Is a non-STEM kid at TJ possible?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's see if he makes it. I'm sure he'll be competing with many kids who have done Math or Science or both Olympiads and have a ton of math/science related competitive experiences that they'll highlight on the essays. My son's done well in other academic areas, QuizBowl, IAC, NHD, but there are no math or science clubs/competitions/awards in his profile.

It’s possible to get in without formal math and science clubs, mine did.

Mine too. TJ senior. Not from a feeder school though - a mid tier one in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

My information is about 25 years old but I went to TJ as a student who was strong in math (took calc BC as a junior, 760 math SAT, back in the late 90s) but didn't have any particular love of math. I loved English, and music, and psychology. I particularly disliked science and tehcnology, to be honest, but was able to pass those classes with only moderate difficulty and avoided any advanced science options that were not strictly necessary for graduation. Went on to major in history and english lit. I'm now a novelist. There were enough kids there like me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, he should major in statistics or similar with econometrics / political science / political economics courses on the side. It's very common for students aiming for top PhD programs to take and do well in PhD level courses at their undergrad institution.

This is also a good read for future social scientists: https://www.amazon.com/Regression-Stories-Analytical-Methods-Research/dp/110702398X#averageCustomerReviewsAnchor

Thank you for the above recommendations. I'll send the links to him. I don't know if he's interested in grad school at this time, but who knows how he'll feel in a decade when he's about to get out of undergrad. He already has some idea of what he wants his senior thesis to be and it is definitely in the area of econometric modeling in political science.

Your kid sounds like a perfect fit for TJ, even if he is non-STEM. I think he'll enjoy it a lot.

How desperate are you, replying to your own three previous posts! get a life. TJ is science and technology! STEM!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, he should major in statistics or similar with econometrics / political science / political economics courses on the side. It's very common for students aiming for top PhD programs to take and do well in PhD level courses at their undergrad institution.

This is also a good read for future social scientists: https://www.amazon.com/Regression-Stories-Analytical-Methods-Research/dp/110702398X#averageCustomerReviewsAnchor

Thank you for the above recommendations. I'll send the links to him. I don't know if he's interested in grad school at this time, but who knows how he'll feel in a decade when he's about to get out of undergrad. He already has some idea of what he wants his senior thesis to be and it is definitely in the area of econometric modeling in political science.

Your kid sounds like a perfect fit for TJ, even if he is non-STEM. I think he'll enjoy it a lot.

How desperate are you, replying to your own three previous posts! get a life. TJ is science and technology! STEM!

DP. There are obviously requirements for completing the TJ diploma, but there are a lot of paths through TJ and tons of tremendous options for what to do next with a TJ education.

TJ has the recent governor of New Hampshire and the current mayor of Richmond, among many others who have gone into politics at various levels. Indeed, we could use more scientifically literate politicians in this day and age.

For the OP, I would recommend tracking into data science with future plans of that sort. I suspect there are a lot of strong poli-sci programs that would welcome someone who is explicitly STEM-oriented. Unique profiles are a big win in the college application process.

[Anonymous]

There are definitely students at TJ who end up choosing humanities majors in college, although less probably choose such a STEM heavy school knowing ahead of time that they don’t want to focus on STEM.

The TJ diploma is very structured around STEM and leaves very few electives for humanities courses without summer school.

A few TJ requirements that most don’t know about before applying:

**Students are required to take 4 years of math while at TJ. Your son is on pace to take calculus in 10th grade. He will still be required to take math in 11th and 12th grade even though he took 3 years of math in middle school.

**Students are required to take a laboratory Science class all 4 years at TJ (including senior year.
In addition to Biology, Chemistry, and
either AP Physics 1, AP Physics C M or AP Physics CM&EM, the 4th-
credit requirement can be satisfied with:
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
Physics 2
AP Environmental Science

If a student has already completed 4 courses from the list above by senior year they can choose to take one of the TJ science electives their senior year.

The 4 years of science required does not include the Senior research lab (which is one credit senior year).

**Honors Computer Science is required for all students.

9th -
-IBET (English, Biology, Design & Tech) required 3 integrated courses.
-math (your son would be in AP Precalculus AB or BC)
-Foreign Language unless a student already has 3 years of the same language (TJ doesn’t allow 2 + 2 for languages)
PE (possibly to do this over the summer to have space for an extra elective)
1 elective (most students take CS freshman year)

A 4th social studies course has to be taken sometime before graduation.

