TJ anyone find that the commute + the homework made it not work out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you and your student talked in depth with your base high school about what it really can offer? Can your student get a solid science/math/tech grounding there? Does it also have rigorous, respected and well supported extracurriculars in this area such as Science Olympiad, Math Olympiad, other science or math competitions, a serious robotics program, etc.? Some high schools do have these kinds of programs and are highly competitive in them. If your base HS doesn't have anything to offer, then TJ may indeed be worth any commute. But TJ is not the end-all and be-all of science, math and tech, and it's not for everyone. Many a science major now in college from Fairfax County didn't go to TJ, and still got into college! TJ is great, but if going there would seriously affect your whole family (not just your TJ student -- you do have other family members to consider), then it's OK to get more information and at least consider other options. Yes, it's great to get in. Yes, it's a good school. But it's not the sole path to college and a science or math career.

If the commute is a real issue for your family, it's an issue. It's snarky of others to comment that "it's ONLY 16 miles" and how it's less than a work commute or less than what Loudon TJ students have to do. Make your decision based on both your kid's academic needs and your whole family's needs, not on these people berating you for just trying to make a tough call.

No one berated her. We want to give her from other students perspective. This forum is all about different perspectives, opinions, ideas, etc. All decisions are her and her child. What motive do you have? Your child is on the waiting list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you and your student talked in depth with your base high school about what it really can offer? Can your student get a solid science/math/tech grounding there? Does it also have rigorous, respected and well supported extracurriculars in this area such as Science Olympiad, Math Olympiad, other science or math competitions, a serious robotics program, etc.? Some high schools do have these kinds of programs and are highly competitive in them. If your base HS doesn't have anything to offer, then TJ may indeed be worth any commute. But TJ is not the end-all and be-all of science, math and tech, and it's not for everyone. Many a science major now in college from Fairfax County didn't go to TJ, and still got into college! TJ is great, but if going there would seriously affect your whole family (not just your TJ student -- you do have other family members to consider), then it's OK to get more information and at least consider other options. Yes, it's great to get in. Yes, it's a good school. But it's not the sole path to college and a science or math career.

If the commute is a real issue for your family, it's an issue. It's snarky of others to comment that "it's ONLY 16 miles" and how it's less than a work commute or less than what Loudon TJ students have to do. Make your decision based on both your kid's academic needs and your whole family's needs, not on these people berating you for just trying to make a tough call.

No one berated her. We want to give her from other students perspective. This forum is all about different perspectives, opinions, ideas, etc. All decisions are her and her child. What motive do you have? Your child is on the waiting list?

My motive here? Why should I need some ulterior motive just to advise OP to look at all options, ask questions at the base school, check out programs and think about her family as a whole?

Apparently you assume I've got a kid on the TJ waiting list and hope her kid will say no so that mine can move up a notch. Not the case.

Posts telling the OP that Loudoun students have longer commutes, or that the commute is less than some work commutes, etc. may be "different perspectives" for you, but to me they smack of telling the OP, "Don't complain about this when others have it worse." That doesn't help the OP make any decisions and doesn't offer any ideas.