If my kid wants Wheaton engineering more than Blair but would take Blair if not offered Wheaton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does this work? Do you have to rank choices? If my kid applies for Blair SMAC, and CAP and Wheaton engineering, is he considered for each program individually? Or will he only get accepted to one? Basically is there a downside to applying to everything you might consider?

Selection is independent but there’s only one application so it can be difficult to tailor to both stem and humanities. Kids get into multiple programs all the time though so apply to any that dc would consider…

Yes, mine always scored higher in verbal and has some top notch humanities honors but did not get into CAP but had good results from Blair and Wheaton Engineering. She wrote essay on something STEM related (can't remember exactly). I think they saw that and screened her out. Very happy at Wheaton. Loves the program and has had fantastic English and History teachers.

But, if your kid is interested in Blair and Wheaton, a STEM related essay could appeal to both. As far as I know, there is no ranking for the magnets. The people talking about ranking is for DCC school selection which is separate from magnet apps. This is essentially a pool of schools that all kids have to choose from for regular HS. You'd think you would go to home school if you don't submit, but that is not the case. Kids rank choices (if home school is 1st, they will get home school). The magnet admissions is a whole different layer.

Can you help me understand the “essay”? I’m not from the US and calling a paragraph about what you are passionate about an “essay” is foreign to me. Sold it just be a brag fest? Listing of achievements or a cohesive but very short essay with a message or learning point? Tbh, my kid is very strong in math and humanities and could be a good candidate for either - and is undecided on preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apply to both.

Then rank Wheaton first on the DCC ranking list and go to the engineering academy if he doesn’t get into the Wheaton magnet or Blair magnet.

My son is at the Wheaton engineering academy and likes it. I haven’t been able to figure out how much less challenging it is than the magnet. But I’m kind of glad he didn’t have to take AP Physics and Pre Cal as a freshman, which he would have had to do for the magnet

Pre Cal as a freshman is t totally accurate. Wheaton magnet kids take Pre Cal for all of 9th and 10th grades. It’s Algebra 2, trig and Pre Cal over two years but sequenced to correspond d better with their AP Physics 1 class and other magnet courses. So it’s called Pre Cal but it’s content isn’t only Pre Cal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes of course, because what if he doesn’t get into blair?

My understanding is that Blair is harder to get into than Wheaton, so I am wondering if there is a chance he would get into Blair SMACS and not Wheaton Engineering?

Obviously I know he could get into neither.

— OP

+ 1 million
Wheaton engineering is much much easier to get in, kids who did not get in Blair go there

Not necessarily. It is a smaller program and is growing rapidly in appeal. The above view may have been true several years ago (my first chose Blair over Wheaton because she wanted a broader program), but Wheaton is on the rise, appealing to those with more focused or applied interests and has fewer seats.

As I said previously, I'd apply to both. Then, if kid gets into both, go to the admitted students' events and talk to current students. Program administrators can connect admitted students with current students if they don't know any or if they want more input.

It's not an opinion. It's just a fact. Blair is open to most of the county. Wheaton is open only to DCC kids. Many high achievers from the Churchill, BCC, Whitman districts and others areas are not allowed to apply to Wheaton so they apply to Blair making the competition really intense.

I don't have any knowledge of the Wheaton program so it may be great and I don't dispute that it's growing in popularity as you said, but the fact is getting admission to Wheaton versus Blair is not even comparable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes of course, because what if he doesn’t get into blair?

My understanding is that Blair is harder to get into than Wheaton, so I am wondering if there is a chance he would get into Blair SMACS and not Wheaton Engineering?

Obviously I know he could get into neither.

— OP

+ 1 million
Wheaton engineering is much much easier to get in, kids who did not get in Blair go there

Not necessarily. It is a smaller program and is growing rapidly in appeal. The above view may have been true several years ago (my first chose Blair over Wheaton because she wanted a broader program), but Wheaton is on the rise, appealing to those with more focused or applied interests and has fewer seats.

As I said previously, I'd apply to both. Then, if kid gets into both, go to the admitted students' events and talk to current students. Program administrators can connect admitted students with current students if they don't know any or if they want more input.

It's not an opinion. It's just a fact. Blair is open to most of the county. Wheaton is open only to DCC kids. Many high achievers from the Churchill, BCC, Whitman districts and others areas are not allowed to apply to Wheaton so they apply to Blair making the competition really intense.

I don't have any knowledge of the Wheaton program so it may be great and I don't dispute that it's growing in popularity as you said, but the fact is getting admission to Wheaton versus Blair is not even comparable.


