Waitlisted at TJ - now what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pro tip - if your child is on the waitlist, call or email and request to update their free meals questions to “yes”. It will give them another 90 experience points.

GFY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Loudoun have a per school quota or quota for the county? If someone from Loudoun declines TJ, does the spot go to the unallocated pool?

The regulation says this:

"Each public school within Fairfax County and each cooperating school division will be presumptively allocated a number of seats equal to 1.5% of that school’s 8th grade student population (“Allocated
Seats”)"

So each school in Loudoun has its own quota, as I understand it. Therefore if someone in Loudoun declines, the seat goes to someone at the same school; if there are no students on the wait list from that school, the seat becomes unallocated.

This is only the case if that school has not exceeded its allotment. If it has, which any school can do, the seat becomes unallocated even if there are students from that school on the wait list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Loudoun have a per school quota or quota for the county? If someone from Loudoun declines TJ, does the spot go to the unallocated pool?

The regulation says this:

"Each public school within Fairfax County and each cooperating school division will be presumptively allocated a number of seats equal to 1.5% of that school’s 8th grade student population (“Allocated
Seats”)"

So each school in Loudoun has its own quota, as I understand it. Therefore if someone in Loudoun declines, the seat goes to someone at the same school; if there are no students on the wait list from that school, the seat becomes unallocated.

1.5% of Loudoun 8th graders would be taking a lot of seats away from Fairfax schools.

It does, and it has. A major reason for the severe overrepresentation of South Asians at TJ is that approximately 90% of the students coming from Loudoun historically have been of South Asian descent. Not sure if that's the case with 2025 as I don't think there is published data on the matter yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, college admissions is not the way to judge TJ. The experience and education those kids receive is its own value, for the right-fit kid.

This is the most important point IMO. Too many people focus on the outcome and not the journey itself.

Sure, some students from base schools get into the same universities as TJ students. But for the right fit STEM-focused student, the rigorous education and peer group is worth it in and of itself.

At the base school they may be bored out of their minds in class and socially ostracized as weird/nerd/unpopular, while at TJ they'd fit in both academically and socially.

There's a large difference between attending a school where every student is academically motivated and a school where less than 10% of students are academically motivated and the rest resents them.

If one doesn't like TJ, they can always transfer down to a base school. The opposite does not happen.

The strongest math and science students that I know were not admitted this year. Those students will stay at their base schools and do very well with a stronger group of peers than in previous years. TJ will not be able to offer more remediation for the bottom without taking away from the top. Have a great day!

Tell me about it! My kid was super disappointed that he got weight listed especially after hearing couple of his friends got in, which was a surprise for all as these kids didn’t particularly stand out in class or after school programs. However, he did find some comfort as few other kids who he himself looks up to (or healthy competition with) also got wait listed. My kid is well recognized among his friends and teachers for being strong in STEM and other courses as well. So it was quite a surprise for him. Anyways, we told that the new system has no way of recognizing his talent and being from a feeder school, he should just assume that he lost out in a weird lottery. Hopefully, he will do fine at base school and should find many like minded kids who would thrive at TJ, but lost out like him.

So you lied to him. Got it.

If it makes you happy to assume that I lied to him, please go with it! But the fact straight A students (not just my kid), who won awards and have been participating in stem activities, who even went to state and national level got waitlisted, while those who even got B+s and barely had anything else to show for got selected. I guess they have amazing essays that outshined everyone’s grades. Sorry, I honestly didn’t have a better explanation for him or his friends who had high expectations. If you do, please say so, or should I just say to them that they are just dumb and their grades mean nothing???? So, I also get it!

Btw, if your kid gets in I will be truly happy for him/her and congrats to you!

Btw, these are not my words, but my kid says how his friends group interpreted the results as - “it looks as if TJ admissions went out of the way to waitlist or even reject top students”.

I agree, my kid said the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Loudoun have a per school quota or quota for the county? If someone from Loudoun declines TJ, does the spot go to the unallocated pool?

The regulation says this:

"Each public school within Fairfax County and each cooperating school division will be presumptively allocated a number of seats equal to 1.5% of that school’s 8th grade student population (“Allocated
Seats”)"

So each school in Loudoun has its own quota, as I understand it. Therefore if someone in Loudoun declines, the seat goes to someone at the same school; if there are no students on the wait list from that school, the seat becomes unallocated.

This is only the case if that school has not exceeded its allotment. If it has, which any school can do, the seat becomes unallocated even if there are students from that school on the wait list.

DD is on the wait list from Longfellow MS.

Does anyone know if Longfellow has exceeded its allotment?

Is there any way to know

1) how long the waitlist is for Longfellow, and,

2) where my child is on the WL ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Loudoun have a per school quota or quota for the county? If someone from Loudoun declines TJ, does the spot go to the unallocated pool?

The regulation says this:

"Each public school within Fairfax County and each cooperating school division will be presumptively allocated a number of seats equal to 1.5% of that school’s 8th grade student population (“Allocated
Seats”)"

So each school in Loudoun has its own quota, as I understand it. Therefore if someone in Loudoun declines, the seat goes to someone at the same school; if there are no students on the wait list from that school, the seat becomes unallocated.

This is only the case if that school has not exceeded its allotment. If it has, which any school can do, the seat becomes unallocated even if there are students from that school on the wait list.

