TJ parents - would your kid do it again? Best tips for success for a positive experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be surprised but everyone knows TJ that is making these types of decisions.

Universities with many thousands of applicants don't always have their most qualified readers doing the first read. Some of them are part-timers or 22 year old new grads.

https://prepmaven.com/blog/applying/how-colleges-read-your-application-a-4-step-process/

This is correct, and those individuals are mostly charged with getting the obvious "no" candidates out of the way at each particular school. Every school receives thousands of applications per year that are non-serious, and that's what this level of reader is charged with eliminating so that the people who make the real money can handle the real applicant pool.

I would think the top schools would have a computer read the transcript and screen it that way. It would be able to distinguish between the better or worse schools. Very easy to do. I could implement this if any college is interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dont colleges know that a 4.0 (w) from TJ is equivalent to a 4.5 or so from a non -TJ HS?

The good ones do. They have a very good idea what to expect from the top high schools in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be surprised but everyone knows TJ that is making these types of decisions.

Universities with many thousands of applicants don't always have their most qualified readers doing the first read. Some of them are part-timers or 22 year old new grads.

https://prepmaven.com/blog/applying/how-colleges-read-your-application-a-4-step-process/

This is correct, and those individuals are mostly charged with getting the obvious "no" candidates out of the way at each particular school. Every school receives thousands of applications per year that are non-serious, and that's what this level of reader is charged with eliminating so that the people who make the real money can handle the real applicant pool.

I would think the top schools would have a computer read the transcript and screen it that way. It would be able to distinguish between the better or worse schools. Very easy to do. I could implement this if any college is interested.

I love it when people offer their services on an anonymous forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be surprised but everyone knows TJ that is making these types of decisions.

Universities with many thousands of applicants don't always have their most qualified readers doing the first read. Some of them are part-timers or 22 year old new grads.

https://prepmaven.com/blog/applying/how-colleges-read-your-application-a-4-step-process/

This is correct, and those individuals are mostly charged with getting the obvious "no" candidates out of the way at each particular school. Every school receives thousands of applications per year that are non-serious, and that's what this level of reader is charged with eliminating so that the people who make the real money can handle the real applicant pool.

I would think the top schools would have a computer read the transcript and screen it that way. It would be able to distinguish between the better or worse schools. Very easy to do. I could implement this if any college is interested.

I love it when people offer their services on an anonymous forum.

I could do it too if it tickles your bone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The experience is amazing but the grading is extremely tough and inspite of being the brightest kids, unfortunately it puts them at a disadvantage during Grading and then college admissions. Its a little unfair that students of regular High schools get higher grades due to relatively easier course material and grading, while the brighters ones at TJ struggle . So yes if experience is all you are looking for, its amazing. But if we had to do it all over again, no we wound not. The pressue on the kids and the impact during the college application process is not worth it

If most of the class has a 4.4+ UW GPA I wouldn't call that struggling. More like benefitting from rampant grade inflation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be surprised but everyone knows TJ that is making these types of decisions.

Universities with many thousands of applicants don't always have their most qualified readers doing the first read. Some of them are part-timers or 22 year old new grads.

https://prepmaven.com/blog/applying/how-colleges-read-your-application-a-4-step-process/

This is correct, and those individuals are mostly charged with getting the obvious "no" candidates out of the way at each particular school. Every school receives thousands of applications per year that are non-serious, and that's what this level of reader is charged with eliminating so that the people who make the real money can handle the real applicant pool.

I would think the top schools would have a computer read the transcript and screen it that way. It would be able to distinguish between the better or worse schools. Very easy to do. I could implement this if any college is interested.

I love it when people offer their services on an anonymous forum.

Would the logic be something like? `if STUDENT is a member of TJ then admin else deny`

[Anonymous]

Tj is a awesome guy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The experience is amazing but the grading is extremely tough and inspite of being the brightest kids, unfortunately it puts them at a disadvantage during Grading and then college admissions. Its a little unfair that students of regular High schools get higher grades due to relatively easier course material and grading, while the brighters ones at TJ struggle . So yes if experience is all you are looking for, its amazing. But if we had to do it all over again, no we wound not. The pressue on the kids and the impact during the college application process is not worth it

Is it really a disadvantage? People are so focused on getting perfect GPAs but as someone in higher ed I can tell you that if a student even attempts certain courses and gets an ok grade, that is better than easy As or perfect GPA at a school known for easy grading.