Take a look at the 4 year course planning page for TJ Students:
https://tjhsst.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/inline-files/Four%20Year%20Plan%201-28-19.pdf

https://tjhsst.fcps.edu/tjhsst-diploma-requirements

Students must take math, science, English, Social Studies core classes at TJ, these can not be taken online or through summer school. CS must be taken at TJ, not online or through FCPS summer school.

The senior research labs all have prerequisites that need to be completed as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is very interested in applying to TJ and if he gets in, potentially going there. While he's a really good math student, he doesn't really have a strong desire to work in STEM. He's had his mind set on political science from a very young age. [We are StateDept and the exposure to our jobs have made him want to explore similar fields.] I've asked him why he wants to apply, given TJ is primarily STEM school and he keeps telling me that non-STEM students go there also. Is this really true? And, honestly, if so, why--why are they going to TJ only to go into sociology or poli-sci???

Why would you subject your kid to such torture?

Go to a STEMcentric school if you LOVE LOVE LOVE STEM. If you don't why bother?

Would you go to an art college if you really really want to study physics?

[Anonymous]

At least when I was there, the FCPS regular high schools had TONS of liberal arts options for APs/electives, and hardly any STEM.

If the kid doesn't like STEM, have him go to the base school. Leave the spots in the *one* high school doing the advanced STEM stuff for the kids who actually want to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least when I was there, the FCPS regular high schools had TONS of liberal arts options for APs/electives, and hardly any STEM.

If the kid doesn't like STEM, have him go to the base school. Leave the spots in the *one* high school doing the advanced STEM stuff for the kids who actually want to do it.

I understand wanting to go to TJ where you will have a Cohort of peers who all work hard and do their homework. Maybe what we need is an arts and letters Governor’s school. Do those exist in other parts of Virginia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least when I was there, the FCPS regular high schools had TONS of liberal arts options for APs/electives, and hardly any STEM.

If the kid doesn't like STEM, have him go to the base school. Leave the spots in the *one* high school doing the advanced STEM stuff for the kids who actually want to do it.

I understand wanting to go to TJ where you will have a Cohort of peers who all work hard and do their homework. Maybe what we need is an arts and letters Governor’s school. Do those exist in other parts of Virginia?

We have Maggie L Walker Governor’s School - Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies, known as MLWGS, is a public regional magnet high school in Richmond, Virginia. We should have a school like that in northern Virginia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least when I was there, the FCPS regular high schools had TONS of liberal arts options for APs/electives, and hardly any STEM.

If the kid doesn't like STEM, have him go to the base school. Leave the spots in the *one* high school doing the advanced STEM stuff for the kids who actually want to do it.

Apparently there are a ton of kids who are attending TJ and doing the STEM graduation requirements only to move onto a humanities undergrad. So "leave the spots ... for the kids who want to do" STEM doesn't mean much. Kids can change their mind. If he makes it and decides to go, great, he'll do great. If he ends up in humanities, fantastic, he can combine his love for math with politics. Maybe he'll figure something out. Maybe he won't. Maybe he'll find that he loves STEM and does a double major in college. We don't know. But I definitely don't think it matters. Those who are qualified to get a spot should make that decision on their own irrespective of folks thinking one-size-fits-all is the best approach.

[Anonymous]

Political Science is a science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Political Science is a science.

A social science, just like sociology and psychology. I don't think those are what the "S" in STEM is referring to.


However, I don't think a student interested in political science or another humanity should exclude TJ from their choices. Despite TJ being a STEM focused school, students have diverse career paths just like any other high school.

[Anonymous]

Yes humanities at TJ is excellent. However the STEM teachers are also excellent— he’s in middle school; it’s not too late to discover that you also really enjoy STEM. That absolutely could happen. And… we definitely need more politicians and policy-makers who understand STEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Maybe what we need is an arts and letters Governor’s school.

Do those exist in other parts of Virginia?

They do exist in Rest of VA. There is one near Richmond, "Maggie something", as an example.

And yes, it would be better for everyone if we had one in NoVA.

Such a school would be a much better fit for the many TJ students who want pre-med or pre-dental rather than STEM. It would provide better academic options for future Liberal Arts majors. And it would free up TJ slots for students who plan to major in STEM, rather than pre-med or pre-dental. Win all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Political Science is a science.

The S in STEM refers specifically and narrowly to physical sciences which have a laboratory component.

Similarly, the M in STEM narrowly refers to Mathematics, not medicine.