Admissions to Blair SMAC and CAP, Wheaton engineering and RMIB

[Anonymous]

Parent of a kid who got into many of the magnet programs. What worked for us was a strong portfolio of achievements showcased through the three 25 word essays and one 250 word essay. Strong grades and standardized test scores is a basic requirement, but the schools also want kids who have interests beyond school work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a kid who got into many of the magnet programs. What worked for us was a strong portfolio of achievements showcased through the three 25 word essays and one 250 word essay. Strong grades and standardized test scores is a basic requirement, but the schools also want kids who have interests beyond school work.

I have a very smart but introverted kid. Social and good working in a team but doesn’t volunteer for a ton of clubs and likes downtime. Does this rule her out? No math team or science bowl, just doesn’t like that type of aggressive competition. Enjoys coding, robotics, has some sports awards, plays in advanced orchestra, basic academic recognition, usually heavily praised by teachers for work ethic, being supportive of classmates and academic attainment (but none of that in formal ways). Breezing though geometry and getting As in all classes without much effort. MAP scores are 99th percentile consistently both MAP-r and MAP-m, but not 99.9%.

Worth applying? Or is it mostly the math team kid with 300+ MAP scores they are looking for, who also have won national competitions and already organized community service events and designed new software to solve a problem or meet a need?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a kid who got into many of the magnet programs. What worked for us was a strong portfolio of achievements showcased through the three 25 word essays and one 250 word essay. Strong grades and standardized test scores is a basic requirement, but the schools also want kids who have interests beyond school work.

What is a 25 word essay? That's more like a haiku than an essay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a kid who got into many of the magnet programs. What worked for us was a strong portfolio of achievements showcased through the three 25 word essays and one 250 word essay. Strong grades and standardized test scores is a basic requirement, but the schools also want kids who have interests beyond school work.

I have a very smart but introverted kid. Social and good working in a team but doesn’t volunteer for a ton of clubs and likes downtime. Does this rule her out? No math team or science bowl, just doesn’t like that type of aggressive competition. Enjoys coding, robotics, has some sports awards, plays in advanced orchestra, basic academic recognition, usually heavily praised by teachers for work ethic, being supportive of classmates and academic attainment (but none of that in formal ways). Breezing though geometry and getting As in all classes without much effort. MAP scores are 99th percentile consistently both MAP-r and MAP-m, but not 99.9%.

Worth applying? Or is it mostly the math team kid with 300+ MAP scores they are looking for, who also have won national competitions and already organized community service events and designed new software to solve a problem or meet a need?

I am the parent from the previous page with the performing arts kids. They did not do math team. I say go for it. Yours can accentuate the coding and robotics involvement. Is she all state or regional in orchestra? Add that and the sports awards. And, then explain how she supports classmates or volunteers at school (maybe through orchestra). It doesn't have to be a highly organized thing to count for something.
Also, they want more female students in the stem programs.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a kid who got into many of the magnet programs. What worked for us was a strong portfolio of achievements showcased through the three 25 word essays and one 250 word essay. Strong grades and standardized test scores is a basic requirement, but the schools also want kids who have interests beyond school work.

What is a 25 word essay? That's more like a haiku than an essay.

That refers to the awards/ECs/school service short answer sections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a kid who got into many of the magnet programs. What worked for us was a strong portfolio of achievements showcased through the three 25 word essays and one 250 word essay. Strong grades and standardized test scores is a basic requirement, but the schools also want kids who have interests beyond school work.

I have a very smart but introverted kid. Social and good working in a team but doesn’t volunteer for a ton of clubs and likes downtime. Does this rule her out? No math team or science bowl, just doesn’t like that type of aggressive competition. Enjoys coding, robotics, has some sports awards, plays in advanced orchestra, basic academic recognition, usually heavily praised by teachers for work ethic, being supportive of classmates and academic attainment (but none of that in formal ways). Breezing though geometry and getting As in all classes without much effort. MAP scores are 99th percentile consistently both MAP-r and MAP-m, but not 99.9%.

Worth applying? Or is it mostly the math team kid with 300+ MAP scores they are looking for, who also have won national competitions and already organized community service events and designed new software to solve a problem or meet a need?

I am the parent from the previous page with the performing arts kids. They did not do math team. I say go for it. Yours can accentuate the coding and robotics involvement. Is she all state or regional in orchestra? Add that and the sports awards. And, then explain how she supports classmates or volunteers at school (maybe through orchestra). It doesn't have to be a highly organized thing to count for something.
Also, they want more female students in the stem programs.

Good luck!

Thanks. Isn’t the application gender blind? Just as it’s school and race blind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a kid who got into many of the magnet programs. What worked for us was a strong portfolio of achievements showcased through the three 25 word essays and one 250 word essay. Strong grades and standardized test scores is a basic requirement, but the schools also want kids who have interests beyond school work.