DD is on the wait list from Longfellow MS.

Does anyone know if Longfellow has exceeded its allotment?

Is there any way to know

1) how long the waitlist is for Longfellow, and,

2) where my child is on the WL ?

Kids in DS school found 8 WL kids in theirs, so all lost hope. Assuming that's what its in all. FCPS won't tell the kid's position in WL. But they are all prioritized for allocated and unallocated seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Loudoun have a per school quota or quota for the county? If someone from Loudoun declines TJ, does the spot go to the unallocated pool?

The regulation says this:

"Each public school within Fairfax County and each cooperating school division will be presumptively allocated a number of seats equal to 1.5% of that school’s 8th grade student population (“Allocated
Seats”)"

So each school in Loudoun has its own quota, as I understand it. Therefore if someone in Loudoun declines, the seat goes to someone at the same school; if there are no students on the wait list from that school, the seat becomes unallocated.

This is only the case if that school has not exceeded its allotment. If it has, which any school can do, the seat becomes unallocated even if there are students from that school on the wait list.

DD is on the wait list from Longfellow MS.

Does anyone know if Longfellow has exceeded its allotment?

Is there any way to know

1) how long the waitlist is for Longfellow, and,

2) where my child is on the WL ?

Longfellow always exceeds its allotment - it's nearly unthinkable that anyone would be drawn for an allotted seat from the waitlist at that school.

However, it is reasonable to assume that Longfellow students would be some of the highest-performing students on the waitlist, and that most of the seats that will come available will be unallocated seats.

There is no way, unfortunately, to know how long the waitlist is for individual schools or where your child is on the waitlist. TJ Admissions does not release that information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Loudoun have a per school quota or quota for the county? If someone from Loudoun declines TJ, does the spot go to the unallocated pool?

The regulation says this:

"Each public school within Fairfax County and each cooperating school division will be presumptively allocated a number of seats equal to 1.5% of that school’s 8th grade student population (“Allocated
Seats”)"

So each school in Loudoun has its own quota, as I understand it. Therefore if someone in Loudoun declines, the seat goes to someone at the same school; if there are no students on the wait list from that school, the seat becomes unallocated.

This is only the case if that school has not exceeded its allotment. If it has, which any school can do, the seat becomes unallocated even if there are students from that school on the wait list.

DD is on the wait list from Longfellow MS.

Does anyone know if Longfellow has exceeded its allotment?

Is there any way to know

1) how long the waitlist is for Longfellow, and,

2) where my child is on the WL ?

Longfellow always exceeds its allotment - it's nearly unthinkable that anyone would be drawn for an allotted seat from the waitlist at that school.

However, it is reasonable to assume that Longfellow students would be some of the highest-performing students on the waitlist, and that most of the seats that will come available will be unallocated seats.

There is no way, unfortunately, to know how long the waitlist is for individual schools or where your child is on the waitlist. TJ Admissions does not release that information.

Thank you, to PP and the prior responder.

DD told us she knows two other Longfellow girls who are on the waitlist, but Longfellow is huge, and DD does not know that many kids (nor does she know everyone who applied from Longfellow. Far from it).

We informed TJ we will remain on the WL. However, our current plans focus primarily on DD attending McL in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know how top performers on AMC8, AMC10, MathCounts did in admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know how top performers on AMC8, AMC10, MathCounts did in admissions?

Do they use that as an admission criteria?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know how top performers on AMC8, AMC10, MathCounts did in admissions?

Do they use that as an admission criteria?

No, they do not.

Here is their admissions “formula” , which they kept secret until the lawsuit forced educators to share it with parents:

https://defendinged.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Exhibit-B-PLF-Memo-Master-122-PLF-Memo-ISO-MSJ-with-unredacted-and-unsealed-exhibits-12.22.21-copy-2.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know how top performers on AMC8, AMC10, MathCounts did in admissions?

Do they use that as an admission criteria?

They do not. I am asking if the admissions managed to get these top students or bypassed them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know how top performers on AMC8, AMC10, MathCounts did in admissions?

Do they use that as an admission criteria?

They do not. I am asking if the admissions managed to get these top students or bypassed them.

Many were bypassed, including JMO qualifiers both from the class of 2025 and the class of 2026. Many of the top performers in math contests are at Carson, Longfellow, or Rocky Run. At those schools, the TJ application doesn't have enough substance to differentiate between the heavily tutored, somewhat above average kids with 4.0s and the highly gifted academic superstars with 4.0s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know how top performers on AMC8, AMC10, MathCounts did in admissions?

Do they use that as an admission criteria?

They do not. I am asking if the admissions managed to get these top students or bypassed them.

Many were bypassed, including JMO qualifiers both from the class of 2025 and the class of 2026. Many of the top performers in math contests are at Carson, Longfellow, or Rocky Run. At those schools, the TJ application doesn't have enough substance to differentiate between the heavily tutored, somewhat above average kids with 4.0s and the highly gifted academic superstars with 4.0s.

I heard they only bypassed the ones that falsely claimed to have won these contests on their essays.

[Anonymous]

This is the confidential “TJ Scoring rubric”:



[/img]https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4289cac951f24569ad9488/247ecb50-ef38-48bf-96a2-d44a2dc854a5/Rubric-2.jpg[/img]


It was confidential in order to hide it from parents and prospective parents.