[Anonymous]

Another family who would not do it again. We did not let younger sibling even apply to TJ (even though sibling was in precalc in 8th grade). Stuck with base school and couldn’t be happier.

TJ is for the quirky kids but it also attracts lots of quirky teachers. We struggled with a lot of the teachers. Assumed kids were smart and could teach themselves. One math teacher only demonstrated about 6 math problems for a whole quarter. No thanks - don’t need to feed into the “prestige” of TJ while paying $$$ for tutors to actually teach the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sports, extracurriculars, and fun stuff are the nice part, but GPA does matter in the end. As long as the student manages to maintain above average GPA (above 4.3 weighted) that would take care of college admissions aspect somewhat. If it drops below 4.0 weighted which it does for bottom couple of hundred kids, the competitive college prospects are miserable.

What does 4.3 translate to- all As except how many Bs and B+. Not asking for exact, but guessing maybe 3-5 so that means all A with 3-5 Bs outs kid in middle to bottom of pack?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, extracurriculars, and fun stuff are the nice part, but GPA does matter in the end. As long as the student manages to maintain above average GPA (above 4.3 weighted) that would take care of college admissions aspect somewhat. If it drops below 4.0 weighted which it does for bottom couple of hundred kids, the competitive college prospects are miserable.

What does 4.3 translate to- all As except how many Bs and B+. Not asking for exact, but guessing maybe 3-5 so that means all A with 3-5 Bs outs kid in middle to bottom of pack?

FWIW DC is junior year and has a 4.3. She’s gotten all As to date. She just hasn’t “worked the system” to max every possible AP opportunity for the GPA plus points (as in does band, a langauge, just one science a year vs multiple ones). Doing AP Calc BC and AP Pyshics this year so isn’t coasting but the kids with super high GPAs mainly get them through strategically maxing the APs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another family who would not do it again. We did not let younger sibling even apply to TJ (even though sibling was in precalc in 8th grade). Stuck with base school and couldn’t be happier.

TJ is for the quirky kids but it also attracts lots of quirky teachers. We struggled with a lot of the teachers. Assumed kids were smart and could teach themselves. One math teacher only demonstrated about 6 math problems for a whole quarter. No thanks - don’t need to feed into the “prestige” of TJ while paying $$$ for tutors to actually teach the kids.

I think you are exaggerating a bit there.. what do you think students do for the whole math period if the teacher doesn't teach, as you claim? Many motivated high schoolers (certainly TJ attendees), are definitely capable of teaching themselves, by reading the assigned book material or course notes, looking things up online, or asking teachers for help when stuck. These are some of the most important skills for students to learn well before heading to college.

If you had to pay $$$ for tutors for your older child, it might mean that they may not have been ready to learn at a TJ/college pace. Or maybe they were pushed too far ahead, too quickly. Your younger sibling seems to be very accelerated if they're doing precalc in 8th grade. If I see this level of acceleration as a parent, I would definitely want to make sure that they have learned the material well without gaps. Here's another question: If your younger sibling took precalc in 8th, what math classes will they take and what will they learn at their base high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family who would not do it again. We did not let younger sibling even apply to TJ (even though sibling was in precalc in 8th grade). Stuck with base school and couldn’t be happier.

TJ is for the quirky kids but it also attracts lots of quirky teachers. We struggled with a lot of the teachers. Assumed kids were smart and could teach themselves. One math teacher only demonstrated about 6 math problems for a whole quarter. No thanks - don’t need to feed into the “prestige” of TJ while paying $$$ for tutors to actually teach the kids.

