Help! 7 grade DD announced she wanted to go to TJ

[Anonymous]

I'm a TJ alum (early 2000s grad) who did zero prep and had no academic related extracurriculars (just sports). We'd moved to the area right before 8th grade, so it's not like TJ had been on my radar for years. I just decided I wanted the challenge and liked the idea of a school where all classes (not just STEM) are taught at an elevated level. I didn't know anyone else who did any sort of prep classes, but I gather those courses have become more of a thing since my time. I sort of concur with PP's statement that those that are TJ material don't need TJ prep classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a TJ alum (early 2000s grad) who did zero prep and had no academic related extracurriculars (just sports). We'd moved to the area right before 8th grade, so it's not like TJ had been on my radar for years. I just decided I wanted the challenge and liked the idea of a school where all classes (not just STEM) are taught at an elevated level. I didn't know anyone else who did any sort of prep classes, but I gather those courses have become more of a thing since my time. I sort of concur with PP's statement that those that are TJ material don't need TJ prep classes.

I'm a late 90s TJ grad and I didn't do any prep either, but it's gotten a lot more competitive since our day. It's interesting, unlike some of the PPs, I would absolutely encourage my kid to go to the TJ I attended in the 90s. But I'd want to do more research into what the school is like now before encouraging it for my kid now.

[Anonymous]

I have several friends with kids who are currently at TJ or recently graduated from TJ. They all LOVE it. We actually moved out of Fairfax before elementary in part because I wasn't particularly interested in the TJ thing, but my daughter has heard about TJ and is now interested. (we're in Arlington.) I figure she'll do some self-directed prep and take the test and if she gets in, great. If not, she can walk to our excellent neighborhood high school (where she'll know a decent number of kids) instead of taking a bus all the way to TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have several friends with kids who are currently at TJ or recently graduated from TJ. They all LOVE it. We actually moved out of Fairfax before elementary in part because I wasn't particularly interested in the TJ thing, but my daughter has heard about TJ and is now interested. (we're in Arlington.) I figure she'll do some self-directed prep and take the test and if she gets in, great. If not, she can walk to our excellent neighborhood high school (where she'll know a decent number of kids) instead of taking a bus all the way to TJ.

You left Fairfax because of TJ? Oooooookay.

[Anonymous]

11:27 - no, we lived in Fairfax and were considering homes in Fairfax and Arlington. I wanted more space and a better HS/MS for my daughter, and ideally a better commute. Obviously Arlington was a better commute to DC, but you could buy more house in Fairfax. I knew TJ was less likely if I moved to Arlington vs. buying again in Fairfax, but decided it wasn't worth staying in Fairfax just for that.

So I'm saying that access to TJ wasn't enough to keep me in Fairfax, especially given the SACC situation. (i.e. not having it as available in FFX as in Arlington.)

[Anonymous]

I have a current TJ kid and a TJ semi-finalist. Some comments:

PP is right. Manage expectations. TJ has a 12-15% acceptance rate, with most applicants coming out of AAP. About 2% of FCPS grads come from TJ. Which means 98% do not. And the TJ admissions process is wayyyy more drawn out than it has to be. So right now, my DC is both getting ready for the finals for T) admissions AND doing curriculum night and registering for base school classes. Just like DC1 did. Do not let a kid get so 8nvested in TJ that it ruins attending their base school.

If this is coming from your kid and not you, just now, ask why. Has middle school helped her realize that she really wants the extra STEM challenge, and TJ has this cool senior lab doing...whatever? Good reason to apply. Or, is she at one of the big AAP Centers, and becoming aware that a lot of her friends/ classmates are applying, and this is what everyone is doing? Terrible reason to apply. I doubt it is a coincidence that she came out with it now, just after TJ semifinal decisions were announced. All of a sudden TJ is more visible in the school. I wouldn’t jump on board too fast because she decided today at lunch when all the kids were talking about who did and did not advance.

If she really is interested, I agree with PP that the kids who are the best fit at TJ got in without much prepping. Buy ACT Aspire Science and Reading test prep books from Amazon and hand them to her (and there are are not many out there). Set her up with Kahn Aceademy, and pull the units that line up with what they say is on the test. Info one the website. Buy her a book of math logic problems. And sit back. If she wants it, she will take the handful of practice tests and get familiar with the tests. Or they may just sit there and get dusty. Which gives you your answer.

[Anonymous]

As a TJ grad, I always remind people it's a STEM school. If she loves STEM, it'll be the best years of her life. If she goes for any other reason (i.e. parents heard it's good college prep) she will be unhappy.

As far as prep, just nurture her STEM interests. Prep, study, compete in math contests, as much as she enjoys it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a TJ grad, I always remind people it's a STEM school. If she loves STEM, it'll be the best years of her life. If she goes for any other reason (i.e. parents heard it's good college prep) she will be unhappy.

As far as prep, just nurture her STEM interests. Prep, study, compete in math contests, as much as she enjoys it.

Also a TJ grad and I don't agree with this. I loved TJ and liked STEM but didn't LOVE it and didn't plan on going into a career in it. I cared about being challenged and "going somewhere" in life even though I didn't know what that meant to me at the time.