Novel suggestion for TJ admissions - just for fun

[Anonymous]

Winning gold at science Olympiad should be a disqualifier from TJ, because those kids don't need TJ I order to be good at science and technology.

[Anonymous]

I was at the Science Olympiad as well - the problem is that most of these kids bought kits or got hand me downs.

Very few were from scratch; scratch forces you to learn. Kits make you follow directions. And depending on the event the kits are expensive.

I don't mind a build type of competition to TJ but they need to build it in-person; I'd even like to see a coding event where the kids code against each other.

I just want to see them do the challenge without parents or kits. I don't like grades and I don't like tests. I do like hands on. I'm even ok with an design challenge.

TJ shouldn't be for a place with the most AP classes it should be for makers. You're a genius with robots and have a crappy GPA no problem - welcome to TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at the Science Olympiad as well - the problem is that most of these kids bought kits or got hand me downs.

Very few were from scratch; scratch forces you to learn. Kits make you follow directions. And depending on the event the kits are expensive.

I don't mind a build type of competition to TJ but they need to build it in-person; I'd even like to see a coding event where the kids code against each other.

I just want to see them do the challenge without parents or kits. I don't like grades and I don't like tests. I do like hands on. I'm even ok with an design challenge.

TJ shouldn't be for a place with the most AP classes it should be for makers. You're a genius with robots and have a crappy GPA no problem - welcome to TJ.

My understanding is that for the build events, kids are directed to start with a certain kit. There is no option to build from scratch.

I understand your preference for build events vs tests - but it is certainly an individual preference, not a measure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Winning gold at science Olympiad should be a disqualifier from TJ, because those kids don't need TJ I order to be good at science and technology.

So your concept of TJ is a remedial school where kids who aren't good in sci and tech go to get better? Okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had a similar argument as OP, but with math instead. If TJ heavily weighted or even guaranteed admission to any kids scoring in the top 10 at mathcounts state and the top 10 8th grade scorers in VA in the AMC 10A and AMC10B, that would only add maybe 10-15 TJ seats.

I would support that 200%! I don't understand resistance to the idea that actual achievement in STEM means something. TJ should be recruiting these types of kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can pretty much guarantee my child a gold in at least two events if I am unethical. So this is an invitation to cheating.

Longfellow has a deep base of material that they reuse each year. Their coaches have years of expertise that is passed on to the next years cohort. A student at Longfellow is starting off with a huge lead compared to other schools. They have some of the best material available that is curated over decades of experience. It has a parent group that is fanatical about winning. Any student just by being at Longfellow has a good chance of winning the top 1-2 spots. Granted they do have to work hard, but students at other schools can work twice as hard and not get the same results.

Look, if this were true, Longfellow would sweep gold and silver across all 25 disciplines. That didn't happen.

As for the materials, it is free to get practice tests from past regionals and invitationals. There is a study guide. All you need to commit time and effort to study. Like, actual bum in chair time, eyes on the page time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had a similar argument as OP, but with math instead. If TJ heavily weighted or even guaranteed admission to any kids scoring in the top 10 at mathcounts state and the top 10 8th grade scorers in VA in the AMC 10A and AMC10B, that would only add maybe 10-15 TJ seats.

Massively pro-reform here and very happy with the way things have gone with the new admissions process...

But any sensible admissions process to TJ would at least have an opportunity for kids to indicate an outstanding achievement like this - and to write about what it meant to them. I've argued for some time that the seated and proctored part of the process should include a chance for kids to write about their single proudest accomplishments both in STEM and outside of STEM, as well as what they hope to get from and provide to TJ if admitted.

Doesn't mean you take everyone who does Science Olympiad or everyone who performs at an exceptional level in major math contests, but those things absolutely should be part of the narrative that is built through the application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can pretty much guarantee my child a gold in at least two events if I am unethical. So this is an invitation to cheating.

Longfellow has a deep base of material that they reuse each year. Their coaches have years of expertise that is passed on to the next years cohort. A student at Longfellow is starting off with a huge lead compared to other schools. They have some of the best material available that is curated over decades of experience. It has a parent group that is fanatical about winning. Any student just by being at Longfellow has a good chance of winning the top 1-2 spots. Granted they do have to work hard, but students at other schools can work twice as hard and not get the same results.

