Why is getting into TJ such a big deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to the TJ equivalent in my state, and it’s not just about where you end up. I mean, there are only so many jobs one can end up end. We all regress to the mean. Having experiences like going to a high school with other kids who think like you and are quirky like you for the first time in your life can be a life-changing experience, in ways other than what job you end up with — it helped me figure out who I am, helped teach me how to think, helped me figure out my career path. After high school I went to UVA for undergrad (so nothing all that special) and then Yale Law (more special, but not tech) and then have had prestigious jobs but I’m not a Supreme Court justice.

There are few if any “TJ equivalents.” I doubt your school was.

There are several in NYC only.

There are several "TJ aspirants" in NYC - Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, BASIS Brooklyn - but there are no TJ equivalents. To be fair, that's about as close as you can get.

The schools that end up rated in the same area as TJ, like TAG, Gwinnett, Academic Magnet SC and others, are too small to really be considered TJ equivalents. What makes TJ so special isn't necessarily the curriculum or even the resources - it's the fact that all of these things and the incredible student body exist in an otherwise normal high school that has the same offerings as any other high school in terms of extracurriculars, athletics, arts, and the like.

None of the other schools I mentioned are leading their area in state public school athletic championships. TJ is. And that, combined with the exceptional quality of the academic program, is what makes it so unique among schools in America, and indeed in the world.

My goodness! "TJ aspirants"? TJ parents are not only delusional but they are also ignorant.

1) I'm not a TJ parent.

2) That's what they refer to themselves as.

Be careful when you argue with someone who knows what they're talking about.

Like I said, delusional and ignorant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to the TJ equivalent in my state, and it’s not just about where you end up. I mean, there are only so many jobs one can end up end. We all regress to the mean. Having experiences like going to a high school with other kids who think like you and are quirky like you for the first time in your life can be a life-changing experience, in ways other than what job you end up with — it helped me figure out who I am, helped teach me how to think, helped me figure out my career path. After high school I went to UVA for undergrad (so nothing all that special) and then Yale Law (more special, but not tech) and then have had prestigious jobs but I’m not a Supreme Court justice.

There are few if any “TJ equivalents.” I doubt your school was.

There are several in NYC only.

There are several "TJ aspirants" in NYC - Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, BASIS Brooklyn - but there are no TJ equivalents. To be fair, that's about as close as you can get.

The schools that end up rated in the same area as TJ, like TAG, Gwinnett, Academic Magnet SC and others, are too small to really be considered TJ equivalents. What makes TJ so special isn't necessarily the curriculum or even the resources - it's the fact that all of these things and the incredible student body exist in an otherwise normal high school that has the same offerings as any other high school in terms of extracurriculars, athletics, arts, and the like.

None of the other schools I mentioned are leading their area in state public school athletic championships. TJ is. And that, combined with the exceptional quality of the academic program, is what makes it so unique among schools in America, and indeed in the world.

My goodness! "TJ aspirants"? TJ parents are not only delusional but they are also ignorant.

1) I'm not a TJ parent.

2) That's what they refer to themselves as.

Be careful when you argue with someone who knows what they're talking about.

Like I said, delusional and ignorant

+1. Some school in podunk Loudoun might call itself a “TJ aspirant.” Stuyvesant and Bronx Science - not a chance in the world.

[Anonymous]

Don’t send your kid there because your kid is good at STEM (all A’s in school math and science) but not really passionate about STEM. They will burn out, and they very likely will not get in the best colleges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s obvious that over time this social engineering scheme will diminish TJ’s standing. It’s happening already TBH.

Only in certain communities, which to this point has been a good thing.

TJ does not need more families whose primary motivation is prestige.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to the TJ equivalent in my state, and it’s not just about where you end up. I mean, there are only so many jobs one can end up end. We all regress to the mean. Having experiences like going to a high school with other kids who think like you and are quirky like you for the first time in your life can be a life-changing experience, in ways other than what job you end up with — it helped me figure out who I am, helped teach me how to think, helped me figure out my career path. After high school I went to UVA for undergrad (so nothing all that special) and then Yale Law (more special, but not tech) and then have had prestigious jobs but I’m not a Supreme Court justice.

