Seeking TJHSST moms' advice

[Anonymous]

The culture at TJ is a bit rough. It is majority tiger Asians and that can be grating. It is not a culture that emphasizes social Qs by any means. And the atmosphere is quite racist. If you are comfortable with your cauc DC being the butt of every bigot joke as a learning experience and they have a very thick skin, then go for it. A trip to Inight will give you a sense of the culture, but Inight tickets are very hard to get as they sell out instantly. You really get to see the tiger culture at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are definite pluses and minus to TJ. For a STEM education in a public school, you cannot get that education anywhere else in FCPS. It is very difficult and demanding however, even for a smart kid -- everyone is "smart" at TJ. It takes a lot of time to do all of the homework that is assigned. So many weekends and even breaks are consumed by that. Four years of locked in the room with the homework followed by your DC leaving the nest for college may not be what you want for your family.

The bolded does not happen with kids for whom TJ is a good fit. My child and most of his friends at TJ have had time to do sports all year and many of them have a second non-academic extracurricular. Lots of kids do music or theatre and I know of a few girls involved in high-level dance programs.

If a kid needs to spend every out-of-school minute doing homework or studying, then TJ is not a good fit for that kid. If my kid had that much trouble with the homework that he was locked in his room doing homework every night and weekends, I would have transferred him back to his regular school.

[Anonymous]

My son was admitted to TJ, we didn't send him to any prep classes, but wanted to see if he has the potential. We are very proud of him, but we are also weighing the option of our base high school. Bottom line, to have a well rounded, confident, and happy child is our goal. We told him not to let fame or pride overwhelms him, but also not being fearful about a not so perfect report card. Going to the best high school in the nation is an accomplishment, but it does not mean that the kid is superior than regular high school students. Same time, learning is not simply getting perfect grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are definite pluses and minus to TJ. For a STEM education in a public school, you cannot get that education anywhere else in FCPS. It is very difficult and demanding however, even for a smart kid -- everyone is "smart" at TJ. It takes a lot of time to do all of the homework that is assigned. So many weekends and even breaks are consumed by that. Four years of locked in the room with the homework followed by your DC leaving the nest for college may not be what you want for your family.

The bolded does not happen with kids for whom TJ is a good fit. My child and most of his friends at TJ have had time to do sports all year and many of them have a second non-academic extracurricular. Lots of kids do music or theatre and I know of a few girls involved in high-level dance programs.

If a kid needs to spend every out-of-school minute doing homework or studying, then TJ is not a good fit for that kid. If my kid had that much trouble with the homework that he was locked in his room doing homework every night and weekends, I would have transferred him back to his regular school.

signed, Didn't get accepted, don't know anything about TJ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son was admitted to TJ, we didn't send him to any prep classes, but wanted to see if he has the potential. We are very proud of him, but we are also weighing the option of our base high school. Bottom line, to have a well rounded, confident, and happy child is our goal. We told him not to let fame or pride overwhelms him, but also not being fearful about a not so perfect report card. Going to the best high school in the nation is an accomplishment, but it does not mean that the kid is superior than regular high school students. Same time, learning is not simply getting perfect grade.

PP, believe it about the homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son was admitted to TJ, we didn't send him to any prep classes, but wanted to see if he has the potential. We are very proud of him, but we are also weighing the option of our base high school. Bottom line, to have a well rounded, confident, and happy child is our goal. We told him not to let fame or pride overwhelms him, but also not being fearful about a not so perfect report card. Going to the best high school in the nation is an accomplishment, but it does not mean that the kid is superior than regular high school students. Same time, learning is not simply getting perfect grade.

PP, believe it about the homework.

My kid graduated from TJ recently. There is lot of studying at TJ but also lot of fun and activities as well. TJ kids definitely learn a lot and they are also well prepared for rigors of college. It is odd that parents clamor to put their kids into AAP saying my kid is bored/not challenged but also try to paint TJ as all work and no play with nothing but HW and studying. The kids will definitely be challenged and be surrounded by other kids who want to learn as well and, have opportunities to get involved in sports, drama, music, art and many other clubs and activities. For example, I think they have the largest Model UN club in the area if not in the country with some 170+ members and they have 5 or 6 different debate clubs with hundred of students participating.

