TJ Admissions

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:After admissions change, apparently students are no longer tested in middle school math, science and English? I hear they are given just one problem to solve, and asked to write character essays. And that's it. How can they evaluate and differentiate applicant skills with just one problem? Even elementary school math tests have more than one problem on a quiz.

There is one moderately difficult math question. Last year it was one of those "if a train leaves chicago at 2 pm" type questions.
They end up with something approximating a cross section of the applicant pool.
A lot of students return to their base school.
If you look at the demographics of the graduating class, it is still more diverse than in previous COVID years but not nearly as diverse as the freshman classes.

before and even after admissions change, the top half with higher GPA and rigorous courses is still dominated by same ethnicity. Diversity is all in lower half. Why?

This is true at many schools.
Now it is true at TJ too.

This is a democracy and SCOTUS refused to hear the case.
Just like we tell other people to study harder, I would tell asians, get more political.
Once you are politically relevant, your children will be too.

Getting more political may or may not be a good idea - but better reading comprehension would definitely be!

Asians are still the largest demographic and the majority of TJ students and the largest beneficiaries of the changes were low-income Asians. Nevertheless, admissions reflect applications and applications reflect interest. The various demographics groups were admitted within 1% or 2% point difference which indicates the race-blind process is indeed race blind. Bottom line is this program has greater appeal for Asians. Other groups don't appear to be as keen on it.

The largest demographic beneficiaries were white kids.

On average, classes have had ~27 more white students and ~60 more URMs, which was a huge % increase, more than 200% jump.



More importantly, we’ve seen representation from all middle schools and kids from lower-income families. In fact, per the courts, the students who benefited the most were Asian from low-income families.
https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/221280.P.pdf pg 16
"Nevertheless, in the 2021 application cycle, Asian American students attending middle schools historically underrepresented at TJ saw a sixfold increase in offers, and the number of low-income Asian American admittees to TJ increased to 51 — from a mere one in 2020."

TJ is not just a school for wealthy kids from feeder schools. Or wealthy kids who gained an unfair advantage because their families could afford to get access to previous test questions on an NDA-protected test.

You're messing with the data set but even with your selection, you'd have to be blind not to see the lopsided effect of the change.

If wealth were the driver, once again, white kids wouldn't need this to boost their admissions.

It’s not just wealth. It’s wealth plus laser focus on STEM/TJ.

Most white kids DGAF about TJ.

Most white kids don't stand a chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After admissions change, apparently students are no longer tested in middle school math, science and English? I hear they are given just one problem to solve, and asked to write character essays. And that's it. How can they evaluate and differentiate applicant skills with just one problem? Even elementary school math tests have more than one problem on a quiz.

There is one moderately difficult math question. Last year it was one of those "if a train leaves chicago at 2 pm" type questions.
They end up with something approximating a cross section of the applicant pool.
A lot of students return to their base school.
If you look at the demographics of the graduating class, it is still more diverse than in previous COVID years but not nearly as diverse as the freshman classes.

before and even after admissions change, the top half with higher GPA and rigorous courses is still dominated by same ethnicity. Diversity is all in lower half. Why?

This is true at many schools.
Now it is true at TJ too.

This is a democracy and SCOTUS refused to hear the case.
Just like we tell other people to study harder, I would tell asians, get more political.
Once you are politically relevant, your children will be too.

Getting more political may or may not be a good idea - but better reading comprehension would definitely be!

Asians are still the largest demographic and the majority of TJ students and the largest beneficiaries of the changes were low-income Asians. Nevertheless, admissions reflect applications and applications reflect interest. The various demographics groups were admitted within 1% or 2% point difference which indicates the race-blind process is indeed race blind. Bottom line is this program has greater appeal for Asians. Other groups don't appear to be as keen on it.

The largest demographic beneficiaries were white kids.

On average, classes have had ~27 more white students and ~60 more URMs, which was a huge % increase, more than 200% jump.



More importantly, we’ve seen representation from all middle schools and kids from lower-income families. In fact, per the courts, the students who benefited the most were Asian from low-income families.
https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/221280.P.pdf pg 16
"Nevertheless, in the 2021 application cycle, Asian American students attending middle schools historically underrepresented at TJ saw a sixfold increase in offers, and the number of low-income Asian American admittees to TJ increased to 51 — from a mere one in 2020."

TJ is not just a school for wealthy kids from feeder schools. Or wealthy kids who gained an unfair advantage because their families could afford to get access to previous test questions on an NDA-protected test.

You're messing with the data set but even with your selection, you'd have to be blind not to see the lopsided effect of the change.

If wealth were the driver, once again, white kids wouldn't need this to boost their admissions.

It’s not just wealth. It’s wealth plus laser focus on STEM/TJ.

Most white kids DGAF about TJ.

Most white kids don't stand a chance.

