Is Fairfax (non-AAP, non-TJ) better than Loudoun for college admissions

[Anonymous]

I think my 2 girls are bright and above average but likely not AAP/TJ kids. We are deciding between staying in eastern Loudoun (Cascades area) where we are and just buying a new house (currently in a small TH) or moving into Herndon/Oakton/Chantilly. I know its impossible for anyone to really know, but if our girls try hard, have parental encouragement and get strong grades in honors/AP classes in Loudoun, will they still have a good shot at good colleges? Not thinking Ivy's but would love for maybe UVA/W&M for one or both?

[Anonymous]

Don't think it will matter. They will lose out to the better students attending AAP/TJ and be thrown into the quota lottery with the rest of the Nova kids for the few remaining spots.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Is it really that bad to be from NoVa? DH and I both attended W&M, me from an average HS in Richmond and him from out of state (NY.)

We were both top 5% of our classes in HS, but not from remarkable HS's. Just plain old HS's. Is that just not true anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Is it really that bad to be from NoVa? DH and I both attended W&M, me from an average HS in Richmond and him from out of state (NY.)

We were both top 5% of our classes in HS, but not from remarkable HS's. Just plain old HS's. Is that just not true anymore?

Yes, it's bad to be from NOVA.

It wasn't that way when you were in college. This is a relatively newer phenomenon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think my 2 girls are bright and above average but likely not AAP/TJ kids. We are deciding between staying in eastern Loudoun (Cascades area) where we are and just buying a new house (currently in a small TH) or moving into Herndon/Oakton/Chantilly. I know its impossible for anyone to really know, but if our girls try hard, have parental encouragement and get strong grades in honors/AP classes in Loudoun, will they still have a good shot at good colleges? Not thinking Ivy's but would love for maybe UVA/W&M for one or both?

They would need strong SAT or ACT scores as well, but if that's part of their equation I don't think Fairfax schools will have much of an advantage over Loudoun schools by the time your DDs are applying to school.

Girls could have a 4.0 or greater at either a Fairfax or Loudoun school and still get denied by U. Va. or W&M if they have so-so SAT/ACT scores. In that case, they are probably looking at other schools like JMU, if you want the in-state tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think my 2 girls are bright and above average but likely not AAP/TJ kids. We are deciding between staying in eastern Loudoun (Cascades area) where we are and just buying a new house (currently in a small TH) or moving into Herndon/Oakton/Chantilly. I know its impossible for anyone to really know, but if our girls try hard, have parental encouragement and get strong grades in honors/AP classes in Loudoun, will they still have a good shot at good colleges? Not thinking Ivy's but would love for maybe UVA/W&M for one or both?

They would need strong SAT or ACT scores as well, but if that's part of their equation I don't think Fairfax schools will have much of an advantage over Loudoun schools by the time your DDs are applying to school.

Girls could have a 4.0 or greater at either a Fairfax or Loudoun school and still get denied by U. Va. or W&M if they have so-so SAT/ACT scores. In that case, they are probably looking at other schools like JMU, if you want the in-state tuition.

OP here. Just wanted to confirm that it will be what it will be, regardless of Fairfax v. Loudoun.

[Anonymous]

I try not to get discouraged either but I am a counselor and I had a mom today tell me her TJ kid was waitlisted at UVA if that tells you anything. I have young kids and I have no idea what it will be like in 10-12 years. Coming from nova, loudon it is getting harder and harder. You need academics, and / or music, art, sports and community service. Kids ARE doing it but parents and kids alike are more and more stressed and end up in counseling. I do not have the answers - just the observations. The college world has changed so much from when I was a kid. I say try and have happy balanced kids & life, there is a college for everyone ( but will cost you), get some life experience and then consider graduate school. Buy where you love and support your girls.

[Anonymous]

As odd as this sounds, your kids have a better chance of getting into a UVA or WandM if they go to a less than stellar HS. For instance, a kid at south lakes in Reston has a better chance compared to an Oakton HS student, all things being equal. It almost makes sense to transfer your kid into a lower achieving school.

[Anonymous]

OP, you did not indicate whether or not your DS are LCPS FUTURA participants. I found the admissions standards to be very high this year with fewer students. In fact, my child is in a combined 4th/5th grade class.
Not sure what Fairfax County's long-term plans are regarding AAP anyway. It's a sad fact of life that you have to have the big bucks to buy into the revered Haycock pyramid. I was not going to live in a dump with a carport to send DC to Haycock AAP.
We are moving out of the NOVA area to ROVA to gain what we hope will a geographic advantage for W&M or UVa admissions...just happened that a career opportunity presented itself at the same time this admissions issue came up. I am confident that my DC could have gotten into our state school of choice if we still lived in the area but we wanted the extra insurance. Oh, and I hate traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As odd as this sounds, your kids have a better chance of getting into a UVA or WandM if they go to a less than stellar HS. For instance, a kid at south lakes in Reston has a better chance compared to an Oakton HS student, all things being equal. It almost makes sense to transfer your kid into a lower achieving school.

But all other things won't necessarily be equal. The schools are not the same.

So it sounds good in theory, but there's a reason why people don't flock to lower achieving schools to arbitrage the college admissions.

[Anonymous]

It's also important (and it sounds as though you're doing this, but just to affirm) to remember that your kids will find the colleges that are right for them, even if those colleges turn out to be something you've never heard of.

Keep focused on what's going to work for your family as a whole. Finding a place with a good quality of life and schools that fit your kids is going to serve them a lot better than trying to plan the surest path to W&M.

[Anonymous]

Your kids would be W&M legacies, and that helps a little. Especially if it comes down to a decision between two very similar applicants.

Stay in Loudon. The schools there are very good, and the odds there might be in your kids' favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try not to get discouraged either but I am a counselor and I had a mom today tell me her TJ kid was waitlisted at UVA if that tells you anything. I have young kids and I have no idea what it will be like in 10-12 years. Coming from nova, loudon it is getting harder and harder. You need academics, and / or music, art, sports and community service. Kids ARE doing it but parents and kids alike are more and more stressed and end up in counseling. I do not have the answers - just the observations. The college world has changed so much from when I was a kid. I say try and have happy balanced kids & life, there is a college for everyone ( but will cost you), get some life experience and then consider graduate school. Buy where you love and support your girls.

You're too sane for DCUM. What are you doing here?

[Anonymous]

To 10:03 I get that carports aren't for everyone especially someone very into cars, but I miss our smaller house with a carport. I saw our neighbors much more and had no problems getting in and out of the house or car. With garages everyone just goes inside and there is no spontaneous communication. I bet there are some families with carports in ROVA so be careful what you say.

[Anonymous]

OP here with a follow up. What if one of my girls was AAP? Would that change your response? I think I would still probably not send them to TJ, even if they got in which I doubt.