Just as many (likely more) smart, motivated kids in NOVA as DC and MD, so why the VA private school contempt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every single kid at TJ easily holds his or her own the the best privates in DC and Maryland. And each graduating class at TJ is as Big as the Big 3 graduating classes combined. And it’s free. Between that and Potomac NOVA is served just fine.

TJ kids are great at taking tests, but would not survive socially at the top privates. They don’t focus on social skills at TJ.

That’s funny.

I do a bunch of interviewing for my college and in general I find the TJ kids brilliant but socially awkward

The ones I've had were really interesting and well-spoken. I interviewed one this cycle that had a really unusual extracurricular that we talked a lot about.

Perhaps the other interviewer’s preconceptions and attitude come through when they interview and students just don’t like them. Seems likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every single kid at TJ easily holds his or her own the the best privates in DC and Maryland. And each graduating class at TJ is as Big as the Big 3 graduating classes combined. And it’s free. Between that and Potomac NOVA is served just fine.

TJ kids are great at taking tests, but would not survive socially at the top privates. They don’t focus on social skills at TJ.

That’s funny.

I do a bunch of interviewing for my college and in general I find the TJ kids brilliant but socially awkward

Alumni interviewers are pathetic losers whose input is inconsequential to the admissions process. Colleges allow it only for alumni relations, and alumni do it only to feel important and relive what they think are their glory days.

You sound like an angry TJ parent who also has no social skills. Sorry your kid won’t get into an Ivy because they never learned how to make eye contact with an adult

Lol you couldn’t be more wrong. None of my kids went to TJ. They’re smart, but not THAT smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every single kid at TJ easily holds his or her own the the best privates in DC and Maryland. And each graduating class at TJ is as Big as the Big 3 graduating classes combined. And it’s free. Between that and Potomac NOVA is served just fine.

TJ kids are great at taking tests, but would not survive socially at the top privates. They don’t focus on social skills at TJ.

That’s funny.

I do a bunch of interviewing for my college and in general I find the TJ kids brilliant but socially awkward

Alumni interviewers are pathetic losers whose input is inconsequential to the admissions process. Colleges allow it only for alumni relations, and alumni do it only to feel important and relive what they think are their glory days.

You sound like an angry TJ parent who also has no social skills. Sorry your kid won’t get into an Ivy because they never learned how to make eye contact with an adult

Hit a nerve, I see.


Well, everyone sees it.

NP.

I think I'll be ok. I'll continue to give the TJ kids who stare at their shoes while chewing their fingernails a "do not admit" after our interviews. Maybe one will get through with this in their file but it hasn't happened yet.

And here’s the thing: the Admissions Committee won’t give a flying f_ck what you think. Your “do not admit” will be ignored. Because AdComs don’t care about alumni interviews.

You’re like a high school football star in a small town who can’t move on and has to relive his glory days in the local bar. You went to a great college when you were barely an adult. Is that the best you’re ever gonna be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every single kid at TJ easily holds his or her own the the best privates in DC and Maryland. And each graduating class at TJ is as Big as the Big 3 graduating classes combined. And it’s free. Between that and Potomac NOVA is served just fine.

TJ kids are great at taking tests, but would not survive socially at the top privates. They don’t focus on social skills at TJ.

That’s funny.

I do a bunch of interviewing for my college and in general I find the TJ kids brilliant but socially awkward

Alumni interviewers are pathetic losers whose input is inconsequential to the admissions process. Colleges allow it only for alumni relations, and alumni do it only to feel important and relive what they think are their glory days.

You sound like an angry TJ parent who also has no social skills. Sorry your kid won’t get into an Ivy because they never learned how to make eye contact with an adult

Hit a nerve, I see.


Well, everyone sees it.

NP.

I think I'll be ok. I'll continue to give the TJ kids who stare at their shoes while chewing their fingernails a "do not admit" after our interviews. Maybe one will get through with this in their file but it hasn't happened yet.

Dude, check yourself. Spewing such petty meanness is uncalled for. If you are an alumni interviewer, please realize that you are clearly prejudiced against TJ kids and try to correct for that. Stop being a jerk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We wanted a Jesuit high school. NoVA doesn’t have one.

NoVA has massive catholic high schools. The space for a Jesuit school to thrive is narrow- catholic parents who prefer it to avoid schools (and pay far more to do so) under the diocese or non-catholic parents who want a jesuit school. To the extent these parents exist, they are already sending their kids to Jesuit high schools in DC

FYI There is only on Jesuit high school in DC (Gonzaga).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We wanted a Jesuit high school. NoVA doesn’t have one.