I have a very smart but introverted kid. Social and good working in a team but doesn’t volunteer for a ton of clubs and likes downtime. Does this rule her out? No math team or science bowl, just doesn’t like that type of aggressive competition. Enjoys coding, robotics, has some sports awards, plays in advanced orchestra, basic academic recognition, usually heavily praised by teachers for work ethic, being supportive of classmates and academic attainment (but none of that in formal ways). Breezing though geometry and getting As in all classes without much effort. MAP scores are 99th percentile consistently both MAP-r and MAP-m, but not 99.9%.

Worth applying? Or is it mostly the math team kid with 300+ MAP scores they are looking for, who also have won national competitions and already organized community service events and designed new software to solve a problem or meet a need?

I am the parent from the previous page with the performing arts kids. They did not do math team. I say go for it. Yours can accentuate the coding and robotics involvement. Is she all state or regional in orchestra? Add that and the sports awards. And, then explain how she supports classmates or volunteers at school (maybe through orchestra). It doesn't have to be a highly organized thing to count for something.
Also, they want more female students in the stem programs.

Good luck!

Thanks. Isn’t the application gender blind? Just as it’s school and race blind.

MCPS high school magnet programs (at least in the last 10 years) do not have gender-blind admissions. They want balanced classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a kid who got into many of the magnet programs. What worked for us was a strong portfolio of achievements showcased through the three 25 word essays and one 250 word essay. Strong grades and standardized test scores is a basic requirement, but the schools also want kids who have interests beyond school work.

I have a very smart but introverted kid. Social and good working in a team but doesn’t volunteer for a ton of clubs and likes downtime. Does this rule her out? No math team or science bowl, just doesn’t like that type of aggressive competition. Enjoys coding, robotics, has some sports awards, plays in advanced orchestra, basic academic recognition, usually heavily praised by teachers for work ethic, being supportive of classmates and academic attainment (but none of that in formal ways). Breezing though geometry and getting As in all classes without much effort. MAP scores are 99th percentile consistently both MAP-r and MAP-m, but not 99.9%.

Worth applying? Or is it mostly the math team kid with 300+ MAP scores they are looking for, who also have won national competitions and already organized community service events and designed new software to solve a problem or meet a need?

I am the parent from the previous page with the performing arts kids. They did not do math team. I say go for it. Yours can accentuate the coding and robotics involvement. Is she all state or regional in orchestra? Add that and the sports awards. And, then explain how she supports classmates or volunteers at school (maybe through orchestra). It doesn't have to be a highly organized thing to count for something.
Also, they want more female students in the stem programs.

Good luck!

Thanks. Isn’t the application gender blind? Just as it’s school and race blind.

MCPS high school magnet programs (at least in the last 10 years) do not have gender-blind admissions. They want balanced classes.

hmm. DC's RMIB cohort is not gender balanced. DC is a senior now.

[Anonymous]

My kid is a junior at RMIB. She did her own application and I never saw it so can’t speak to the essays. Her grades were good but not straight a’s. Her maps were good but not sky high. She had a couple of MS academic type clubs she was enthusiastic about. I think she was enthusiastic about the program, seemed self motivated, and her teachers appreciated her as really engaged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a kid who got into many of the magnet programs. What worked for us was a strong portfolio of achievements showcased through the three 25 word essays and one 250 word essay. Strong grades and standardized test scores is a basic requirement, but the schools also want kids who have interests beyond school work.

I have a very smart but introverted kid. Social and good working in a team but doesn’t volunteer for a ton of clubs and likes downtime. Does this rule her out? No math team or science bowl, just doesn’t like that type of aggressive competition. Enjoys coding, robotics, has some sports awards, plays in advanced orchestra, basic academic recognition, usually heavily praised by teachers for work ethic, being supportive of classmates and academic attainment (but none of that in formal ways). Breezing though geometry and getting As in all classes without much effort. MAP scores are 99th percentile consistently both MAP-r and MAP-m, but not 99.9%.

Worth applying? Or is it mostly the math team kid with 300+ MAP scores they are looking for, who also have won national competitions and already organized community service events and designed new software to solve a problem or meet a need?

New poster. Yes, by all means she should apply. I am the parent of a current 8th grader in the TPMS math magnet, which I mention only because it seems to be the biggest feeder school for the Blair math magnet. From what I have learned from my DC, the vast majority of these kids are human just like everyone else. Yes, they are very smart. But they have bad days, turn work in late, get scolded for not paying attention in class, and bomb tests, just like everyone else. Your daughter sounds great and I’m sure she’ll be competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a kid who got into many of the magnet programs. What worked for us was a strong portfolio of achievements showcased through the three 25 word essays and one 250 word essay. Strong grades and standardized test scores is a basic requirement, but the schools also want kids who have interests beyond school work.