The math might work out though, since there are only 30 spots. Fewer applicants, yes, but also fewer spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does this work? Do you have to rank choices? If my kid applies for Blair SMAC, and CAP and Wheaton engineering, is he considered for each program individually? Or will he only get accepted to one? Basically is there a downside to applying to everything you might consider?

You do NOT rank magnet choices. You check all the boxes you want to apply to.

You DO rank regular high school choices. As in, the high school you would go to if you don’t get into a magnet. Everyone must rank those.

[Anonymous]

So, there is no downside to applying to all the selective magnets. Each one has their own selection process and will not affect the others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes of course, because what if he doesn’t get into blair?

My understanding is that Blair is harder to get into than Wheaton, so I am wondering if there is a chance he would get into Blair SMACS and not Wheaton Engineering?

Obviously I know he could get into neither.

— OP

+ 1 million
Wheaton engineering is much much easier to get in, kids who did not get in Blair go there

Not necessarily. It is a smaller program and is growing rapidly in appeal. The above view may have been true several years ago (my first chose Blair over Wheaton because she wanted a broader program), but Wheaton is on the rise, appealing to those with more focused or applied interests and has fewer seats.

As I said previously, I'd apply to both. Then, if kid gets into both, go to the admitted students' events and talk to current students. Program administrators can connect admitted students with current students if they don't know any or if they want more input.

It's not an opinion. It's just a fact. Blair is open to most of the county. Wheaton is open only to DCC kids. Many high achievers from the Churchill, BCC, Whitman districts and others areas are not allowed to apply to Wheaton so they apply to Blair making the competition really intense.

I don't have any knowledge of the Wheaton program so it may be great and I don't dispute that it's growing in popularity as you said, but the fact is getting admission to Wheaton versus Blair is not even comparable.

The math might work out though, since there are only 30 spots. Fewer applicants, yes, but also fewer spots.

So if all 8th graders at DCC middle schools are eligible to apply to Wheaton, that's as many as 2900 8th graders applying for 30 spots. 96 per spot.

And if all 8th graders at BCC, Churchill, DCC, NEC, RM, Rockville, Sherwood, Whitman, WJ, and Wootton are eligible to apply to Blair, that's as many as 8100 8th graders applying for 100 spots. 81 per spot.

The question is, what percentage of each of those groups of 8th graders actually applies for these programs.

[Anonymous]

No the question is how many high performers are applying for these spots and where are they. There were a couple of Silver Spring middle schools with a lot of high performing students. In contrast, basically every middle school in Chevy Chase, Potomac and Bethesda had a high concentration of high performing students.

We heard Wheaton has more than 60 spots. Where are you getting the 30 number?

[Anonymous]

Doesn't Wheaton have 100 or more for the two application programs, engineering and biomed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would apply to both. If kid gets in at both, go to the admitted students ' days and ask current students about their experiences. I have kids that got in to multiple programs: 1 went to Blair and the other to Wheaton engineering. Both got/are getting amazing educations. Both programs are first rate.
My Blair kid is at an Ivy and placed out of all math major base courses (calc, mvc, linear algebra) because of Blair's amazing math teachers.
My Wheaton kid builds/races cars with Society of Women Engineers which has a fantastic faculty mentor. She is also loving the drama director/program and has had some terrific English and history teachers. Wheaton students can earn dual credit in engineering courses through RIT.

Can you please elaborate on the dual credit you refer to? My kid is in Wheaton engineering and I have not heard about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No the question is how many high performers are applying for these spots and where are they. There were a couple of Silver Spring middle schools with a lot of high performing students. In contrast, basically every middle school in Chevy Chase, Potomac and Bethesda had a high concentration of high performing students.

We heard Wheaton has more than 60 spots. Where are you getting the 30 number?

Earlier in the thread a PP said Wheaton had 30 spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No the question is how many high performers are applying for these spots and where are they. There were a couple of Silver Spring middle schools with a lot of high performing students. In contrast, basically every middle school in Chevy Chase, Potomac and Bethesda had a high concentration of high performing students.

We heard Wheaton has more than 60 spots. Where are you getting the 30 number?

Earlier in the thread a PP said Wheaton had 30 spots.

The Wheaton site says 30 for Engineering and 30 for Biomedical each year.

https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/whsopenhouse2020/faq

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does this work? Do you have to rank choices? If my kid applies for Blair SMAC, and CAP and Wheaton engineering, is he considered for each program individually? Or will he only get accepted to one? Basically is there a downside to applying to everything you might consider?

