Admission to SLACs after TJ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

TJ sends more kids to MIT each year than SLACs combined. Look at the top TJ placements: GA Tech, the UCs, U Illinois Champaigne, MIT, Cornell, Carnegie Melon, VT Engineering, UT Austin, UVA & WM (which are strong in some areas of STEM, plus UVA Engineeribg), RPI, VCU (6 year MD program). Not SLACs. OP is an idiot. 90% of TJ kids end up in STEM-- generally very strong STEM.

OP here. The point of my question was to figure out how to get into the best college after TJ (not knowing which way my kid would go). My kid does well in all subjects right now but also wants to be able to do language and music all years. Please provide constructive responses if possible. If not just don't.

Oh.. here's an alternative response to your post... Who you calling idiot, you dumb bitch? Go back to school and learn how to read.

Feel free to respond to either of the above if you care..

DP. READING your original post, you DIDN'T say you want the best college. You say: WILL do 4 years of language (not considering it, will do it). You also said WILL do 4 years of music and WILL NOT "dig too deep" in STEM (which is LOL at TJ if you look at the required classes, and then realize each required STEM class easily covers twice the material of a base school STEM class). And you ask, specifically, about TOP SLACs, not "best colleges." Have people been reading the OP correctly? Or do you have a written expression problem?

As pointed out, a top SLAC out of TJ rarely happens. A top SLAC with all those unweighted classes is close to impossible without a huge hook. A great college out of TJ is very possible-- especially in a STEM field. But not a top SLAC. The TJ curriculum just works against being competitive for admission to SLACs.

Average, GPA for UVA admission out of TJ is 4.3. Based on the weighting issues with language and music outlined above, that if going to be very, very difficult to pull off. Technically possible. But highly unlikely. WM and VT might be more doable.

People who are telling you that if your kid is stuck on the language / music combo they should not go to TJ are giving you good advice. Your DC can't have it all: that many non-STEM electives, that many unweighted electives, the TJ diploma requirements, and a decent GPA. It's only 28 classes. You can either do the TJ diploma and maintain a competitive courseload OR do that many non-STEM electives. It will look fine freshman year. But try to do do a 4 year plan that gets everything in. Then calculate the weighted GPA from that plan assuming an UW 4.0. Then realize that the middle of a brilliant class is in the A- B+ range, and only 1 or 2 kids each year graduate with an UW 4.0.

As for the "dumb bitch," part, please just stay at your base school. TJ as a community doesn't need the nasty attitude. I'm sorry you aren't getting the answers you want, but seriously?

Thanks for the portion of the response in Bold. That's exactly the kind of input I, as a new TJ parent, needed.

Apologies for the "dumb bitch" comment to everyone other than the person that called me an idiot. A nasty attitude is not appropriate on ANY forum. However, if someone calls me a name, I will respond in kind. And I AM getting the answers I need thanks to everyone who responded..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

TJ sends more kids to MIT each year than SLACs combined. Look at the top TJ placements: GA Tech, the UCs, U Illinois Champaigne, MIT, Cornell, Carnegie Melon, VT Engineering, UT Austin, UVA & WM (which are strong in some areas of STEM, plus UVA Engineeribg), RPI, VCU (6 year MD program). Not SLACs. OP is an idiot. 90% of TJ kids end up in STEM-- generally very strong STEM.

OP here. The point of my question was to figure out how to get into the best college after TJ (not knowing which way my kid would go). My kid does well in all subjects right now but also wants to be able to do language and music all years. Please provide constructive responses if possible. If not just don't.

Oh.. here's an alternative response to your post... Who you calling idiot, you dumb bitch? Go back to school and learn how to read.

Feel free to respond to either of the above if you care..

DP. READING your original post, you DIDN'T say you want the best college. You say: WILL do 4 years of language (not considering it, will do it). You also said WILL do 4 years of music and WILL NOT "dig too deep" in STEM (which is LOL at TJ if you look at the required classes, and then realize each required STEM class easily covers twice the material of a base school STEM class). And you ask, specifically, about TOP SLACs, not "best colleges." Have people been reading the OP correctly? Or do you have a written expression problem?

