Anyone already stressed with Blair magnet or IB program?

[Anonymous]

Is anyone else's DC already feeling stressed by the amount of work, level of work or just "newness" of the high school magnet program or IB program. DC is already feeling overwhelmed and I'm not sure if it's just the start of high school and not knowing anyone really well and/or the amount of work or if the program is just not a good match. I know it's only been a few weeks. Can anyone else share their current or previous experiences? I have tried to explain that I'm sure other students feel the same way, but are just not letting on. DC was so confident and loved school. It makes me so sad to see DC starting to loose confidence and feel dumb. How much time should we give the program?

[Anonymous]

Hi, I don't have much advice for you because my kid is now thinking of applying to the Blair and IB magnets, but isn't in yet. I do hear that the Blair and IB magnets take stress to a whole new level. I do have a question for you, if you don't mind answering. Did your kid come from a middle school magnet, a private school, or another public school? In other words, was your kid used to a stressful academic environment, or is it new for him? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Do people really stress their kids so much? Why?

For this?:
http://www.bing.com/search?q=sucide+rates+in+ivy+schools&form=HPDTDF&pc=HPDTDF&src=IE-SearchBox

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Do people really stress their kids so much? Why?

For this?:
http://www.bing.com/search?q=sucide+rates+in+ivy+schools&form=HPDTDF&pc=HPDTDF&src=IE-SearchBox

Actually, they send their kids to elite DC private schools, which are also incredibly stressful, because they want the Ivy League result you linked to. Moron.

[Anonymous]

Actually, they send their kids to elite DC private schools, which are also incredibly stressful, because they want the Ivy League result you linked to. Moron.

I've never heard of public school students prepping for school admission, studying for WPSSI, learning how to play on a date or hiring educational consultants -- all before the age of 4. Now that's the definition of cool relaxation in the private school world. Namaste.

[Anonymous]

I was a graduate of the Blair program - geez, almost 20 years ago - and I remember it was quite an adjustment for me. Not only was I at a big school (and this was at the "Old Blair" which was smaller than the newer campus), but handling the academics was really challenging. I came from a school overseas (Foreign Service brat), so I didn't have the benefit of attending the middle school magnets. But even friends who had attended Takoma Park MS, for example, had a tough time. Blair is a tough program with a ton of super smart kids; it can be intimidating to even the brightest and accomplished student. Your kid is NOT alone. I remember a lot of tears, a ton of homework, and feeling like a little fish in a very big pond. That said, by 10th grade I hit my stride and really enjoyed the remainder of my time there. Still in touch with some of my teachers and classmates.

One thing that helped in retrospect (though I didn't realize it at the time) is that my parents talked to my guidance counselor about the difficulty I was having adjusting. Think they talked to a couple of my teachers too. The guidance counselor and these teachers kept an eye out for me and checked in with me every once in a while to see how things were going, offer encouragement. It was nice to have the extra support (though I certainly didn't get any breaks on homework or overall expectations). But it helped.

[Anonymous]

9:33 - Thank you for sharing your experience. In retrospect, do you think the extra work and stress during your high school years made a difference for you? Did feeling like a little fish in a big pond and/or not doing as well compared to in a regular school effect your confidence in yourself?