I think you are exaggerating a bit there.. what do you think students do for the whole math period if the teacher doesn't teach, as you claim? Many motivated high schoolers (certainly TJ attendees), are definitely capable of teaching themselves, by reading the assigned book material or course notes, looking things up online, or asking teachers for help when stuck. These are some of the most important skills for students to learn well before heading to college.

If you had to pay $$$ for tutors for your older child, it might mean that they may not have been ready to learn at a TJ/college pace. Or maybe they were pushed too far ahead, too quickly. Your younger sibling seems to be very accelerated if they're doing precalc in 8th grade. If I see this level of acceleration as a parent, I would definitely want to make sure that they have learned the material well without gaps. Here's another question: If your younger sibling took precalc in 8th, what math classes will they take and what will they learn at their base high school?

+1000

It is complete nonsense when people say math teachers dont teach at TJ. It is the exact opposite. They are incredible teachers because they encourage students to discover mathematical concepts by themselves by asking questions instead of showing them how to solve a problem. That is precisely the strength of TJ.

This takes a lot of effort on the teachers part. Many are used to the Curie style of giving an example problem first and then asking students to do variations on that problem. Which teaches speed and accuracy but little actual understanding.

That is why so many parents who put their child at Curie complain "they dont teach math". It is a near certainty that the parent above put their child in Curie. This is so predictable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family who would not do it again. We did not let younger sibling even apply to TJ (even though sibling was in precalc in 8th grade). Stuck with base school and couldn’t be happier.

TJ is for the quirky kids but it also attracts lots of quirky teachers. We struggled with a lot of the teachers. Assumed kids were smart and could teach themselves. One math teacher only demonstrated about 6 math problems for a whole quarter. No thanks - don’t need to feed into the “prestige” of TJ while paying $$$ for tutors to actually teach the kids.

I think you are exaggerating a bit there.. what do you think students do for the whole math period if the teacher doesn't teach, as you claim? Many motivated high schoolers (certainly TJ attendees), are definitely capable of teaching themselves, by reading the assigned book material or course notes, looking things up online, or asking teachers for help when stuck. These are some of the most important skills for students to learn well before heading to college.

If you had to pay $$$ for tutors for your older child, it might mean that they may not have been ready to learn at a TJ/college pace. Or maybe they were pushed too far ahead, too quickly. Your younger sibling seems to be very accelerated if they're doing precalc in 8th grade. If I see this level of acceleration as a parent, I would definitely want to make sure that they have learned the material well without gaps. Here's another question: If your younger sibling took precalc in 8th, what math classes will they take and what will they learn at their base high school?

BS.
New PP here (although I posted last year in the thread when it started about DC being willing to do it again)...out of the 3 math teachers so far that DC has had, 1 was great - he actually taught. The other 2 just leave the kids to teach themselves.

The PP comments about 6 problems in a quarter seemed very familiar with the present teacher DC has. My guess was it's Calc. That teacher also hasn't entered ANY grades in SIS since literally mid-November.

Many teachers have been great. But Freshman and Jr math teachers have been very bad, and so is a science teacher DC has this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm no sure.

If your kid is likely to win national science fairs or international math competitions, go for it.

If your kid is just really smart, they might be better off being at the top of their base high school. Life will be more relaxed for the whole family.

At TJ my kid was a NMSF but was one of about 150. While she would have been at star elsewhere, she was middle of the pack at TJ.

Yeah this is something we realized. For one kid TJ is absolutely the best place, but for our 2nd kid base HS is a much better fit.

Even for kids where TJ isn't the right fit, it can be good to have had later in life. Even if the kid isn't at a top college, the study habits you have to develop there make that mid-tier college a breeze, which sets you up well for a normal white collar UMC life after college. Believe it or not, that's good enough for most people.

This. Do not choose this school if you think you will automatically get into an Ivy. But if your kid wants to have challenging work, amazing learning opportunities, a driven peer group, and develop work habits that will help them long term, TJ is the place for them. DC thinks if they were at their base school, they might not have learned to work as hard. Some kids at TJ are legit genius level but from what I can see, most are just committed (or resigned) to the grind.

My kid is much more mature than I was in high school. After seeing the workload, I would have gone running back to the base school with my tail between my legs.