Why is there such a racial/ethnic disconnect with TJ Admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DC had perfect GPA, 99/100 score, highest teacher recommendations, high SIS and average essay (checked with admissions office) and was put on a waiting list.

I also heard of other cases where applicants with perfect GPA and test scores of 95+ getting rejected.

TJ admissions are very similar to college admissions in that many, many students are very well qualified, but there are just not enough spaces for every applicant. College admissions can yield some very big surprises in whom is accepted and whom is not. It is indeed disappointing for the students, but the fact is that they have to do their very best on every part of the application. When there are only 480 spaces available, it is unfortunate, but they have to draw a line somewhere. Sadly, someone ends up right over that line and truly is just as good a student as the one who ends up right over the other side of the line.
If this helps any, my child has met a number of kids who got in off the wait list, so there is hope.

I didn't know the office would give out scores for the SIS, recommendations, and essays. Do you just call the office and ask?

IF TJ and College admissions were as transparent as nba recruiting, it wouldn't be blacks/latinos that would complain it would be white people.

TJ accepts 480 kids. Number 481 is most probably just as good a student as number 480, but unfortunately, just misses acceptance. We have a lot of very bright STEM-interested kids in our area and the school simply cannot accept every single one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DC had perfect GPA, 99/100 score, highest teacher recommendations, high SIS and average essay (checked with admissions office) and was put on a waiting list.

I also heard of other cases where applicants with perfect GPA and test scores of 95+ getting rejected.

TJ admissions are very similar to college admissions in that many, many students are very well qualified, but there are just not enough spaces for every applicant. College admissions can yield some very big surprises in whom is accepted and whom is not. It is indeed disappointing for the students, but the fact is that they have to do their very best on every part of the application. When there are only 480 spaces available, it is unfortunate, but they have to draw a line somewhere. Sadly, someone ends up right over that line and truly is just as good a student as the one who ends up right over the other side of the line.
If this helps any, my child has met a number of kids who got in off the wait list, so there is hope.

I didn't know the office would give out scores for the SIS, recommendations, and essays. Do you just call the office and ask?

IF TJ and College admissions were as transparent as nba recruiting, it wouldn't be blacks/latinos that would complain it would be white people.

TJ accepts 480 kids. Number 481 is most probably just as good a student as number 480, but unfortunately, just misses acceptance. We have a lot of very bright STEM-interested kids in our area and the school simply cannot accept every single one of them.

that's fine - but I think what a lot of people want is transparency.

In sports - you can point to various metrics that are readily available as well as game tape to say why so and so didn't get selected.

Open up the admissions black-box at magnets and universities. have your quotas (which are obviously there - don't insult the public) but make them transparent. I'm not talking about TJ specifically - i'm talking about admissions to all places that 'black box' their rationale for acceptance/rejection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My DC had perfect GPA, 99/100 score, highest teacher recommendations, high SIS and average essay (checked with admissions office) and was put on a waiting list.

I also heard of other cases where applicants with perfect GPA and test scores of 95+ getting rejected.

TJ admissions are very similar to college admissions in that many, many students are very well qualified, but there are just not enough spaces for every applicant. College admissions can yield some very big surprises in whom is accepted and whom is not. It is indeed disappointing for the students, but the fact is that they have to do their very best on every part of the application. When there are only 480 spaces available, it is unfortunate, but they have to draw a line somewhere. Sadly, someone ends up right over that line and truly is just as good a student as the one who ends up right over the other side of the line.
If this helps any, my child has met a number of kids who got in off the wait list, so there is hope.

I didn't know the office would give out scores for the SIS, recommendations, and essays. Do you just call the office and ask?

It's a public high school, not a college. Creating a magnet program that evaluates students based on their performance as 12 and 13-year-olds is something more typically associated with countries like China and East Germany, not the United States. It's a shame that TJ continues to exert such a disruptive influence on local parents and students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DC had perfect GPA, 99/100 score, highest teacher recommendations, high SIS and average essay (checked with admissions office) and was put on a waiting list.

