A question about the actual students at Thomas Jefferson for anyone who has actually met them:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In your educated opinion .... what percentage of the entering TJ kids would you say moved to the United States only within the last year or so? And, is this becoming more common?

Put another way, what percentage of successful applicants do most of their preparation in another country (their native country), then move to the US just before application season begins? ie, in enough time to get a legitimate written recommendation from that year's teacher, as is required, but having spent most of the first 13.5 years of life in _[name of foreign country here]___
I can read the published demographic stats just like you can, so I'm not asking to be pointed to mere numbers (such as, 'this year, 66% of the entering class is Asian.')

Many of the Korean students there aren't actually US citizens and are only here to attend TJ.

The mother is sent here with the kids while the father stays in Korea, and the family returns to Korea in the summer time.

This is shocking. I had no idea that my tax money was being used this way.

I've known foreign people who go to New York state, say they don't have any money (although usually it is the opposite... they're rich), and then get free prenatal care and have their babies for free in the U.S. This kind of stuff is unbelievably common.

Bwahahah!!!

The nativism, and fear and resentment of the Big Bad Other is glorious in this post. Pro tip: tin foil protects you against the cooties they bring with them from them foreigner lands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

However if they do pass essay writing test, I don't know how you can tell during application process.

Is that essay written on the spot, like the SAT, or is it composed at home and handed in as part of the package?

There was a WashPost article about 2 years ago that explained that a number of the TJ kids had difficulty with the English language and could not write well in English.

Starting this year , essay writing is on the spot, no longer take home assignment.
That's not perfect but should provide some clues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In your educated opinion .... what percentage of the entering TJ kids would you say moved to the United States only within the last year or so? And, is this becoming more common?

Put another way, what percentage of successful applicants do most of their preparation in another country (their native country), then move to the US just before application season begins? ie, in enough time to get a legitimate written recommendation from that year's teacher, as is required, but having spent most of the first 13.5 years of life in _[name of foreign country here]___
I can read the published demographic stats just like you can, so I'm not asking to be pointed to mere numbers (such as, 'this year, 66% of the entering class is Asian.')

Many of the Korean students there aren't actually US citizens and are only here to attend TJ.

The mother is sent here with the kids while the father stays in Korea, and the family returns to Korea in the summer time.

This is shocking. I had no idea that my tax money was being used this way.

I've known foreign people who go to New York state, say they don't have any money (although usually it is the opposite... they're rich), and then get free prenatal care and have their babies for free in the U.S. This kind of stuff is unbelievably common.

Bwahahah!!!

The nativism, and fear and resentment of the Big Bad Other is glorious in this post. Pro tip: tin foil protects you against the cooties they bring with them from them foreigner lands.

Sorry but no, I'm not making this up. In fact, google it yourself. I personally know these people, and know they took advantage of NY state's program. In theory the state offers this so that illegal immigrant women get prenatal care without being worried about retribution of any sort, which is fine by me. What is NOT fine by me is people who have beach houses in their home country going to NY, getting free prenatal care, getting to have their baby in the US, then going back home. If you think there aren't people who figure out how to play the system, you're being naive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In your educated opinion .... what percentage of the entering TJ kids would you say moved to the United States only within the last year or so? And, is this becoming more common?

Put another way, what percentage of successful applicants do most of their preparation in another country (their native country), then move to the US just before application season begins? ie, in enough time to get a legitimate written recommendation from that year's teacher, as is required, but having spent most of the first 13.5 years of life in _[name of foreign country here]___
I can read the published demographic stats just like you can, so I'm not asking to be pointed to mere numbers (such as, 'this year, 66% of the entering class is Asian.')

Many of the Korean students there aren't actually US citizens and are only here to attend TJ.

The mother is sent here with the kids while the father stays in Korea, and the family returns to Korea in the summer time.

This is shocking. I had no idea that my tax money was being used this way.

It's not, this is a joke. We're mixed race Asian/white and our daughter identifies as Asian roles at TJ. I suspect the answer is not zero but close to it. Almost all are US citizen kids of immigrants. I know of none that fit the OPs mold though I'd assume there might be some.

