TJ: Kids having second thoughts?

[Anonymous]

My DS is feeling overwhelmed. We are not using TJ to go to an Ivy. But TJ kids have shown that they are smart and will work hard at advanced topics. But maybe too hard? Too much? TJ parents? What do you think?

[Anonymous]

Too much homework.

[Anonymous]

My TJ kid has the same amount of homework as my regular school kid with a full AP schedule had. It's all about time management, discipline, and ability. If they have the ability to handle the level of coursework and the ability to manage their time and work hard, they'll be okay. They both have managed hours of athletics every day at the same time.

[Anonymous]

We're having 2nd thoughts after reading this editorial from TJ's news paper.

http://www.tjhsst.edu/studentlife/publications/tjtoday/wordpress/?p=1374

We're more concerned about this:

"
A trend we’ve begun to feel among incoming students at our school is the increasing presence of the “robot student,” for lack of a better term. When the current seniors were recruited to come to Jefferson, part of the recruitment spiel was the culture that exists here. That culture has been eroded, forcing students to focus even more on an Ivy League acceptance from your first day as a freshman.

Jefferson has seen a shift from a vibrant place of learning to a simple college admissions factory.
"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're having 2nd thoughts after reading this editorial from TJ's news paper.

http://www.tjhsst.edu/studentlife/publications/tjtoday/wordpress/?p=1374

^^ This is from last year. The admissions process was (slightly) altered for the FY 2013 incoming class. I have not seen a break-out of the incoming class yet. My guess is that there will be a change in demographics.

[Anonymous]

Any TJ parent who loves their kid would buy a house across the street.

A big factor is probably where you live which impacts how long that bus ride is after school and how tough it is for the parent to ferry and pick up their kid post after school activities.

[Anonymous]

TJ parent here: seems like a different group this year. They used an outside admissions source, so had to go on a more merit based process. Just acing the test was not enough this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're having 2nd thoughts after reading this editorial from TJ's news paper.

http://www.tjhsst.edu/studentlife/publications/tjtoday/wordpress/?p=1374

^^ This is from last year. The admissions process was (slightly) altered for the FY 2013 incoming class. I have not seen a break-out of the incoming class yet. My guess is that there will be a change in demographics.

Change in the process this year:

http://www.fcps.edu/pla/TJHSST_Admissions/apply_freshman_winter_SIS.html

The Student Information Sheet

Logistics

All semifinalists must complete the Student Information Sheet (SIS) portion of the admissions process. New this year, the Student Information Sheet, or SIS, will be administered in a controlled setting at fifteen school sites (12 in Fairfax County and one each in Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William counties). Click here for a listing of school sites. Semifinalists will complete the SIS at the same site they were assigned to take the December 2012 admissions test.

The SIS will be administered on Saturday, January 26, 2013 beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 10:30 a.m.* In the event there is inclement weather which will result in the closure of school buildings on January 26, the SIS will be completed on Saturday, February 2. Click here for alternate dates for religious or other reasons.

Semifinalists will complete three questions for the SIS on computers at their designated site. Semifinalists will have 90 minutes to complete all SIS questions. Each question is designed to learn about a semifinalist’s prior experiences, goals, and interests. The first two questions are mandatory for all semifinalists to answer. Semifinalists must then choose between two options for the third question. All responses must be completed within the space provided.

On the SIS administration day, students will receive one piece of scratch paper. They must bring two ball point pens, blue or black ink, for thoughts noted on the scratch paper and to sign the printed SIS form. They cannot bring any extra materials to the test.

The SIS will be considered along with teacher recommendations, essay scores, math admissions test score, and math/science marks to determine the Class of 2017 at TJHSST. For more information on the final decisions process, click here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any TJ parent who loves their kid would buy a house across the street.

A big factor is probably where you live which impacts how long that bus ride is after school and how tough it is for the parent to ferry and pick up their kid post after school activities.

Sarcasm?????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're having 2nd thoughts after reading this editorial from TJ's news paper.

http://www.tjhsst.edu/studentlife/publications/tjtoday/wordpress/?p=1374

We're more concerned about this:

"
A trend we’ve begun to feel among incoming students at our school is the increasing presence of the “robot student,” for lack of a better term. When the current seniors were recruited to come to Jefferson, part of the recruitment spiel was the culture that exists here. That culture has been eroded, forcing students to focus even more on an Ivy League acceptance from your first day as a freshman.

Jefferson has seen a shift from a vibrant place of learning to a simple college admissions factory.
"

One more slot open for the waiting list student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any TJ parent who loves their kid would buy a house across the street.

A big factor is probably where you live which impacts how long that bus ride is after school and how tough it is for the parent to ferry and pick up their kid post after school activities.

Sarcasm?????

Only the first sentence, but I do recall not too long ago there was a question from a korean mom asking about buying a house in the TJ district.

Even though there's no such thing, there is such a thing as being close to TJ and having a short commute to allow their kid more time to get work done in an environment besides a shaky school bus.

[Anonymous]

...and how many from your neighborhood will carpool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TJ parent here: seems like a different group this year. They used an outside admissions source, so had to go on a more merit based process. Just acing the test was not enough this year.

If acing the test were enough, I know plenty of kids who would have gotten in that didn't over the past couple of years. the problem was they were taking in too many well-rounded kids who couldn't do the math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ parent here: seems like a different group this year. They used an outside admissions source, so had to go on a more merit based process. Just acing the test was not enough this year.

If acing the test were enough, I know plenty of kids who would have gotten in that didn't over the past couple of years. the problem was they were taking in too many well-rounded kids who couldn't do the math.

And now they're wasting taxpayer dollars by giving these kids remedial math instead of booting them back to their neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

This area has plenty of kids who can do the math and also write well, so TJ does not need to take kids who can only "do the math." Why take a kid who is great at math but doesn't write well when you can accept kids who are great at math and also have great writing skills?
Some of the kids who have needed math help are kids who have had tutoring for years to help with them do well in school.
And TJ kids are not in "remedial math", some 9th graders are getting extra help with Algebra II, a course that is normally taken by 11th graders.