As pointed out, a top SLAC out of TJ rarely happens. A top SLAC with all those unweighted classes is close to impossible without a huge hook. A great college out of TJ is very possible-- especially in a STEM field. But not a top SLAC. The TJ curriculum just works against being competitive for admission to SLACs.

Average, GPA for UVA admission out of TJ is 4.3. Based on the weighting issues with language and music outlined above, that if going to be very, very difficult to pull off. Technically possible. But highly unlikely. WM and VT might be more doable.

People who are telling you that if your kid is stuck on the language / music combo they should not go to TJ are giving you good advice. Your DC can't have it all: that many non-STEM electives, that many unweighted electives, the TJ diploma requirements, and a decent GPA. It's only 28 classes. You can either do the TJ diploma and maintain a competitive courseload OR do that many non-STEM electives. It will look fine freshman year. But try to do do a 4 year plan that gets everything in. Then calculate the weighted GPA from that plan assuming an UW 4.0. Then realize that the middle of a brilliant class is in the A- B+ range, and only 1 or 2 kids each year graduate with an UW 4.0.

As for the "dumb bitch," part, please just stay at your base school. TJ as a community doesn't need the nasty attitude. I'm sorry you aren't getting the answers you want, but seriously?

Doesn't an AP language get the +1 bump?

That's true. AP Langauage would get a bump, which helps. It's still a lot of unweighted classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

TJ sends more kids to MIT each year than SLACs combined. Look at the top TJ placements: GA Tech, the UCs, U Illinois Champaigne, MIT, Cornell, Carnegie Melon, VT Engineering, UT Austin, UVA & WM (which are strong in some areas of STEM, plus UVA Engineeribg), RPI, VCU (6 year MD program). Not SLACs. OP is an idiot. 90% of TJ kids end up in STEM-- generally very strong STEM.

OP here. The point of my question was to figure out how to get into the best college after TJ (not knowing which way my kid would go). My kid does well in all subjects right now but also wants to be able to do language and music all years. Please provide constructive responses if possible. If not just don't.

Oh.. here's an alternative response to your post... Who you calling idiot, you dumb bitch? Go back to school and learn how to read.

Feel free to respond to either of the above if you care..

DP. READING your original post, you DIDN'T say you want the best college. You say: WILL do 4 years of language (not considering it, will do it). You also said WILL do 4 years of music and WILL NOT "dig too deep" in STEM (which is LOL at TJ if you look at the required classes, and then realize each required STEM class easily covers twice the material of a base school STEM class). And you ask, specifically, about TOP SLACs, not "best colleges." Have people been reading the OP correctly? Or do you have a written expression problem?

As pointed out, a top SLAC out of TJ rarely happens. A top SLAC with all those unweighted classes is close to impossible without a huge hook. A great college out of TJ is very possible-- especially in a STEM field. But not a top SLAC. The TJ curriculum just works against being competitive for admission to SLACs.

Average, GPA for UVA admission out of TJ is 4.3. Based on the weighting issues with language and music outlined above, that if going to be very, very difficult to pull off. Technically possible. But highly unlikely. WM and VT might be more doable.

People who are telling you that if your kid is stuck on the language / music combo they should not go to TJ are giving you good advice. Your DC can't have it all: that many non-STEM electives, that many unweighted electives, the TJ diploma requirements, and a decent GPA. It's only 28 classes. You can either do the TJ diploma and maintain a competitive courseload OR do that many non-STEM electives. It will look fine freshman year. But try to do do a 4 year plan that gets everything in. Then calculate the weighted GPA from that plan assuming an UW 4.0. Then realize that the middle of a brilliant class is in the A- B+ range, and only 1 or 2 kids each year graduate with an UW 4.0.

As for the "dumb bitch," part, please just stay at your base school. TJ as a community doesn't need the nasty attitude. I'm sorry you aren't getting the answers you want, but seriously?

Thanks for the portion of the response in Bold. That's exactly the kind of input I, as a new TJ parent, needed.

Apologies for the "dumb bitch" comment to everyone other than the person that called me an idiot. A nasty attitude is not appropriate on ANY forum. However, if someone calls me a name, I will respond in kind. And I AM getting the answers I need thanks to everyone who responded..

