out". Dropping out implies they have no intention of finishing their degree in the near future and you unenroll (meaning you would need to reapply). For those who successfully completed TJ to the point where they make it into the likes of MIT, likely without much financial aid if you are in an SES area, it seems quite uncharacteristic. As the previous poster explained, gaining admission to MIT requires more than just academic competitiveness; these kids are atypical and bring something to the school beyond perfect grades (which is a given if you even intend to apply). Perhaps they are dropping out to do something entrepreneurial in nature, where they don't need to necessarily rely on the degree. But for those who are in MIT and have an entrepreneurial bend, even that is strange because these colleges hold a lot of pathways to make your business dreams a reality so dropping out of college entirely would only hurt you wrt to access to capital.

How many TJ kids get into MIT? Cal Tech? Aren't the majority just going to normal schools (Va Tech, UVA?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So is there a list of schools that graduated of TJ attend and the numbers? Is there any followup?

I ask because in recent years (anecdotally) I have met several young adults (early 20s) that went to TJ and either dropped out of college completely or switched to an easier college after a few years. More on the drop out side though. They thrived at TJ but it appears they burnt out completely.

So do we see the universities these kids attend? Year to year.

And, do we know if they graduate?

This sounds fake. Not every TJ student is MIT caliber but they don't drop out. Maybe you need to change your circle.

TJ alumna here. About 15 years ago a student who gradated from TJ after me and went to the same college I did dropped out of college. It's not like it never happens.

But I don't think it's particularly common. Unless it got a lot more so after I stopped paying attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an MIT grad of a non-TJ high school, I wouldn't say it's "murder" for non-TJ students. Like many other competitive schools and competitive programs within state universities or lower-ranked universities, MIT is challenging and isn't a cakewalk for anyone. It doesn't matter whether you go to TJ or another high school. If you're making it into MIT, Princeton, CalTech, or any T10, whether you make it from TJ or Woodson High (or fill in your non-TJ high school), you know what you're getting into and you also have the caliber to succeed and graduate. The profiles of the students making it into these schools are atypical. We didn't just get into the schools solely on our academic standing. The path to the T10 starts young and most of us far exceed the norm when it comes to academic performance.

MIT and Cal Tech are the only schools where I hear TJ grads seriously complain about the rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So is there a list of schools that graduated of TJ attend and the numbers? Is there any followup?

I ask because in recent years (anecdotally) I have met several young adults (early 20s) that went to TJ and either dropped out of college completely or switched to an easier college after a few years. More on the drop out side though. They thrived at TJ but it appears they burnt out completely.

So do we see the universities these kids attend? Year to year.

And, do we know if they graduate?

This sounds fake. Not every TJ student is MIT caliber but they don't drop out. Maybe you need to change your circle.

Not fake at all. Maybe they are the bottom of their TJ class or something (not something I can ask of them or their parents). But I am shocked at the dropping out of college halfway through -- and it doesn't appear to be grades. They just seemed "fried" and the loved TJ and their experiences there.

I just didn't know if FCPS tracks college graduation for their TJ kids.

The bottom of Tj class is going to places like JMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an MIT grad of a non-TJ high school, I wouldn't say it's "murder" for non-TJ students. Like many other competitive schools and competitive programs within state universities or lower-ranked universities, MIT is challenging and isn't a cakewalk for anyone. It doesn't matter whether you go to TJ or another high school. If you're making it into MIT, Princeton, CalTech, or any T10, whether you make it from TJ or Woodson High (or fill in your non-TJ high school), you know what you're getting into and you also have the caliber to succeed and graduate. The profiles of the students making it into these schools are atypical. We didn't just get into the schools solely on our academic standing. The path to the T10 starts young and most of us far exceed the norm when it comes to academic performance.

MIT and Cal Tech are the only schools where I hear TJ grads seriously complain about the rigor.

I'm the poster who went to MIT. I am friends with people who were at the T10 and the non-T10. We all complained about rigor. Some classes were manageable. Some classes were killer hard. Some professors were amazing. Some professors shouldn't be professors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an MIT grad of a non-TJ high school, I wouldn't say it's "murder" for non-TJ students. Like many other competitive schools and competitive programs within state universities or lower-ranked universities, MIT is challenging and isn't a cakewalk for anyone. It doesn't matter whether you go to TJ or another high school. If you're making it into MIT, Princeton, CalTech, or any T10, whether you make it from TJ or Woodson High (or fill in your non-TJ high school), you know what you're getting into and you also have the caliber to succeed and graduate. The profiles of the students making it into these schools are atypical. We didn't just get into the schools solely on our academic standing. The path to the T10 starts young and most of us far exceed the norm when it comes to academic performance.

MIT and Cal Tech are the only schools where I hear TJ grads seriously complain about the rigor.

I'm the poster who went to MIT. I am friends with people who were at the T10 and the non-T10. We all complained about rigor. Some classes were manageable. Some classes were killer hard. Some professors were amazing. Some professors shouldn't be professors.

This doesn't contradict the PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an MIT grad of a non-TJ high school, I wouldn't say it's "murder" for non-TJ students. Like many other competitive schools and competitive programs within state universities or lower-ranked universities, MIT is challenging and isn't a cakewalk for anyone. It doesn't matter whether you go to TJ or another high school. If you're making it into MIT, Princeton, CalTech, or any T10, whether you make it from TJ or Woodson High (or fill in your non-TJ high school), you know what you're getting into and you also have the caliber to succeed and graduate. The profiles of the students making it into these schools are atypical. We didn't just get into the schools solely on our academic standing. The path to the T10 starts young and most of us far exceed the norm when it comes to academic performance.

Maybe things have changed but MIT used to be tough. Noticably tougher than other ivy or SLACs, particularly in grading. Sure all the students are good but they didn't all have the same competitive environment in high school. That competition made the transition noticably easier in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Most of the kids at TJ are not getting into MIT. A few kids will get into each of the great schools. Even if every kid at TJ was an off the hook genius - MIT would only be taken three of them since they are all from the same school.