[Anonymous]

And those few will still kick your kid's ass on entrance exams, so deal with it. And lose the xenophobic attitude - it's unAmerican.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In your educated opinion .... what percentage of the entering TJ kids would you say moved to the United States only within the last year or so? And, is this becoming more common?

Put another way, what percentage of successful applicants do most of their preparation in another country (their native country), then move to the US just before application season begins? ie, in enough time to get a legitimate written recommendation from that year's teacher, as is required, but having spent most of the first 13.5 years of life in _[name of foreign country here]___
I can read the published demographic stats just like you can, so I'm not asking to be pointed to mere numbers (such as, 'this year, 66% of the entering class is Asian.')

Many of the Korean students there aren't actually US citizens and are only here to attend TJ.

The mother is sent here with the kids while the father stays in Korea, and the family returns to Korea in the summer time.

This is shocking. I had no idea that my tax money was being used this way.

NPR did a segment about families in California who did this. There were apartment buildings in primo school districts who would cater to this crowd, even rent the apartment out for the school year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In your educated opinion .... what percentage of the entering TJ kids would you say moved to the United States only within the last year or so? And, is this becoming more common?

Put another way, what percentage of successful applicants do most of their preparation in another country (their native country), then move to the US just before application season begins? ie, in enough time to get a legitimate written recommendation from that year's teacher, as is required, but having spent most of the first 13.5 years of life in _[name of foreign country here]___
I can read the published demographic stats just like you can, so I'm not asking to be pointed to mere numbers (such as, 'this year, 66% of the entering class is Asian.')

WOW-- why don't you just spell out what your beef is??

[Anonymous]

It is not unusual for kids to come to the states and go to a feeder school so that they can get into TJ. There are a couple of feeder schools that are known for this incoming traffic.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]In your educated opinion .... what percentage of the entering TJ kids would you say moved to the United States only within the last year or so? And, is this becoming more common?[/quote]

I would guess close to zero. We have 2 kids in TJ. They were born here but classify as Asian. Most of their friends are the same. Never met anyone who just showed up here and went to TJ. sounds like a myth to me.....

[Anonymous]

Why are Americans living in Europe allowed to attend their schools?

[Anonymous]

Actually, as I understand it, in order to attend an educational institution in the U.S. you need an F-1 visa. Without the F-1, you can only attend public school in the U.S. for ONE year.

In the case of many Korean "goose families" at least one parent has either U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residence, so they are able to get around this. Otherwise, I do not see how it is possible.

[Anonymous]

Now, interestingly, the University of California system went to a completely "race blind" admissions policy years ago and the result has been the predominance of Asian students at the state's flagship universities - 66% at UC Berkeley, for instance.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure I'd be upset about the races of other children, but I would be upset about having my child attend with many children that would move overseas after graduation and who might not be very interested in American history and government. Would kids really stay friends with each other if they moved back overseas and come back to attend high school reunions? Some of my best friends from high school still live in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

However if they do pass essay writing test, I don't know how you can tell during application process.

Is that essay written on the spot, like the SAT, or is it composed at home and handed in as part of the package?

There was a WashPost article about 2 years ago that explained that a number of the TJ kids had difficulty with the English language and could not write well in English.

Starting this year , essay writing is on the spot, no longer take home assignment.
That's not perfect but should provide some clues.

You are confusing the SIS (Student Information Sheet) with the essays. The essays were always written in the examination hall at the same time (or after) the written math and language arts test. The SIS used to be completed at home, but starting this year is also completed in a controlled setting (in an exam hall).

Just shows the level of ignorance on this board that passes off as information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The mother is sent here with the kids while the father stays in Korea, and the family returns to Korea in the summer time.


This is shocking. I had no idea that my tax money was being used this way.

That's kind of why the question is being asked.

I'm not sure how I feel about these highly, highly coveted slots being given to foreign nationals, vs. permanent residents and/or citizens of the United States.

There are Koreans who game the system and it is done with a wink and a nod by FCPS and encouraged by one of the school board members who has made trips to Korea publicizing the school.

Also, some are the offspring of people here on H-1B visas. For people who say "they are Americans" that is not quite accurate.

For those who say why is this relevant: try to move to China or India or Finland specifically to send your kid to school there and see how far you get.