Did you prep your kid for high school magnet placement?
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Anonymous
| If you did, what kind of prep? I'm not interested in those telling me not to prep, I am more interested in knowing what kind of prep my kid can do to get the best chance at Richard Montgomery or Blair since my kid did not get a spot in Takoma Park. What do you think helped your kid get in? Do the kids have to do an essay? Is it just based on MAP scores? Is 1 year of language in MS enough (just 8th grade world language)? |
Anonymous
| No prep, no magnet middle, admitted to Blair (compacted math pathway in ES -> AIM -> algebra 1 -> geometry, so nothing out of the ordinary in terms of math acceleration). Did not apply to other criteria based magnets (IB home school). I think the essay makes a difference (high MAP M (and R but that doesn’t matter for Blair) but nothing crazy and potentially on the low side for what ppl post here for Blair). |
Anonymous
Does the counselor help with the essay? |
Anonymous
| Also curious what your child's MAP scores were when you say it was low for Blair. |
Anonymous
We didn't do any prep. I've got that weird kid who is strangely self-motivated. That didn't come from me. 
They wrote one essay and then modified it to try to appeal to each program they were applying to. Got invited to each one. |
Anonymous
Counselor? No, no outside help with the essay (and no, not from the parents either). MAP M score was in the 280s I think. |
Anonymous
For Blair MAP-M is the most critical. Many 8th graders don't have the habit of solving math problems routinely. Solving above-grade level math problems is helpful. Also encouraging your kid to join school clubs/teams to develop a passion for math/science is also helpful.
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Anonymous
There’s only one essay that is submitted for all programs in the current application process. There’s no way to modify it. |
Anonymous
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We did nothing to prep. My kid had a MAP M of mid 270s and MAP R of mid 260s.
Wrote about his passions (STEM) and work ethic (very motivated), some extra curriculars that showed balance and team work and ability to work with others. He wrote it all himself. It had a good hook and showcased his interests. He got admitted to all the selective programs - Blair magnet and CAP, the Wheaton programs, the IB programs (RM and local). Chose Blair. What you have to consider is that these programs are extremely rigorous and hard work. Your kid has to be strongly motivated to succeed. Kids who land there due to pushy parents trying to manipulate the selection will be miserable. |
Anonymous
This is above median according to Blair presentation |
Anonymous
This was several years ago. |
Anonymous
It’s still a single essay |
Anonymous
And it's barely an essay—if I remember correctly, you might get a couple of paragraphs in under the word count, tops. |
Anonymous
We moved to MCPS after the MS entry process, so older DC had no chance at a magnet MS. Their MS counselor felt they were a good fit for a magnet HS program and gave them feedback on their essay. They were admitted to Blair and RMIB (not in bounds for CAP) and went to Blair. |
Anonymous
I have no idea what the score distribution is for those admitted, my “low” comment was qualified by “what seems to be posted here” — a convenience sample but often 290+ (and admittedly I likely have heuristic bias in recalling any specific scores) |