That is COMPLETELY untrue. First, Longfellow's selection process for Sci Oly is extremely competitive. The final state team is maybe 15 kids whittled down from 150+ applicants. And out of 15, they only took 5 gold medals. Five kids out of one large middle school. What is this nonsense with "any student just be being at Longfellow"??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at the Virginia Science Olympiad Division B and C last Saturday and it was a joy to see soooo many great kids who are genuinely excited about all things science. You had to see the fire in their eyes!

As I sat through the awards ceremony, I thought - TJ admits decisions must be getting made right about now. They should send an officer to the event, and extend automatic offers of admission to all gold medalists in Division B (middle schoolers). That won't tip the scale by much - there's only 23 disciplines, and some kids medaled in more than one. So it's like 20 seats. What other proof of commitment and interest in STEM does one need? Sci Oly is free so there is no suggestion that affluence matters - all one needs to do is study. Why not?

You could say the same thing about the robotics competitions and the math competitions, etc

In the end they get to talk about it in their applications.

[Anonymous]

Not worth a separate new post and related so asking here, do TJ offers usually go out before or after spring break?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not worth a separate new post and related so asking here, do TJ offers usually go out before or after spring break?

Asking in part bc if idea is to have admittance based on awards, a lot of awards would all come too late to be relevant to the process. If offers come out now/next week, still too late as guessing offers already all but lined up to send out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had a similar argument as OP, but with math instead. If TJ heavily weighted or even guaranteed admission to any kids scoring in the top 10 at mathcounts state and the top 10 8th grade scorers in VA in the AMC 10A and AMC10B, that would only add maybe 10-15 TJ seats.

Massively pro-reform here and very happy with the way things have gone with the new admissions process...

But any sensible admissions process to TJ would at least have an opportunity for kids to indicate an outstanding achievement like this - and to write about what it meant to them. I've argued for some time that the seated and proctored part of the process should include a chance for kids to write about their single proudest accomplishments both in STEM and outside of STEM, as well as what they hope to get from and provide to TJ if admitted.

Doesn't mean you take everyone who does Science Olympiad or everyone who performs at an exceptional level in major math contests, but those things absolutely should be part of the narrative that is built through the application.

The kids ARE writing about it in their essays so already happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at the Virginia Science Olympiad Division B and C last Saturday and it was a joy to see soooo many great kids who are genuinely excited about all things science. You had to see the fire in their eyes!

As I sat through the awards ceremony, I thought - TJ admits decisions must be getting made right about now. They should send an officer to the event, and extend automatic offers of admission to all gold medalists in Division B (middle schoolers). That won't tip the scale by much - there's only 23 disciplines, and some kids medaled in more than one. So it's like 20 seats. What other proof of commitment and interest in STEM does one need? Sci Oly is free so there is no suggestion that affluence matters - all one needs to do is study. Why not?

Obviously you don't understand it. Look at the skin colors of the medalists. Most of them belong to the wrong group which FCPS's current admission policy was created to reduce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had a similar argument as OP, but with math instead. If TJ heavily weighted or even guaranteed admission to any kids scoring in the top 10 at mathcounts state and the top 10 8th grade scorers in VA in the AMC 10A and AMC10B, that would only add maybe 10-15 TJ seats.

Massively pro-reform here and very happy with the way things have gone with the new admissions process...

But any sensible admissions process to TJ would at least have an opportunity for kids to indicate an outstanding achievement like this - and to write about what it meant to them. I've argued for some time that the seated and proctored part of the process should include a chance for kids to write about their single proudest accomplishments both in STEM and outside of STEM, as well as what they hope to get from and provide to TJ if admitted.

Doesn't mean you take everyone who does Science Olympiad or everyone who performs at an exceptional level in major math contests, but those things absolutely should be part of the narrative that is built through the application.

The kids ARE writing about it in their essays so already happening.

They are writing about last years edition. Arguably this years results are more pertinent to them being TJ material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at the Virginia Science Olympiad Division B and C last Saturday and it was a joy to see soooo many great kids who are genuinely excited about all things science. You had to see the fire in their eyes!

As I sat through the awards ceremony, I thought - TJ admits decisions must be getting made right about now. They should send an officer to the event, and extend automatic offers of admission to all gold medalists in Division B (middle schoolers). That won't tip the scale by much - there's only 23 disciplines, and some kids medaled in more than one. So it's like 20 seats. What other proof of commitment and interest in STEM does one need? Sci Oly is free so there is no suggestion that affluence matters - all one needs to do is study. Why not?

Obviously you don't understand it. Look at the skin colors of the medalists. Most of them belong to the wrong group which FCPS's current admission policy was created to reduce.

Correct. Overwhelmingly Asian.