Does Thomas Jefferson really matter?

[Anonymous]

Neither TJ nor Ivy makes a damn bit of difference in the long run. It only matters to DCUM's for bragging rights. Move out of a major metropolitan area and no one is stressing about magnet schools, private schools or ivy league, and yet these same kids still end up going to good schools and have good lives--or not. In the end, too many other factors determine success in life. Stopping fretting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went to an info session about TJ for parents/students in 7th and 8th grade last month. TJ rep said that the bulk of TJ graduates go to UVA, vatech, w&m, duke and Carnegie Mellon. Also said that TJ grads are compared to other TJ grads in the college admissions process, not necessarily against other fcps grads who are also compared to grads of their own high schools. Being ranked highly at a local HS holds more weight than being in the mid to bottom range at TJ. Not what we expected to hear but that was what the TJ rep said. Also, most of the parents at the session were asian, most were asking questions regarding the essay portion of the entrance exam and rumors of quotas limiting Asians being admitted to TJ in the coming years. There were three other caucasion parents and a few indian parents, but thats it. Definitely an eye opening experience. I recommend that anyone considering TJ for their kids go to one of these informational sessions so you can get the info first hand that you are looking for.

Yes, whites are a minority at TJ. But the reason you didn't see their parents at the info session is because they get all the info they need at our neighborhood pool in the summers, long before the 8th grade meeting.

[Anonymous]

An inherent problem at a school where all the kids are smart is the high levels of stress that come with continuing that level of 'being the best' when everyone is the 'best'. If you want your kids in an environment where they are stressed out to stay ahead, then TJ might be a good placement for your child.

The opposite of that thought is that your child is stimulated in ways they would not otherwise be in a 'regular' HS. But, with that, comes stress. Pressure cooker High

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An inherent problem at a school where all the kids are smart is the high levels of stress that come with continuing that level of 'being the best' when everyone is the 'best'. If you want your kids in an environment where they are stressed out to stay ahead, then TJ might be a good placement for your child.

The opposite of that thought is that your child is stimulated in ways they would not otherwise be in a 'regular' HS. But, with that, comes stress. Pressure cooker High

Have you talked with any high schoolers lately? Any TJ kids? Any kids from private, MoCo or FCPS high schools? You may want to before you draw conclusions for/about them.

[Anonymous]

Yes, attending TJ does make a difference when applying to colleges. Why? Because no matter what, it is going to get admissions to look at the application. You might not get an offer, but they *will* review your application and it won't automatically get discarded.

Does it make a difference in the long run after you graduate? No, because that is really all about the person, the opportunities they have and the decisions they make.

[Anonymous]

This was over a decade ago, but I attended the same Ivy School with a neighboring girl, but she went to TJ and I chose not to apply even though I had the second highest GPA in my junior high school. I didn't want to commute in the morning and evening to the school and wanted to be with a variety of different people in high school. We both had good experiences and both did well and had fun at the Ivy League School. I've lost touch, but I'm assuming she is also doing well after graduation. I think when it comes time, your child should make the decision. I know I made the right choice for myself and she made the right choice for herself.

[Anonymous]

True that!!!! I may have been the awkward weird one in high school but now I am raking in 150k at age 31! Jokes on you jocks and home coming king/queen who ended up studying Communications or Liberal Arts. (Went to GMU and got under and grad degree in IS and Software, no student loans).

At 31, you're making $150,000? Wow! What kind of yacht are you thinking of buying? What about the private jet - do you prefer the G-4 or G-5?

Signed,

A liberal arts major who made well in excess of $150,000 at 31.

PS: News flash - you're still the awkward, weird one.

(I can't believe I just typed this. I make it a practice not to get involved in the typical DCUM penis/salary measuring contests, or to be a dick to people online, but the PP is such an obvious d-bag that I couldn't resist.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neither TJ nor Ivy makes a damn bit of difference in the long run. It only matters to DCUM's for bragging rights. Move out of a major metropolitan area and no one is stressing about magnet schools, private schools or ivy league, and yet these same kids still end up going to good schools and have good lives--or not. In the end, too many other factors determine success in life. Stopping fretting.

Nothing makes a damn bit of difference in the long run.
Everything makes a damn bit of difference in the long run.
There's no right or wrong answer in life.
What's your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:True that!!!! I may have been the awkward weird one in high school but now I am raking in 150k at age 31! Jokes on you jocks and home coming king/queen who ended up studying Communications or Liberal Arts. (Went to GMU and got under and grad degree in IS and Software, no student loans).

At 31, you're making $150,000? Wow! What kind of yacht are you thinking of buying? What about the private jet - do you prefer the G-4 or G-5?

Signed,

A liberal arts major who made well in excess of $150,000 at 31.

PS: News flash - you're still the awkward, weird one.

(I can't believe I just typed this. I make it a practice not to get involved in the typical DCUM penis/salary measuring contests, or to be a dick to people online, but the PP is such an obvious d-bag that I couldn't resist.)

Hey, birds of a feather and all that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An inherent problem at a school where all the kids are smart is the high levels of stress that come with continuing that level of 'being the best' when everyone is the 'best'. If you want your kids in an environment where they are stressed out to stay ahead, then TJ might be a good placement for your child.

The opposite of that thought is that your child is stimulated in ways they would not otherwise be in a 'regular' HS. But, with that, comes stress. Pressure cooker High

Have you talked with any high schoolers lately? Any TJ kids? Any kids from private, MoCo or FCPS high schools? You may want to before you draw conclusions for/about them.

I've spoken to teachers who happen to be friends from TJ, FFx county schools and Mo Co schools. So, yes, I draw this conclusion. Do YOU know anyone who goes to or teaches at TJ? Please enlighten me or are you just all smarty pants? Actually, what is your point?

[Anonymous]

Ivy League Schools/Stanford/MIT etc are very impressed by TJ. That said, in general, if kids stay at their base high schools and are in the top 1-2%, they'll probably do better in college admissions than if they are in the middle of the pack at TJ.

Then again, would they get the same grades and test scores at the base high schools that they would at TJ with its PhD teachers and its culture of achievement? Need more studies on that one.

[Anonymous]

I qualified for TJ in the 90s and I remember my mom asking me if I wanted to go, and because it had the words "science & technology" in the title, among other reasons, I opted not to.

I had a good time in my standard FFX county school, took AP classes, etc, and still got into UVA, where they have definitely heard of TJ. My graduating class had about 30 kids who went to UVA, but TJ had over 100.

FWIW, now I would evaluate TJ on:

1) whether or not you live close to it (that's a long bus ride!)
2) If you are interested in STEM or even just math (I was in denial as a kid, but then went to grad school in a more quantitative field, so maybe I would have done something more STEM at a younger age if i'd gone there)
3) if you are a girl, all the better to be interested in STEM--girls and women still have a LONG way to go in these fields
4) whether or not you have a strong, healthy social life now, or if you'd like a fresh start

As other posters have said, in the long run, doesn't make much difference, but in the long run, we're all dead anyway! Do what makes your daughter happiest, but I would at least strongly encourage her if you think she'd like it, when the time comes.