I also heard of other cases where applicants with perfect GPA and test scores of 95+ getting rejected.

TJ admissions are very similar to college admissions in that many, many students are very well qualified, but there are just not enough spaces for every applicant. College admissions can yield some very big surprises in whom is accepted and whom is not. It is indeed disappointing for the students, but the fact is that they have to do their very best on every part of the application. When there are only 480 spaces available, it is unfortunate, but they have to draw a line somewhere. Sadly, someone ends up right over that line and truly is just as good a student as the one who ends up right over the other side of the line.
If this helps any, my child has met a number of kids who got in off the wait list, so there is hope.

I didn't know the office would give out scores for the SIS, recommendations, and essays. Do you just call the office and ask?

It's a public high school, not a college. Creating a magnet program that evaluates students based on their performance as 12 and 13-year-olds is something more typically associated with countries like China and East Germany, not the United States. It's a shame that TJ continues to exert such a disruptive influence on local parents and students.

You do realize there are dozens of magnet high schools in this country and that TJ is not the only magnet high school. Do you want to eliminate all magnet programs and all gifted education programs in this country. I thought United States was about having more choices. Your system of eliminating choices and getting rid of excellent educational programs so that all programs will be equally bad sounds more like communism such as China and (old) East Germany.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why in this country everything has to be made into a racial case. Better yet, why do people think that Blacks and Hispanics are superior to other minority groups and deserving a lot more priorities and opportunities. We lived in California for a number of years and we were depressed to see how many well-rounded Asian students with decent grades are rejected by medical schools because their admissions requirements are a lot higher than other races. Why is it okay to discriminate against Asian while we preach all day long about political correctness when it comes to other races? Did we complain that Asians are under-represented in football, basketball, political circle and boardrooms?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why in this country everything has to be made into a racial case. Better yet, why do people think that Blacks and Hispanics are superior to other minority groups and deserving a lot more priorities and opportunities. We lived in California for a number of years and we were depressed to see how many well-rounded Asian students with decent grades are rejected by medical schools because their admissions requirements are a lot higher than other races. Why is it okay to discriminate against Asian while we preach all day long about political correctness when it comes to other races? Did we complain that Asians are under-represented in football, basketball, political circle and boardrooms?

To you Asian posters: C'mon. You are already hugely overrepresented in AAP and at TJ. Basically you're complaining that you want to be even mnore over-represented. Don't be greedy. Congratulations on your success!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why in this country everything has to be made into a racial case. Better yet, why do people think that Blacks and Hispanics are superior to other minority groups and deserving a lot more priorities and opportunities. We lived in California for a number of years and we were depressed to see how many well-rounded Asian students with decent grades are rejected by medical schools because their admissions requirements are a lot higher than other races. Why is it okay to discriminate against Asian while we preach all day long about political correctness when it comes to other races? Did we complain that Asians are under-represented in football, basketball, political circle and boardrooms?

To you Asian posters: C'mon. You are already hugely overrepresented in AAP and at TJ. Basically you're complaining that you want to be even mnore over-represented. Don't be greedy. Congratulations on your success!

"hugely overrepresented in AAP and at TJ" - This is a perfect example of the type of hatred toward Asian. You think Asian don't deserve their successes, even though they work hard and ask very little from the Government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why in this country everything has to be made into a racial case. Better yet, why do people think that Blacks and Hispanics are superior to other minority groups and deserving a lot more priorities and opportunities. We lived in California for a number of years and we were depressed to see how many well-rounded Asian students with decent grades are rejected by medical schools because their admissions requirements are a lot higher than other races. Why is it okay to discriminate against Asian while we preach all day long about political correctness when it comes to other races? Did we complain that Asians are under-represented in football, basketball, political circle and boardrooms?

This post starts out decrying the focus on race in this country, and then goes on to focus on race.