I have a very smart but introverted kid. Social and good working in a team but doesn’t volunteer for a ton of clubs and likes downtime. Does this rule her out? No math team or science bowl, just doesn’t like that type of aggressive competition. Enjoys coding, robotics, has some sports awards, plays in advanced orchestra, basic academic recognition, usually heavily praised by teachers for work ethic, being supportive of classmates and academic attainment (but none of that in formal ways). Breezing though geometry and getting As in all classes without much effort. MAP scores are 99th percentile consistently both MAP-r and MAP-m, but not 99.9%.

Worth applying? Or is it mostly the math team kid with 300+ MAP scores they are looking for, who also have won national competitions and already organized community service events and designed new software to solve a problem or meet a need?

I am the parent from the previous page with the performing arts kids. They did not do math team. I say go for it. Yours can accentuate the coding and robotics involvement. Is she all state or regional in orchestra? Add that and the sports awards. And, then explain how she supports classmates or volunteers at school (maybe through orchestra). It doesn't have to be a highly organized thing to count for something.
Also, they want more female students in the stem programs.

Good luck!

Thanks. Isn’t the application gender blind? Just as it’s school and race blind.

MCPS high school magnet programs (at least in the last 10 years) do not have gender-blind admissions. They want balanced classes.

hmm. DC's RMIB cohort is not gender balanced. DC is a senior now.

What are the percentages for boys and girls in RMIB?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/apply_test.php

so MAP-M now

It says “part” of the process. What else? And what scores? Can anyone share scores of admitted students?

OP, nobody knows exact criteria and MCPS wants it that way so they can bring in more underserved kids to the program.

Right but current students know what their scores were when they got admitted and what their grades were and what they highlighted in their application. And so do their parents. Perhaps they might be inclined to share them here, unless it’s all one big secret. That’s all I’m asking.

My kid was in 99% for quant and 90s for verbal and spatial on Cogat and did not get into Blair if that helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a kid who got into many of the magnet programs. What worked for us was a strong portfolio of achievements showcased through the three 25 word essays and one 250 word essay. Strong grades and standardized test scores is a basic requirement, but the schools also want kids who have interests beyond school work.

I have a very smart but introverted kid. Social and good working in a team but doesn’t volunteer for a ton of clubs and likes downtime. Does this rule her out? No math team or science bowl, just doesn’t like that type of aggressive competition. Enjoys coding, robotics, has some sports awards, plays in advanced orchestra, basic academic recognition, usually heavily praised by teachers for work ethic, being supportive of classmates and academic attainment (but none of that in formal ways). Breezing though geometry and getting As in all classes without much effort. MAP scores are 99th percentile consistently both MAP-r and MAP-m, but not 99.9%.

Worth applying? Or is it mostly the math team kid with 300+ MAP scores they are looking for, who also have won national competitions and already organized community service events and designed new software to solve a problem or meet a need?

I am the parent from the previous page with the performing arts kids. They did not do math team. I say go for it. Yours can accentuate the coding and robotics involvement. Is she all state or regional in orchestra? Add that and the sports awards. And, then explain how she supports classmates or volunteers at school (maybe through orchestra). It doesn't have to be a highly organized thing to count for something.
Also, they want more female students in the stem programs.

Good luck!

Thanks. Isn’t the application gender blind? Just as it’s school and race blind.

MCPS high school magnet programs (at least in the last 10 years) do not have gender-blind admissions. They want balanced classes.

hmm. DC's RMIB cohort is not gender balanced. DC is a senior now.

Blair's wasn't either. Neither is Wheaton's engineering (Biomed is probably more female heavy). But, I think the idea was to have some balance and not be too lopsided one way or the other.

[Anonymous]

My kids were in the magnet programs since the 4th grade. For magnet ES, MS and HS - they had to take an exam and do well in them.

MS and HS, they had to also write essays, list ECs etc. Both kids applied to all three programs in PHS as well as RMIB. Both got into all 4 programs. They chose what they were comfortable in.

RMIB was the hardest magnet by far. (This was during the time of Jennifer Hoover). The stress and pressure was insane. College was easy after that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/apply_test.php

so MAP-M now

It says “part” of the process. What else? And what scores? Can anyone share scores of admitted students?

OP, nobody knows exact criteria and MCPS wants it that way so they can bring in more underserved kids to the program.

Right but current students know what their scores were when they got admitted and what their grades were and what they highlighted in their application. And so do their parents. Perhaps they might be inclined to share them here, unless it’s all one big secret. That’s all I’m asking.

My kid was in 99% for quant and 90s for verbal and spatial on Cogat and did not get into Blair if that helps.

They don’t do Cogat anymore.