The most prominent attraction as you walk in to the school is the new art gallery displaying various art work by the students. In fact, it will be easier to make the sport teams, drama productions and other academic teams etc. since all of them are open to all TJ students as opposed to some base schools. They will also get to use the state of the art equipments in the 13 advanced labs that were recently renovated as well as other cool facilities.

And, there is no bullying, drugs, alcohol, partying, violence, drama etc. that I have seen or virtually non-existent. Like others have said, TJ is not the right place if one just wants to get straight As but it is a nice place to really learn from competent teachers with expertise in the subject matter and have a great high school experience without the usual negative distractions of high school.

[Anonymous]

My son is a freshman in TJ. He is really enjoying. He is in sports and participated in inite and is participating in many clubs. So many people in this group hate TJ for no reason. TJ is No.1 high school in the country for a reason. It is a STEM school and kids should be interested in STEM. People want to have their kids go to the best high school in the country and do very little home work and don't have to study hard and have time to go on weekend trips all the time. That won't work. They do have time to go on weekend trips but not every weekend. They do need to study hard and for that matter you need to study even harder in other high schools if you want to do well and get into very good colleges. If you are interested in STEM field and wants to work hard to really learn science, computer science and others then TJ is the place to go. There are many STEM labs that are not available in any other high schools. If you are not interested in STEM or if you don't want to work hard and have parties all the time then TJ is not the place. It is as simple as that. Other things you need to make it happen. There is no point in bashing TJ just because your child is not interested or you are not interested in making your kids work hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is a freshman in TJ. He is really enjoying. He is in sports and participated in inite and is participating in many clubs. So many people in this group hate TJ for no reason. TJ is No.1 high school in the country for a reason. It is a STEM school and kids should be interested in STEM. People want to have their kids go to the best high school in the country and do very little home work and don't have to study hard and have time to go on weekend trips all the time. That won't work. They do have time to go on weekend trips but not every weekend. They do need to study hard and for that matter you need to study even harder in other high schools if you want to do well and get into very good colleges. If you are interested in STEM field and wants to work hard to really learn science, computer science and others then TJ is the place to go. There are many STEM labs that are not available in any other high schools. If you are not interested in STEM or if you don't want to work hard and have parties all the time then TJ is not the place. It is as simple as that. Other things you need to make it happen. There is no point in bashing TJ just because your child is not interested or you are not interested in making your kids work hard.

Do most TJ kids end up at UVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a freshman in TJ. He is really enjoying. He is in sports and participated in inite and is participating in many clubs. So many people in this group hate TJ for no reason. TJ is No.1 high school in the country for a reason. It is a STEM school and kids should be interested in STEM. People want to have their kids go to the best high school in the country and do very little home work and don't have to study hard and have time to go on weekend trips all the time. That won't work. They do have time to go on weekend trips but not every weekend. They do need to study hard and for that matter you need to study even harder in other high schools if you want to do well and get into very good colleges. If you are interested in STEM field and wants to work hard to really learn science, computer science and others then TJ is the place to go. There are many STEM labs that are not available in any other high schools. If you are not interested in STEM or if you don't want to work hard and have parties all the time then TJ is not the place. It is as simple as that. Other things you need to make it happen. There is no point in bashing TJ just because your child is not interested or you are not interested in making your kids work hard.

Do most TJ kids end up at UVA?

About 200 are accepted and about 100 choose to enroll.

[Anonymous]

I looked at last year's data. 1/3 of TJ goes to ivy leagues. Rest of them split between good private schools, UVA and other state schools. Lot of kids who go to UVA also get scholarships or atleast 1/3 tuition scholarship etc.

[Anonymous]

So is it not true that it is harder to get into Uva from TJ than from another FCPS high school? I hear rumors that there are UVA quotas per high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are definite pluses and minus to TJ. For a STEM education in a public school, you cannot get that education anywhere else in FCPS. It is very difficult and demanding however, even for a smart kid -- everyone is "smart" at TJ. It takes a lot of time to do all of the homework that is assigned. So many weekends and even breaks are consumed by that. Four years of locked in the room with the homework followed by your DC leaving the nest for college may not be what you want for your family.