NoVA has massive catholic high schools. The space for a Jesuit school to thrive is narrow- catholic parents who prefer it to avoid schools (and pay far more to do so) under the diocese or non-catholic parents who want a jesuit school. To the extent these parents exist, they are already sending their kids to Jesuit high schools in DC

FYI There is only on Jesuit high school in DC (Gonzaga).

*one

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids have to go to private school somewhere. Most families do not want to schlep across the bridge to DC or MD. That leaves a small handful of private high schools for these kids. So why are Potomac, Madeira, Episcopal, etc always either dismissed or treated with disdain? These schools have incredible facilities, academics and college placement.

What's up with the MD and DC snobbery?

And don't tell me they're all in FCPS, because that is just not true. FCPS is just as bad as MCPS or DCPS.

Because you can say that the sole reason you are going to private school from DCPS is academics with a straight face. Traditionally, it's a lot harder to say the same thing coming from NoVA or MoCo. The Virginia schools are great ways for wealthy parents to send their kids to a school where they will mingle with other kids who have wealthy parents, but highest level academics are at the public schools.

You must not be familiar with the clown show that FCPS has become; it’s a failing public school system and no parent with means sends their children to FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids have to go to private school somewhere. Most families do not want to schlep across the bridge to DC or MD. That leaves a small handful of private high schools for these kids. So why are Potomac, Madeira, Episcopal, etc always either dismissed or treated with disdain? These schools have incredible facilities, academics and college placement.

What's up with the MD and DC snobbery?

And don't tell me they're all in FCPS, because that is just not true. FCPS is just as bad as MCPS or DCPS.

Because you can say that the sole reason you are going to private school from DCPS is academics with a straight face. Traditionally, it's a lot harder to say the same thing coming from NoVA or MoCo. The Virginia schools are great ways for wealthy parents to send their kids to a school where they will mingle with other kids who have wealthy parents, but highest level academics are at the public schools.

You must not be familiar with the clown show that FCPS has become; it’s a failing public school system and no parent with means sends their children to FCPS.

We must have vary differing views of what constitutes means

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The really smart kids in NoVa are at TJ.

LOL. Some of them. Two of ours got into TJ, but opted for Big3s. Some of their friends did the same — or Big10s — others went to boarding schools like Andover, Exeter, Choate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids have to go to private school somewhere. Most families do not want to schlep across the bridge to DC or MD. That leaves a small handful of private high schools for these kids. So why are Potomac, Madeira, Episcopal, etc always either dismissed or treated with disdain? These schools have incredible facilities, academics and college placement.

What's up with the MD and DC snobbery?

And don't tell me they're all in FCPS, because that is just not true. FCPS is just as bad as MCPS or DCPS.

Because you can say that the sole reason you are going to private school from DCPS is academics with a straight face. Traditionally, it's a lot harder to say the same thing coming from NoVA or MoCo. The Virginia schools are great ways for wealthy parents to send their kids to a school where they will mingle with other kids who have wealthy parents, but highest level academics are at the public schools.

You must not be familiar with the clown show that FCPS has become; it’s a failing public school system and no parent with means sends their children to FCPS.

Please say more about what’s wrong with FCPS. I’m considering leaving private for FCPS but just starting my process of learning more about FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids have to go to private school somewhere. Most families do not want to schlep across the bridge to DC or MD. That leaves a small handful of private high schools for these kids. So why are Potomac, Madeira, Episcopal, etc always either dismissed or treated with disdain? These schools have incredible facilities, academics and college placement.

What's up with the MD and DC snobbery?

And don't tell me they're all in FCPS, because that is just not true. FCPS is just as bad as MCPS or DCPS.

Because you can say that the sole reason you are going to private school from DCPS is academics with a straight face. Traditionally, it's a lot harder to say the same thing coming from NoVA or MoCo. The Virginia schools are great ways for wealthy parents to send their kids to a school where they will mingle with other kids who have wealthy parents, but highest level academics are at the public schools.

You must not be familiar with the clown show that FCPS has become; it’s a failing public school system and no parent with means sends their children to FCPS.

Please say more about what’s wrong with FCPS. I’m considering leaving private for FCPS but just starting my process of learning more about FCPS.

Well don't listen to that poster, for goodness' sake!

There's a reason that there aren't many privates in Nova. OP noticed a real thing, but couldn't figure out why. It's because the public schools, especially the FCPS high schools, are very good to excellent. No need or desire for private school.