I would prefer to see a move to get more lower SES kids ready for TJ. I realize that there are programs out there, but I would like to see them have more success. TJ has an extremely low number of kids on free and reduced lunch, but also I believe a low rate of kids from middle or lower middle income families. A very large number of kids come from the higher income zip codes and the car pool line is heavily populated by very expensive cars. What an opportunity a school like TJ can be for kids whose families might not have the resources for special classes and tutors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why in this country everything has to be made into a racial case. Better yet, why do people think that Blacks and Hispanics are superior to other minority groups and deserving a lot more priorities and opportunities. We lived in California for a number of years and we were depressed to see how many well-rounded Asian students with decent grades are rejected by medical schools because their admissions requirements are a lot higher than other races. Why is it okay to discriminate against Asian while we preach all day long about political correctness when it comes to other races? Did we complain that Asians are under-represented in football, basketball, political circle and boardrooms?

To you Asian posters: C'mon. You are already hugely overrepresented in AAP and at TJ. Basically you're complaining that you want to be even mnore over-represented. Don't be greedy. Congratulations on your success!

"hugely overrepresented in AAP and at TJ" - This is a perfect example of the type of hatred toward Asian. You think Asian don't deserve their successes, even though they work hard and ask very little from the Government.

if 17% of the FCPS students are Asian, and 56% of the students at TJ are Asian, they are hugely overrepresented at TJ -- statistically speaking.
It is a neutral statistical term. NAACP used it however as a basis in its complaint against TJ because blacks and Hispanics are allegedly underrepresented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why in this country everything has to be made into a racial case. Better yet, why do people think that Blacks and Hispanics are superior to other minority groups and deserving a lot more priorities and opportunities. We lived in California for a number of years and we were depressed to see how many well-rounded Asian students with decent grades are rejected by medical schools because their admissions requirements are a lot higher than other races. Why is it okay to discriminate against Asian while we preach all day long about political correctness when it comes to other races? Did we complain that Asians are under-represented in football, basketball, political circle and boardrooms?

To you Asian posters: C'mon. You are already hugely overrepresented in AAP and at TJ. Basically you're complaining that you want to be even mnore over-represented. Don't be greedy. Congratulations on your success!

"hugely overrepresented in AAP and at TJ" - This is a perfect example of the type of hatred toward Asian. You think Asian don't deserve their successes, even though they work hard and ask very little from the Government.

if 17% of the FCPS students are Asian, and 56% of the students at TJ are Asian, they are hugely overrepresented at TJ -- statistically speaking.
It is a neutral statistical term. NAACP used it however as a basis in its complaint against TJ because blacks and Hispanics are allegedly underrepresented.

"Working hard and trying to get ahead in life is American Dream and American Way. Unless one is born into wealth of financial resources and/or right connections (which many Asians lack though they may have decent/professional jobs), Asian children have no choice but study hard and make something of themselves despite Affirmative Action discrimination in college admissions, bamboo ceiling discrimination in employment and other discrimination against Asians that are not even acknowledged let alone someone trying to do something about. Working hard and studying hard should be applauded not criticized. I am sure no one wants to see more people going into poverty, welfare or struggling to make ends meet and leading desperate lives. We already have enough of those in America. It seems lower class and lower middle class keeps growing everyday instead of decreasing. Not many kids actually prefer to study so much if they did not have to ---"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why in this country everything has to be made into a racial case. Better yet, why do people think that Blacks and Hispanics are superior to other minority groups and deserving a lot more priorities and opportunities. We lived in California for a number of years and we were depressed to see how many well-rounded Asian students with decent grades are rejected by medical schools because their admissions requirements are a lot higher than other races. Why is it okay to discriminate against Asian while we preach all day long about political correctness when it comes to other races? Did we complain that Asians are under-represented in football, basketball, political circle and boardrooms?

To you Asian posters: C'mon. You are already hugely overrepresented in AAP and at TJ. Basically you're complaining that you want to be even mnore over-represented. Don't be greedy. Congratulations on your success!

why doesn't this attitude permeate to the NBA, NFL, college basketball, and college football?

why is it ok to say so and so is overrepresented in college or medical school but it isn't ok to say so-and-so is overrepresented in the NBA or alabama football?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why in this country everything has to be made into a racial case. Better yet, why do people think that Blacks and Hispanics are superior to other minority groups and deserving a lot more priorities and opportunities. We lived in California for a number of years and we were depressed to see how many well-rounded Asian students with decent grades are rejected by medical schools because their admissions requirements are a lot higher than other races. Why is it okay to discriminate against Asian while we preach all day long about political correctness when it comes to other races? Did we complain that Asians are under-represented in football, basketball, political circle and boardrooms?