If your child takes music all 4 years he will need to take at least 1, if not 2, years of summer school. The 4 years of language isn't unusual, as all kids take at least 3 years worth.

And the reason why more kids from TJ don't go to SLACs isn't because of lack of interest from the schools, it's because so many TJ families are like the PP and don't recognize that an SLAC is a great place to study science. Here's lists of top feeder schools for PhDs - see all the SLACs? https://www.collegetransitions.com/blog/category/infographics/

SLACs love TJ kids - almost all of the top 25-30 visit TJ and give admission presentations. PP is just flat out wrong when he/she says that a top SLAC out of TJ rarely happens. My kid this year applied to a few top SLACs and got into all except for Swarthmore, which was the one we thought offered the best shot as it admitted 7 TJ kids last year. SLACs aren't as popular as they should be at TJ because many, many TJ kids go into top CS programs which SLACs don't have, and because of the obsession with a "prestigious" name and a lot of TJ families, like the PP, are uninformed as to how good SLACs are at teaching science and getting grads into PhD & med school programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

TJ sends more kids to MIT each year than SLACs combined. Look at the top TJ placements: GA Tech, the UCs, U Illinois Champaigne, MIT, Cornell, Carnegie Melon, VT Engineering, UT Austin, UVA & WM (which are strong in some areas of STEM, plus UVA Engineeribg), RPI, VCU (6 year MD program). Not SLACs. OP is an idiot. 90% of TJ kids end up in STEM-- generally very strong STEM.

OP here. The point of my question was to figure out how to get into the best college after TJ (not knowing which way my kid would go). My kid does well in all subjects right now but also wants to be able to do language and music all years. Please provide constructive responses if possible. If not just don't.

Oh.. here's an alternative response to your post... Who you calling idiot, you dumb bitch? Go back to school and learn how to read.

Feel free to respond to either of the above if you care..

DP. READING your original post, you DIDN'T say you want the best college. You say: WILL do 4 years of language (not considering it, will do it). You also said WILL do 4 years of music and WILL NOT "dig too deep" in STEM (which is LOL at TJ if you look at the required classes, and then realize each required STEM class easily covers twice the material of a base school STEM class). And you ask, specifically, about TOP SLACs, not "best colleges." Have people been reading the OP correctly? Or do you have a written expression problem?

As pointed out, a top SLAC out of TJ rarely happens. A top SLAC with all those unweighted classes is close to impossible without a huge hook. A great college out of TJ is very possible-- especially in a STEM field. But not a top SLAC. The TJ curriculum just works against being competitive for admission to SLACs.

Average, GPA for UVA admission out of TJ is 4.3. Based on the weighting issues with language and music outlined above, that if going to be very, very difficult to pull off. Technically possible. But highly unlikely. WM and VT might be more doable.

People who are telling you that if your kid is stuck on the language / music combo they should not go to TJ are giving you good advice. Your DC can't have it all: that many non-STEM electives, that many unweighted electives, the TJ diploma requirements, and a decent GPA. It's only 28 classes. You can either do the TJ diploma and maintain a competitive courseload OR do that many non-STEM electives. It will look fine freshman year. But try to do do a 4 year plan that gets everything in. Then calculate the weighted GPA from that plan assuming an UW 4.0. Then realize that the middle of a brilliant class is in the A- B+ range, and only 1 or 2 kids each year graduate with an UW 4.0.

As for the "dumb bitch," part, please just stay at your base school. TJ as a community doesn't need the nasty attitude. I'm sorry you aren't getting the answers you want, but seriously?

Thanks for the portion of the response in Bold. That's exactly the kind of input I, as a new TJ parent, needed.

Apologies for the "dumb bitch" comment to everyone other than the person that called me an idiot. A nasty attitude is not appropriate on ANY forum. However, if someone calls me a name, I will respond in kind. And I AM getting the answers I need thanks to everyone who responded..

If your child takes music all 4 years he will need to take at least 1, if not 2, years of summer school. The 4 years of language isn't unusual, as all kids take at least 3 years worth.