Neither do most asian kids. Just saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After admissions change, apparently students are no longer tested in middle school math, science and English? I hear they are given just one problem to solve, and asked to write character essays. And that's it. How can they evaluate and differentiate applicant skills with just one problem? Even elementary school math tests have more than one problem on a quiz.

There is one moderately difficult math question. Last year it was one of those "if a train leaves chicago at 2 pm" type questions.
They end up with something approximating a cross section of the applicant pool.
A lot of students return to their base school.
If you look at the demographics of the graduating class, it is still more diverse than in previous COVID years but not nearly as diverse as the freshman classes.

before and even after admissions change, the top half with higher GPA and rigorous courses is still dominated by same ethnicity. Diversity is all in lower half. Why?

This wasn't really true before the admissions change.

You are mistaken. Here is a glance at how the first class admitted after admissions change is performing.

https://patch.com/virginia/oldtownalexandria/seniors-alexandria-schools-named-national-merit-semifinalists

When TJ admitted students based on merit using a through and indepth entrance test in math, english, and science, TJ always had about 160+ students on NMSF list every year. With the race quota based admissions disguised as geo-location quota, the NMSF number has fallen to 81 this year. This is one of many data points that highlight the decline in merit resulting from changes to TJ admissions.

All the admissions change did was replace the bottom half of the TJ class with diversity students which otherwise would have been filled with merit students.

[Anonymous]

30% of the TJ NMSF this year are non Asian. So ironically the decline came from the new Asian students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:30% of the TJ NMSF this year are non Asian. So ironically the decline came from the new Asian students.

Not really. Overwhelming majority 80% are Asian! Without including them, this list would be down to teens, or single digits like the other schools mentioned. Now and before, Asian students are and have been shouldering the ranking and TJ reputation, and FCPS will proudly mention their names again in their news release.

If Asian students are excluded altogether, where would TJ rank? and would any student want to attend then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:30% of the TJ NMSF this year are non Asian. So ironically the decline came from the new Asian students.

Not really. Overwhelming majority 80% are Asian! Without including them, this list would be down to teens, or single digits like the other schools mentioned. Now and before, Asian students are and have been shouldering the ranking and TJ reputation, and FCPS will proudly mention their names again in their news release.

If Asian students are excluded altogether, where would TJ rank? and would any student want to attend then?

You can say that at 95% of high schools in Anerica now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:30% of the TJ NMSF this year are non Asian. So ironically the decline came from the new Asian students.

So in proportion to their representation at TJ now. Think the current seniors have about 70% Asians; 30% others

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:30% of the TJ NMSF this year are non Asian. So ironically the decline came from the new Asian students.

So in proportion to their representation at TJ now. Think the current seniors have about 70% Asians; 30% others

No I don't think so. It was 70% under the old system. With the new admission rules, it was less. I can't remember exactly, but maybe around 55 to 60%.

[Anonymous]

Previously, entire class was mostly chosen on merit basis, and the struggling students were limited to a small percent. Now, entire class is chosen on a non-merit random basis that results in even distribution across all talent levels, with a half merit oriented and other half left to struggle. The random selection now includes Asian students of lower talent while more advanced Asian students have been excluded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Previously, entire class was mostly chosen on merit basis, and the struggling students were limited to a small percent. Now, entire class is chosen on a non-merit random basis that results in even distribution across all talent levels, with a half merit oriented and other half left to struggle. The random selection now includes Asian students of lower talent while more advanced Asian students have been excluded.

80+ is pretty impressive for a class that has "even distribution across all talents levels".

[Anonymous]

LoL. The new admissions are supposedly so fantastic that the previous track record of 160+ merit semifinalists count was going to rise 300+ with the sob story essay admissions, not go south to 80+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LoL. The new admissions are supposedly so fantastic that the previous track record of 160+ merit semifinalists count was going to rise 300+ with the sob story essay admissions, not go south to 80+.

You live in a fantasy world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LoL. The new admissions are supposedly so fantastic that the previous track record of 160+ merit semifinalists count was going to rise 300+ with the sob story essay admissions, not go south to 80+.

Anyone know how many of the 81 kids are in from the Froshmore batch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LoL. The new admissions are supposedly so fantastic that the previous track record of 160+ merit semifinalists count was going to rise 300+ with the sob story essay admissions, not go south to 80+.

Anyone know how many of the 81 kids are in from the Froshmore batch?

A bunch of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LoL. The new admissions are supposedly so fantastic that the previous track record of 160+ merit semifinalists count was going to rise 300+ with the sob story essay admissions, not go south to 80+.

Now you should be able to sleep nice and sound since your point proven right! and when your kid sob story didn’t make them get it means you are lucky since TJ is a dumpster fire now.
Now leave us who is still enjoying TJ alone, how about that.. sound like a deal?