Selection is independent but there’s only one application so it can be difficult to tailor to both stem and humanities. Kids get into multiple programs all the time though so apply to any that dc would consider…

Yes, mine always scored higher in verbal and has some top notch humanities honors but did not get into CAP but had good results from Blair and Wheaton Engineering. She wrote essay on something STEM related (can't remember exactly). I think they saw that and screened her out. Very happy at Wheaton. Loves the program and has had fantastic English and History teachers.

But, if your kid is interested in Blair and Wheaton, a STEM related essay could appeal to both. As far as I know, there is no ranking for the magnets. The people talking about ranking is for DCC school selection which is separate from magnet apps. This is essentially a pool of schools that all kids have to choose from for regular HS. You'd think you would go to home school if you don't submit, but that is not the case. Kids rank choices (if home school is 1st, they will get home school). The magnet admissions is a whole different layer.

Can you help me understand the “essay”? I’m not from the US and calling a paragraph about what you are passionate about an “essay” is foreign to me. Sold it just be a brag fest? Listing of achievements or a cohesive but very short essay with a message or learning point? Tbh, my kid is very strong in math and humanities and could be a good candidate for either - and is undecided on preference.

Sorry, it was still an essay when my kid applied. They also still had an honors section, so she could do her bragfest there and let the essay be the essay. If you only get one paragraph total, I guess I'd try to straddle the two somehow withe the short essay that mentions a few key awards/qualities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes of course, because what if he doesn’t get into blair?

My understanding is that Blair is harder to get into than Wheaton, so I am wondering if there is a chance he would get into Blair SMACS and not Wheaton Engineering?

Obviously I know he could get into neither.

— OP

+ 1 million
Wheaton engineering is much much easier to get in, kids who did not get in Blair go there

Not necessarily. It is a smaller program and is growing rapidly in appeal. The above view may have been true several years ago (my first chose Blair over Wheaton because she wanted a broader program), but Wheaton is on the rise, appealing to those with more focused or applied interests and has fewer seats.

As I said previously, I'd apply to both. Then, if kid gets into both, go to the admitted students' events and talk to current students. Program administrators can connect admitted students with current students if they don't know any or if they want more input.

It's not an opinion. It's just a fact. Blair is open to most of the county. Wheaton is open only to DCC kids. Many high achievers from the Churchill, BCC, Whitman districts and others areas are not allowed to apply to Wheaton so they apply to Blair making the competition really intense.

I don't have any knowledge of the Wheaton program so it may be great and I don't dispute that it's growing in popularity as you said, but the fact is getting admission to Wheaton versus Blair is not even comparable.

PP here. I never said opinion. I cited shifting/variable data. So, you can't say conclusively that Wheaton is "much, much easier to get into" than Blair or that admission is "not comparable." You just don't have that data set. That's all. All this talk downplaying Wheaton ( or SS MSs) sounds like W parents! The posturing is so unnecessary.

Though, I guess you could say "not comparable" in terms of subject matter because the kids interested in Wheaton will need to be interested in 1 of 2 specific subject areas, whereas kids interested in Blair would likely have a broader range of interests. These are 2 great programs -- Blair has a history of excellence and has a wider catchment. Wheaton has fewer seats (30 ea program) w/ a growing rep (it's a much younger program, only about a decade old). It's catchment is limited to DCC, but that would include out-of-bounds students already attending DCC MSs. Blair has a wider variety of STEM classes with greater depth in math, some sciences and comp sci. Wheaton is more subject focused and (at least for engineering) more applied in nature. My first (more all arounder) chose Blair over Wheaton, which was the right choice for them. My 2nd (more hands on) chose Wheaton over Blair which was the right choice for them.

I agree w/ others who advise to apply for both. Then, if kid gets in, find out everything you can from admitted events and current students to see which would be the best fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes of course, because what if he doesn’t get into blair?

My understanding is that Blair is harder to get into than Wheaton, so I am wondering if there is a chance he would get into Blair SMACS and not Wheaton Engineering?

Obviously I know he could get into neither.

— OP

+ 1 million
Wheaton engineering is much much easier to get in, kids who did not get in Blair go there

New poster here, and I’m wondering if this will actually be true this year. My DC is currently in the TPMS math/science magnet, and says that everyone they know is interested in both Blair AND Wheaton. With Wheaton having only 30 spaces, I think it will be very competitive in the first round. (Though I hope I’m wrong, since my DC really wants to go there!)

Blair is way more popular, like no one single student turn down Blair for Wheaton. That was 3 year ago though

Mine did. It was the right choice for them. Also, know a kid w/ favorable Blair response rejected by a Wheaton program. These things do happen.