And the reason why more kids from TJ don't go to SLACs isn't because of lack of interest from the schools, it's because so many TJ families are like the PP and don't recognize that an SLAC is a great place to study science. Here's lists of top feeder schools for PhDs - see all the SLACs? https://www.collegetransitions.com/blog/category/infographics/

SLACs love TJ kids - almost all of the top 25-30 visit TJ and give admission presentations. PP is just flat out wrong when he/she says that a top SLAC out of TJ rarely happens. My kid this year applied to a few top SLACs and got into all except for Swarthmore, which was the one we thought offered the best shot as it admitted 7 TJ kids last year. SLACs aren't as popular as they should be at TJ because many, many TJ kids go into top CS programs which SLACs don't have, and because of the obsession with a "prestigious" name and a lot of TJ families, like the PP, are uninformed as to how good SLACs are at teaching science and getting grads into PhD & med school programs.

I'm the PP. I went to a SLAC. I'm also the PP who was looking at Davidson with D.C., because it has a 3-2 program with Columbia engineering. Do three years at Davidson, get a BA/BS with certain STEM classes, guaranteed admission to Columbia engineering if you maintain a 3.3 GPA. So I know a lot about SLACs, and about SLACs out of TJ. And I highly value SLACs. Enough to encourage my kid to look at SLACs (DC is also ADHD, and could really benefit from a small school and small classes). But the Naviance numbers are not encouraging. A PP did a pretty good job laying out enrollment, and fewer than 1% of TJ kids go to a truly selective LAC. Yes, they can be excellent premed/ pre-professional. But not CS, Engineering, Tech or "hardcore" science PhD track (especially physics) or math PhD track. They are "liberal arts" colleges for a reason.

And, BTW-- I don't think this is snobbary by TJ parents, and certainly not by me. I'd rather have my kid at a small school. And are you really saying that among the general public, U Illinois, Purdue, Rice or Pittsburg, where tons of kids apply are more prestigious than a SLAC?

But, maybe you and I have different definitions of SLACs? Because I can't think of 25-30 LACs that are really "selective".

And the wildcard is GPA/ SAT. Since almost none of these schools have had 10 kids apply over the last 3 years, they are not in Naviance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

TJ sends more kids to MIT each year than SLACs combined. Look at the top TJ placements: GA Tech, the UCs, U Illinois Champaigne, MIT, Cornell, Carnegie Melon, VT Engineering, UT Austin, UVA & WM (which are strong in some areas of STEM, plus UVA Engineeribg), RPI, VCU (6 year MD program). Not SLACs. OP is an idiot. 90% of TJ kids end up in STEM-- generally very strong STEM.

OP here. The point of my question was to figure out how to get into the best college after TJ (not knowing which way my kid would go). My kid does well in all subjects right now but also wants to be able to do language and music all years. Please provide constructive responses if possible. If not just don't.

Oh.. here's an alternative response to your post... Who you calling idiot, you dumb bitch? Go back to school and learn how to read.

Feel free to respond to either of the above if you care..

DP. READING your original post, you DIDN'T say you want the best college. You say: WILL do 4 years of language (not considering it, will do it). You also said WILL do 4 years of music and WILL NOT "dig too deep" in STEM (which is LOL at TJ if you look at the required classes, and then realize each required STEM class easily covers twice the material of a base school STEM class). And you ask, specifically, about TOP SLACs, not "best colleges." Have people been reading the OP correctly? Or do you have a written expression problem?

As pointed out, a top SLAC out of TJ rarely happens. A top SLAC with all those unweighted classes is close to impossible without a huge hook. A great college out of TJ is very possible-- especially in a STEM field. But not a top SLAC. The TJ curriculum just works against being competitive for admission to SLACs.

Average, GPA for UVA admission out of TJ is 4.3. Based on the weighting issues with language and music outlined above, that if going to be very, very difficult to pull off. Technically possible. But highly unlikely. WM and VT might be more doable.

People who are telling you that if your kid is stuck on the language / music combo they should not go to TJ are giving you good advice. Your DC can't have it all: that many non-STEM electives, that many unweighted electives, the TJ diploma requirements, and a decent GPA. It's only 28 classes. You can either do the TJ diploma and maintain a competitive courseload OR do that many non-STEM electives. It will look fine freshman year. But try to do do a 4 year plan that gets everything in. Then calculate the weighted GPA from that plan assuming an UW 4.0. Then realize that the middle of a brilliant class is in the A- B+ range, and only 1 or 2 kids each year graduate with an UW 4.0.

