Is a non-STEM kid at TJ possible?

[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.

[Anonymous]

With some HS being under enrolled, maybe turning one into a Humanities Governor School and another into a performing arts school would be a good idea. But people are not going to get behind that.

[Anonymous]

Just throwing this out there for college admissions - you are taking up a spot from a kid who really likes and wants to do STEM;

What Admissions Officers will see is the kid who got into TJ, had no interest in STEM, and didn't make full use of it.

For a Top 25 school - the doubt will always be there if the kid is genuine in his intentions; check out the College forum - the place is littered with: TJ kid, 1500+ SAT, high GPA, and didn't get into IVY+ or UVA in-state. There are plenty of applicants with good or better stats that the AOs don't doubt. Right now you are sending a message a clear message to them.

The thread is correct - we need a Governors school for this situation.

[Anonymous]

So what is the recommendation for a humanities student? Go to TJ or not?

[Anonymous]

I think it would depend on a lot of factors. If STEM is not their passion are they going to struggle with high level math and Science or is it easy for them and just not preferred? Where do you live? I wouldn't send a kid on an hour long bus ride each way unless they really wanted to go? Do you have access to an IB program? That is a better opportunity for a humanities kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what is the recommendation for a humanities student? Go to TJ or not?

No. Likely outcome for a humanities student at TJ is worse college admissions than at base HS. Base schools have fewer STEM options and lots of humanities electives.