Rigor at TJ compared to regular FCPS high Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is insane. Honors classes are taught like AP classes. AP classes are like college and post AP like grad school.

Is anything not difficult at TJ, other than taking a selfie standing outside!

Inside of the school is like a homework hurricane, with quizzes and tests that get graded with a sternness usually reserved for judging chili cook-offs!

And as if that weren't enough, Honors classes are served up with an extra helping of "AP-ness," AP classes are like a fast-track to college, and post-AP courses? Well, they're basically a PhD in academic endurance!

This is laughable. It's pretty much like any FCPS school. It would be best if you people got over it already.

Absolutely not. You have no idea how difficult the courses are and the rigor TJ has. Unlike regular Hig Schools were attending a class and covering the material taught ensures an A, in TJ only 25% of what is taught actually is part of the test/quiz. The kids are expected to research and go into too much depth. Most of the teachers expect self study/reasearch and openly say the rigor is comparable to college courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rigor at TJ compared to regular FCPS high Schools is much more.. Every course that is taught on Math, Science, CS side is more in depth and the testing way tougher than in a regular High school. Grading is tougher. So how do colleges not keep this in mind while evaluating student applications. It is definielty easy to get A's in a HS where rigor is lesser ! Looking for advice

Astonishing. People, please PLEASE reread the nonsensical blabber that generated this discussion. What the hell are you even arguing about??

This whole thread is either black belt-level satire or the saddest thing I have ever read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rigor at TJ compared to regular FCPS high Schools is much more.. Every course that is taught on Math, Science, CS side is more in depth and the testing way tougher than in a regular High school. Grading is tougher. So how do colleges not keep this in mind while evaluating student applications. It is definitely easy to get A's in a HS where rigor is lesser ! Looking for advice

When it comes to coursework, both regular high schools and TJ have minimum graduation requirements. While TJ's requirements are notably higher than those of a base HS, merely meeting the minimum won't obviously suffice at either schools. However, at TJ, the minimum math requirement is Calc AB, but most students go beyond that to take Calc BC and often pursue one or more advanced math courses. Given the potential for inflated GPAs and variations across schools, externally validated indicators like AP scores carry significant weight. Whether it's TJ or base HS, maintaining an overall GPA of 4 or higher is typically expected from competitive applicants. Whether it's a 4.0 or a 4.3, it doesn't make a significant difference.

Colleges take into account whether students have challenged themselves with the most rigorous courses available at their respective schools. For TJ, this often means completing courses like AP Calc BC, AP Physics/Chem/Bio, AP Statistics, AP Lang, AP Lit, and four additional AP courses in humanities (e.g., history, macro/micro econ, gov), alongside electives. If a student from a regular high school manages to complete a similar number of AP courses and achieves similar scores, they can stand on equal footing with an above average TJ student, regardless of the rigor of coursework and grading at TJ. Strong AP scores can naturally drive higher SAT scores, which are also expected to be near perfect for competitive student. 1560 or 1600 is treated the same.

Your question narrowly focuses on coursework, which constitutes only half of the college application. The next quarter of the application involves demonstrating in-depth study and passion through activities such as research publication, participation in national-level competitions, and relevant internships. Here, a TJ student, depending on their utilization of available opportunities and peer support, can differentiate themselves from a base high school student applicant. Nevertheless, if a base high school student manages to get their research paper published in a reputable journal, participates in or wins national/world-level competitions, and secures an internship at a prestigious institution like Google Research, they will surpass a TJ applicant lacking these credentials.

The final quarter of the application makeup includes school team sports, volunteer work, extracurricular activities like clubs, team projects, recommendation letters, and personal essays, among others. TJ's advantage lies in its offering of over 80 clubs, with dedicated blocks for participation during school hours, giving its students an edge over base high school students who may need to figure out how to fit these activities into their after-school schedules. Leadership roles, club size, concrete work products, and publicly recognized accomplishments matter more than mere enrollment. The same applies to school sports and volunteer work. These achievements should be mentioned by by teacher, coach, and counselor recommendation letters and should be passionately addressed in the personal essay.

When it comes to college admissions, all evidence shows that applicants primarily compete within their own racial classification, unfortunately.

well summarized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think TJ is more rigorous in general than UVA especially for the top 10%.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is insane. Honors classes are taught like AP classes. AP classes are like college and post AP like grad school.