As for the "dumb bitch," part, please just stay at your base school. TJ as a community doesn't need the nasty attitude. I'm sorry you aren't getting the answers you want, but seriously?

Thanks for the portion of the response in Bold. That's exactly the kind of input I, as a new TJ parent, needed.

Apologies for the "dumb bitch" comment to everyone other than the person that called me an idiot. A nasty attitude is not appropriate on ANY forum. However, if someone calls me a name, I will respond in kind. And I AM getting the answers I need thanks to everyone who responded..

If your child takes music all 4 years he will need to take at least 1, if not 2, years of summer school. The 4 years of language isn't unusual, as all kids take at least 3 years worth.

And the reason why more kids from TJ don't go to SLACs isn't because of lack of interest from the schools, it's because so many TJ families are like the PP and don't recognize that an SLAC is a great place to study science. Here's lists of top feeder schools for PhDs - see all the SLACs? https://www.collegetransitions.com/blog/category/infographics/

SLACs love TJ kids - almost all of the top 25-30 visit TJ and give admission presentations. PP is just flat out wrong when he/she says that a top SLAC out of TJ rarely happens. My kid this year applied to a few top SLACs and got into all except for Swarthmore, which was the one we thought offered the best shot as it admitted 7 TJ kids last year. SLACs aren't as popular as they should be at TJ because many, many TJ kids go into top CS programs which SLACs don't have, and because of the obsession with a "prestigious" name and a lot of TJ families, like the PP, are uninformed as to how good SLACs are at teaching science and getting grads into PhD & med school programs.

I'm the PP. I went to a SLAC. I'm also the PP who was looking at Davidson with D.C., because it has a 3-2 program with Columbia engineering. Do three years at Davidson, get a BA/BS with certain STEM classes, guaranteed admission to Columbia engineering if you maintain a 3.3 GPA. So I know a lot about SLACs, and about SLACs out of TJ. And I highly value SLACs. Enough to encourage my kid to look at SLACs (DC is also ADHD, and could really benefit from a small school and small classes). But the Naviance numbers are not encouraging. A PP did a pretty good job laying out enrollment, and fewer than 1% of TJ kids go to a truly selective LAC. Yes, they can be excellent premed/ pre-professional. But not CS, Engineering, Tech or "hardcore" science PhD track (especially physics) or math PhD track. They are "liberal arts" colleges for a reason.

And, BTW-- I don't think this is snobbary by TJ parents, and certainly not by me. I'd rather have my kid at a small school. And are you really saying that among the general public, U Illinois, Purdue, Rice or Pittsburg, where tons of kids apply are more prestigious than a SLAC?

But, maybe you and I have different definitions of SLACs? Because I can't think of 25-30 LACs that are really "selective".

And the wildcard is GPA/ SAT. Since almost none of these schools have had 10 kids apply over the last 3 years, they are not in Naviance.

First, your Davidson numbers are wrong. Last 3 years, 1/1; 1/4; 1/2 -- looks like recently they have one slot reserved for TJ. Your child's counselor can give you more specifics as to the mix of GPAs/scores that work so you can see how your child compares. Playing around w/the college match function on Naviance, it looks like a 4.3/2250-2300 was the average for Davidson admissions.

Actually SLACs are excellent for a physics or math PhD track - look at that link I posted.

Fewer than 1% of TJ students go to a top SLAC? Using US News list, for the sake of argument, let's see for 2016 grads...
Williams - 1
Wellesley - 1
Swarthmore -3
Bowdoin - 1

There's 6 right there from top 10 SLAC schools, which is more than 1%.

[Anonymous]

There are a total of 9. And that is not counting those who were rejected due to not having high enough GPA and the expected liberal arts classes. TJs history courses are minimal language tough to fit in, English geared towards technical writing etc etc.
OP you are trying to make TJ something it is emphatically not. Maybe it was 10-20 years ago but not now or likely in the future with STEM so popular.
You are putting your student in an awkward if not impossible position. It's very hurtful to the student. And so much time wasted on very tough STEM courses which are much harder than they need to be for a liberal arts student.