To you Asian posters: C'mon. You are already hugely overrepresented in AAP and at TJ. Basically you're complaining that you want to be even mnore over-represented. Don't be greedy. Congratulations on your success!

"hugely overrepresented in AAP and at TJ" - This is a perfect example of the type of hatred toward Asian. You think Asian don't deserve their successes, even though they work hard and ask very little from the Government.

if 17% of the FCPS students are Asian, and 56% of the students at TJ are Asian, they are hugely overrepresented at TJ -- statistically speaking.
It is a neutral statistical term. NAACP used it however as a basis in its complaint against TJ because blacks and Hispanics are allegedly underrepresented.

if 13% of US citizens are black, and 78% of the players in the NBA are black, they are hugely overrrepresented in the NBA - statistically speaking.

If 13% of US citizens are black and 55-60% of the players in the NFL are black, they are hugely overrepresented in the NFL - statistically speaking.

If 5% of the college us population is black (2010) and 61% of the players in ncaa basketball are black, they are hugely overrepresented in NCAA basketball - statistically speaking.

If 5% of the college us population is black and 40-55% of the players in NCAA football are black, they are hugely overrepresented in NCAA football - statistically speaking.

It is a neutral statistical term. NO ONE uses it however as a basis to complain against various sports teams.

I wonder why people are comfortable with racial differences in physical and athletic prowess but not for mental prowess. It makes no sense - as if population differentiation only happens below the neck.

It is silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why in this country everything has to be made into a racial case. Better yet, why do people think that Blacks and Hispanics are superior to other minority groups and deserving a lot more priorities and opportunities. We lived in California for a number of years and we were depressed to see how many well-rounded Asian students with decent grades are rejected by medical schools because their admissions requirements are a lot higher than other races. Why is it okay to discriminate against Asian while we preach all day long about political correctness when it comes to other races? Did we complain that Asians are under-represented in football, basketball, political circle and boardrooms?

To you Asian posters: C'mon. You are already hugely overrepresented in AAP and at TJ. Basically you're complaining that you want to be even mnore over-represented. Don't be greedy. Congratulations on your success!

why doesn't this attitude permeate to the NBA, NFL, college basketball, and college football?

why is it ok to say so and so is overrepresented in college or medical school but it isn't ok to say so-and-so is overrepresented in the NBA or alabama football?

I really don't know. I think this is a very good question.

[Anonymous]

Why is discrimination against Asian Americans ok and acceptable. Why shouldn't there be proportional representation of Asians in all facets of life? Why is over presentation of Asian (magnet school) always a problem (especially if Asians have no say in the matter and 0 influence in policy making) but under presentation is never a problem? Why the double standard?

In fact, the admission process was changed several times to increase blacks/Hispanics at TJ:

It was originally purely based on test scores and GPA from the beginning to 2006
In 2007, the process changed to "holistic" review with essays, teacher recs and SIS (subjective components) added to make the process subjective and allow admissions office wiggle room to admit more blacks/Hispanics. (This led to weaker math/science students being admitted and ultimately led to the 2011-2012 teacher protest regarding weak math students being admitted and remediation issue)
It was changed again and the different components were given designated weight in 2010 with subjective components making up 65-75% depending on how you derive the weight to further increase blacks/Hispanics
It was changed again in 2013 to make the process "holistic review" once again since ALL the tinkering to reduce Asians and increase blacks/Hispanic were not working adequately. Also, non-math/science grades were considered in the final selection (change from before) to further try to reduce Asians and increase non-Asians.

[Anonymous]

There is such a racial/ethnic disconnect with TJ Admissions despite all the efforts to reduce Asians and discrimination against Asians. There would be more Asians without such efforts.