Is anything not difficult at TJ, other than taking a selfie standing outside!

Inside of the school is like a homework hurricane, with quizzes and tests that get graded with a sternness usually reserved for judging chili cook-offs!

And as if that weren't enough, Honors classes are served up with an extra helping of "AP-ness," AP classes are like a fast-track to college, and post-AP courses? Well, they're basically a PhD in academic endurance!

This is laughable. It's pretty much like any FCPS school. It would be best if you people got over it already.

Absolutely not. You have no idea how difficult the courses are and the rigor TJ has. Unlike regular Hig Schools were attending a class and covering the material taught ensures an A, in TJ only 25% of what is taught actually is part of the test/quiz. The kids are expected to research and go into too much depth. Most of the teachers expect self study/reasearch and openly say the rigor is comparable to college courses.

LOLs you can take most of the same classes at any HS. TJ isn't really anything special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is insane. Honors classes are taught like AP classes. AP classes are like college and post AP like grad school.

Is anything not difficult at TJ, other than taking a selfie standing outside!

Inside of the school is like a homework hurricane, with quizzes and tests that get graded with a sternness usually reserved for judging chili cook-offs!

And as if that weren't enough, Honors classes are served up with an extra helping of "AP-ness," AP classes are like a fast-track to college, and post-AP courses? Well, they're basically a PhD in academic endurance!

This is laughable. It's pretty much like any FCPS school. It would be best if you people got over it already.

Absolutely not. You have no idea how difficult the courses are and the rigor TJ has. Unlike regular Hig Schools were attending a class and covering the material taught ensures an A, in TJ only 25% of what is taught actually is part of the test/quiz. The kids are expected to research and go into too much depth. Most of the teachers expect self study/reasearch and openly say the rigor is comparable to college courses.

LOLs you can take most of the same classes at any HS. TJ isn't really anything special.

For starters, the kids are more special, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is insane. Honors classes are taught like AP classes. AP classes are like college and post AP like grad school.

Is anything not difficult at TJ, other than taking a selfie standing outside!

Inside of the school is like a homework hurricane, with quizzes and tests that get graded with a sternness usually reserved for judging chili cook-offs!

And as if that weren't enough, Honors classes are served up with an extra helping of "AP-ness," AP classes are like a fast-track to college, and post-AP courses? Well, they're basically a PhD in academic endurance!

This is laughable. It's pretty much like any FCPS school. It would be best if you people got over it already.

Absolutely not. You have no idea how difficult the courses are and the rigor TJ has. Unlike regular Hig Schools were attending a class and covering the material taught ensures an A, in TJ only 25% of what is taught actually is part of the test/quiz. The kids are expected to research and go into too much depth. Most of the teachers expect self study/reasearch and openly say the rigor is comparable to college courses.

LOLs you can take most of the same classes at any HS. TJ isn't really anything special.

Graduating TJ in the top 1/2 is like getting a STEM degree from a relatively weak STEM place like UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/college-credit-high-school/international

Why is it that fcps offers IB program in Mount Vernon/Lewis/Justice/..., but not in McClean/Langley/Oakton/...?

In those schools, the lack of student enrollment in AP courses led to a promotion of the relatively less challenging IB courses, which were more attractive to the student body. However, at McClean, Langley, and Oakton, not only do AP courses have significant enrollment, but post-AP courses are also in high demand. This has resulted in IB courses being of limited interest and relevance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is insane. Honors classes are taught like AP classes. AP classes are like college and post AP like grad school.

Is anything not difficult at TJ, other than taking a selfie standing outside!

Inside of the school is like a homework hurricane, with quizzes and tests that get graded with a sternness usually reserved for judging chili cook-offs!

And as if that weren't enough, Honors classes are served up with an extra helping of "AP-ness," AP classes are like a fast-track to college, and post-AP courses? Well, they're basically a PhD in academic endurance!

This is laughable. It's pretty much like any FCPS school. It would be best if you people got over it already.

Absolutely not. You have no idea how difficult the courses are and the rigor TJ has. Unlike regular Hig Schools were attending a class and covering the material taught ensures an A, in TJ only 25% of what is taught actually is part of the test/quiz. The kids are expected to research and go into too much depth. Most of the teachers expect self study/reasearch and openly say the rigor is comparable to college courses.