[Anonymous]

The English and history classes at TJ are amazing and not taught with a STEM angle other than 9th grade includes a major sourced (researched and supported) paper plus all other work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The English and history classes at TJ are amazing and not taught with a STEM angle other than 9th grade includes a major sourced (researched and supported) paper plus all other work.

Both PP are correct. Mom of sophomore and former English major. The English is excellent, and very accelerated. Does a great job with literature and learning to write a college level English paper. But a portion of both freshman and sophomore year is reading and writing technical scientific papers (my kid did CHUM). History range from very doable (Ancient Civ) to incredibly hard (APUSH has this reputation). I think English does better than history, just because kids have to take design tech instead of history freshman year. So they try to shoehorn in a class.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand all these people saying that it is unusual to go through TJ with 4 years band/music and 4 years of language. My DC is in the music program and many, many students do this. The seniors we know are all getting into great schools: a combo of UVA and engineering schools, but I have also heard of a few SLACs too. You do have to do two years of summer school. That is the tradeoff. But as long as you're not doing something like summer chem, it isn't bad. The summer school is actually pretty social for most kids.

I posted the destinations and acceptances/enrollments links earlier. I really think that a lot of TJ kids just don't want to apply to SLACs. There are none on the list of acceptances/enrollments list for 15-16 because fewer than 10 students applied that year. The parents of kids I talk to don't mention these school at all on the lists of schools their kids apply to. I think there are many reasons for this. I do think a lot of the students (and parents) are drawn to more name brand/recognizable schools. It is also true that a lot of these schools, like Williams, don't give any merit aid. So if you are like us, two income family but making in the 200s, we will get zero financial help other than loans. I think the majority of TJ parents are in this position. For most parents, the cost/benefit ratio just isn't there for paying full freight for an SLAC (~65-75K) with no aid over even an OOS public like Illinois (~40-50) where they may get merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand all these people saying that it is unusual to go through TJ with 4 years band/music and 4 years of language. My DC is in the music program and many, many students do this. The seniors we know are all getting into great schools: a combo of UVA and engineering schools, but I have also heard of a few SLACs too. You do have to do two years of summer school. That is the tradeoff. But as long as you're not doing something like summer chem, it isn't bad. The summer school is actually pretty social for most kids.

I posted the destinations and acceptances/enrollments links earlier. I really think that a lot of TJ kids just don't want to apply to SLACs. There are none on the list of acceptances/enrollments list for 15-16 because fewer than 10 students applied that year. The parents of kids I talk to don't mention these school at all on the lists of schools their kids apply to. I think there are many reasons for this. I do think a lot of the students (and parents) are drawn to more name brand/recognizable schools. It is also true that a lot of these schools, like Williams, don't give any merit aid. So if you are like us, two income family but making in the 200s, we will get zero financial help other than loans. I think the majority of TJ parents are in this position. For most parents, the cost/benefit ratio just isn't there for paying full freight for an SLAC (~65-75K) with no aid over even an OOS public like Illinois (~40-50) where they may get merit aid.

+1

I don't have music/language kid, but DC is taking 4 years of a language bc they're convinced that's what colleges want. And summer school IS a social outlet for my kid. That plus a travel sport pretty much eats up our summers.

The PP second paragraph is spot on. Esp regarding the cost-benefit of college. In the same boat. Make too much for aid, but costly private would really impact our retirement savings. Would I love my DC to go to HYP? Of course. However, I'm not sure that paying for it is worth it. Esp given some of the great public school options in VA. We have been having these conversations with DC since they entered TJ so they know what the deal is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a total of 9. And that is not counting those who were rejected due to not having high enough GPA and the expected liberal arts classes. TJs history courses are minimal language tough to fit in, English geared towards technical writing etc etc.
OP you are trying to make TJ something it is emphatically not. Maybe it was 10-20 years ago but not now or likely in the future with STEM so popular.
You are putting your student in an awkward if not impossible position. It's very hurtful to the student. And so much time wasted on very tough STEM courses which are much harder than they need to be for a liberal arts student.