The bolded does not happen with kids for whom TJ is a good fit. My child and most of his friends at TJ have had time to do sports all year and many of them have a second non-academic extracurricular. Lots of kids do music or theatre and I know of a few girls involved in high-level dance programs.

If a kid needs to spend every out-of-school minute doing homework or studying, then TJ is not a good fit for that kid. If my kid had that much trouble with the homework that he was locked in his room doing homework every night and weekends, I would have transferred him back to his regular school.

signed, Didn't get accepted, don't know anything about TJ

Hmm, well, I didn't get accepted to TJ since it didn't exist in its present form when I was in high school, but my child did and so I have been through the four years there as a parent and an active volunteer. I've known a number of kids there over the past few years and have also spent time talking to the teachers there.

Truly, if a kid needs to spend every single second out of school studying and has no time at all for non-academic extracurriculars, TJ is just not a good fit for that kid and he would be better off and probably learn more by being a well-rounded student at the regular high school. Northern Virginia has many very good high schools, so it is not like a kid who leaves TJ will be set adrift with no good prospects at his regular high school.

The kids for whom TJ is a good fit will work very hard, but they will also have time for sports, music, drama, art, dance, or any other outside activity they enjoy. Kids this age need to be doing a variety of activities: that's how they learn to be good adults. Kids who are a good fit for TJ will not need to be locked into their rooms studying for four years. I kow this from personal experience with my child and many of his friends at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are definite pluses and minus to TJ. For a STEM education in a public school, you cannot get that education anywhere else in FCPS. It is very difficult and demanding however, even for a smart kid -- everyone is "smart" at TJ. It takes a lot of time to do all of the homework that is assigned. So many weekends and even breaks are consumed by that. Four years of locked in the room with the homework followed by your DC leaving the nest for college may not be what you want for your family.

The bolded does not happen with kids for whom TJ is a good fit. My child and most of his friends at TJ have had time to do sports all year and many of them have a second non-academic extracurricular. Lots of kids do music or theatre and I know of a few girls involved in high-level dance programs.

If a kid needs to spend every out-of-school minute doing homework or studying, then TJ is not a good fit for that kid. If my kid had that much trouble with the homework that he was locked in his room doing homework every night and weekends, I would have transferred him back to his regular school.

signed, Didn't get accepted, don't know anything about TJ

Hmm, well, I didn't get accepted to TJ since it didn't exist in its present form when I was in high school, but my child did and so I have been through the four years there as a parent and an active volunteer. I've known a number of kids there over the past few years and have also spent time talking to the teachers there.

Truly, if a kid needs to spend every single second out of school studying and has no time at all for non-academic extracurriculars, TJ is just not a good fit for that kid and he would be better off and probably learn more by being a well-rounded student at the regular high school. Northern Virginia has many very good high schools, so it is not like a kid who leaves TJ will be set adrift with no good prospects at his regular high school.

The kids for whom TJ is a good fit will work very hard, but they will also have time for sports, music, drama, art, dance, or any other outside activity they enjoy. Kids this age need to be doing a variety of activities: that's how they learn to be good adults. Kids who are a good fit for TJ will not need to be locked into their rooms studying for four years. I kow this from personal experience with my child and many of his friends at TJ.

True, my child participated in 5 activities/clubs and graduated with all As from TJ so it is possible to perform well academically and engage in various activities at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I looked at last year's data. 1/3 of TJ goes to ivy leagues. Rest of them split between good private schools, UVA and other state schools. Lot of kids who go to UVA also get scholarships or atleast 1/3 tuition scholarship etc.

Wrong. Not even close. But a TJ kid with a weighted 4.4 GPA has a much better chance of getting into an Ivy than a kid from our base school with the same GPA. Colleges recognize that TJ is more challenging and give applicants credit for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I looked at last year's data. 1/3 of TJ goes to ivy leagues. Rest of them split between good private schools, UVA and other state schools. Lot of kids who go to UVA also get scholarships or atleast 1/3 tuition scholarship etc.

Wrong. Not even close. But a TJ kid with a weighted 4.4 GPA has a much better chance of getting into an Ivy than a kid from our base school with the same GPA. Colleges recognize that TJ is more challenging and give applicants credit for that.

About 1/3 goes to Ivy and Ivy caliber schools such as Chicago, Duke, Berkeley, Northwestern, MIT, Michigan, Stanford etc.