LOLs you can take most of the same classes at any HS. TJ isn't really anything special.

Graduating TJ in the top 1/2 is like getting a STEM degree from a relatively weak STEM place like UVA.

I hear UVA awards master's degrees instead of bachelor's since TJ grads already mastered your typical courses for a BS in STEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/college-credit-high-school/international

Why is it that fcps offers IB program in Mount Vernon/Lewis/Justice/..., but not in McClean/Langley/Oakton/...?

In those schools, the lack of student enrollment in AP courses led to a promotion of the relatively less challenging IB courses, which were more attractive to the student body. However, at McClean, Langley, and Oakton, not only do AP courses have significant enrollment, but post-AP courses are also in high demand. This has resulted in IB courses being of limited interest and relevance.

When I was in FCPS, you could only take APs by invitation. Unfortunately, many parents complained, which led to these courses being dumbed down so their kids could keep up. It's a shame how bad things have gotten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is insane. Honors classes are taught like AP classes. AP classes are like college and post AP like grad school.

Is anything not difficult at TJ, other than taking a selfie standing outside!

Inside of the school is like a homework hurricane, with quizzes and tests that get graded with a sternness usually reserved for judging chili cook-offs!

And as if that weren't enough, Honors classes are served up with an extra helping of "AP-ness," AP classes are like a fast-track to college, and post-AP courses? Well, they're basically a PhD in academic endurance!

This is laughable. It's pretty much like any FCPS school. It would be best if you people got over it already.

Absolutely not. You have no idea how difficult the courses are and the rigor TJ has. Unlike regular Hig Schools were attending a class and covering the material taught ensures an A, in TJ only 25% of what is taught actually is part of the test/quiz. The kids are expected to research and go into too much depth. Most of the teachers expect self study/reasearch and openly say the rigor is comparable to college courses.

LOLs you can take most of the same classes at any HS. TJ isn't really anything special.

Graduating TJ in the top 1/2 is like getting a STEM degree from a relatively weak STEM place like UVA.

Every word of this post is hilarious nonsense. Is it intended to be a false flag to make conservatives look dumb?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think TJ is more rigorous in general than UVA especially for the top 10%.

+10

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/college-credit-high-school/international

Why is it that fcps offers IB program in Mount Vernon/Lewis/Justice/..., but not in McClean/Langley/Oakton/...?

In those schools, the lack of student enrollment in AP courses led to a promotion of the relatively less challenging IB courses, which were more attractive to the student body. However, at McClean, Langley, and Oakton, not only do AP courses have significant enrollment, but post-AP courses are also in high demand. This has resulted in IB courses being of limited interest and relevance.

When I was in FCPS, you could only take APs by invitation. Unfortunately, many parents complained, which led to these courses being dumbed down so their kids could keep up. It's a shame how bad things have gotten.

It was Jay Mathews and his Challenge Index and the idea that exposure is beneficial to students, so that they could see what advanced or college level classes look like even if they couldn't keep up or pass the AP exam.

The unintented dumbing down of the classes doesn't bother him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think TJ is more rigorous in general than UVA especially for the top 10%.

TJ is more rigorous than all but a select handful of colleges in the country. When it comes specifically to undergrad work in STEM, TJ outpaces basically everyone except MIT and Caltech. At any other school TJ students will routinely report that college is easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think TJ is more rigorous in general than UVA especially for the top 10%.

TJ is more rigorous than all but a select handful of colleges in the country. When it comes specifically to undergrad work in STEM, TJ outpaces basically everyone except MIT and Caltech. At any other school TJ students will routinely report that college is easier.

Even MIT and Caltech gets impressed at the mention of TJ. The difficulty level at TJ is so high that course handouts come with warning labels: "Caution: Contents may induce spontaneous brain combustion." TJ students dont just study physics; they're trying to decipher the secrets of the universe while simultaneously figuring out how to operate a microwave without blowing up the entire building. In chemistry, they've concocted potions that could either win them a Nobel Prize or turn their classmates into frogs. In biology, they spend so much time peering into microscopes that they forever see double every time they look at a regular-sized object. And in calculus they solve such complex mathematical equations that teachers bring in university professors to help grade them.