What "expected liberal arts classes" are TJ students missing? We just went through the college admission process this year with several top SLACs. Once my child showed interest in a school, he was "heavily recruited" (for lack of a better term) as a STEM student and not once did anyone mention a lack of a liberal arts education. He's taking AP Lit this year and the class is significantly more challenging than the version that's taught at our top NOVA base school. The curriculum at TJ does not hurt a student's chance of admission at a SLAC.

I just looked up our base school admissions to some SLACs. Yes, PP, you're right, specifically for Davidson it looks like that would be easier to get into than at TJ - it's also much more popular. However, for other top SLACs there's only 1-2 admissions over the last 3 years - and the base school has a much larger graduating class than TJ.

In the end this goes back to a theme that runs through all of these TJ discussions: a kid should not go to TJ with the intention of getting into a "top" college, he/she should go there because they want to be challenged, have opportunities in STEM that they wouldn't have elsewhere, and go to school with equally motivated students. Maybe my kid's a unicorn - he loved all the STEM opportunities at TJ, but he also loved the class discussions in his history classes with his bright, engaged classmates, as well as reading Dostoyevsky and Toni Morrison. I know he would've been bored out of his mind at our base school. And now he's probably going to a SLAC where he can double-major in something like math and philosophy. Maybe OP's kid is the same type of kid.

[Anonymous]

OP I see you are determined to do TJ. I have one in TJ and one in another school. They have the same GPA-- 4.3. Guess who got into the UVA and the top SLACS. Hint it wasn't The TJ grad. People are trying to help you. I wish I had had this advice freshman year.

[Anonymous]

PP above. I see your DS was heavily recruited AS A STEM STUDENT duh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP above. I see your DS was heavily recruited AS A STEM STUDENT duh

and your point is?? once the kid gets to college he can major in anything he wants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What "expected liberal arts classes" are TJ students missing? We just went through the college admission process this year with several top SLACs. Once my child showed interest in a school, he was "heavily recruited" (for lack of a better term) as a STEM student and not once did anyone mention a lack of a liberal arts education. He's taking AP Lit this year and the class is significantly more challenging than the version that's taught at our top NOVA base school. The curriculum at TJ does not hurt a student's chance of admission at a SLAC.

I just looked up our base school admissions to some SLACs. Yes, PP, you're right, specifically for Davidson it looks like that would be easier to get into than at TJ - it's also much more popular. However, for other top SLACs there's only 1-2 admissions over the last 3 years - and the base school has a much larger graduating class than TJ.

In the end this goes back to a theme that runs through all of these TJ discussions: a kid should not go to TJ with the intention of getting into a "top" college, he/she should go there because they want to be challenged, have opportunities in STEM that they wouldn't have elsewhere, and go to school with equally motivated students. Maybe my kid's a unicorn - he loved all the STEM opportunities at TJ, but he also loved the class discussions in his history classes with his bright, engaged classmates, as well as reading Dostoyevsky and Toni Morrison. I know he would've been bored out of his mind at our base school. And now he's probably going to a SLAC where he can double-major in something like math and philosophy. Maybe OP's kid is the same type of kid.

Anonymous wrote:OP I see you are determined to do TJ. I have one in TJ and one in another school. They have the same GPA-- 4.3. Guess who got into the UVA and the top SLACS. Hint it wasn't The TJ grad. People are trying to help you. I wish I had had this advice freshman year.

Thanks. This is valuable input. We've gotten this advice from multiple TJ parents for a while and know it will be 4 years of extra hassle for us. We are not wedded to TJ. However, my son who wasn't interested until summer before 8th grade, now wants to go.

I raised the SLAC question to determine if SLACs look at 4 years or language/music more favorably. On his current plan, he will not be able to do much of a deep dive into any of the STEM subjects and graduate with minimal AP credits. My son does well in all STEM subjects but he also loves social sciences and music. Obviously TJ courses will by much more rigorous and we hope he finds his STEM passion in Freshman year of HS. However, if he doesn't and his resolve with music and language gets stronger OR and he decides that STEM is not for him, we need to know if it makes sense to move to the base HS or continue at TJ to maximize his HS experience and college outcome.. He is committed for the first year at TJ at this point.