There are few if any “TJ equivalents.” I doubt your school was.

There are several in NYC only.

There are several "TJ aspirants" in NYC - Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, BASIS Brooklyn - but there are no TJ equivalents. To be fair, that's about as close as you can get.

The schools that end up rated in the same area as TJ, like TAG, Gwinnett, Academic Magnet SC and others, are too small to really be considered TJ equivalents. What makes TJ so special isn't necessarily the curriculum or even the resources - it's the fact that all of these things and the incredible student body exist in an otherwise normal high school that has the same offerings as any other high school in terms of extracurriculars, athletics, arts, and the like.

None of the other schools I mentioned are leading their area in state public school athletic championships. TJ is. And that, combined with the exceptional quality of the academic program, is what makes it so unique among schools in America, and indeed in the world.

My goodness! "TJ aspirants"? TJ parents are not only delusional but they are also ignorant.

1) I'm not a TJ parent.

2) That's what they refer to themselves as.

Be careful when you argue with someone who knows what they're talking about.

Like I said, delusional and ignorant

+1. Some school in podunk Loudoun might call itself a “TJ aspirant.” Stuyvesant and Bronx Science - not a chance in the world.

Been that way for years. Basically since the first “best high school in America” article came out back in 2008-9.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t send your kid there because your kid is good at STEM (all A’s in school math and science) but not really passionate about STEM. They will burn out, and they very likely will not get in the best colleges

Posts like this are designed to create wait list movement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s obvious that over time this social engineering scheme will diminish TJ’s standing. It’s happening already TBH.

Only in certain communities, which to this point has been a good thing.

TJ does not need more families whose primary motivation is prestige.

What if the prestige was based on being around other kids who were actually strong at STEM, rather than just filling a quota?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to the TJ equivalent in my state, and it’s not just about where you end up. I mean, there are only so many jobs one can end up end. We all regress to the mean. Having experiences like going to a high school with other kids who think like you and are quirky like you for the first time in your life can be a life-changing experience, in ways other than what job you end up with — it helped me figure out who I am, helped teach me how to think, helped me figure out my career path. After high school I went to UVA for undergrad (so nothing all that special) and then Yale Law (more special, but not tech) and then have had prestigious jobs but I’m not a Supreme Court justice.

There are few if any “TJ equivalents.” I doubt your school was.

There are several in NYC only.

There are several "TJ aspirants" in NYC - Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, BASIS Brooklyn - but there are no TJ equivalents. To be fair, that's about as close as you can get.

The schools that end up rated in the same area as TJ, like TAG, Gwinnett, Academic Magnet SC and others, are too small to really be considered TJ equivalents. What makes TJ so special isn't necessarily the curriculum or even the resources - it's the fact that all of these things and the incredible student body exist in an otherwise normal high school that has the same offerings as any other high school in terms of extracurriculars, athletics, arts, and the like.

None of the other schools I mentioned are leading their area in state public school athletic championships. TJ is. And that, combined with the exceptional quality of the academic program, is what makes it so unique among schools in America, and indeed in the world.

My goodness! "TJ aspirants"? TJ parents are not only delusional but they are also ignorant.

1) I'm not a TJ parent.

2) That's what they refer to themselves as.

Be careful when you argue with someone who knows what they're talking about.

Like I said, delusional and ignorant

+1. Some school in podunk Loudoun might call itself a “TJ aspirant.” Stuyvesant and Bronx Science - not a chance in the world.

Been that way for years. Basically since the first “best high school in America” article came out back in 2008-9.

More of a rival than as aspirant but it will become moot with the self-inflicted wounds at TJ.

[Anonymous]

While my sample size is only three, all of my adult friends who went to TJ didn't like it in the long run and wouldn't send their kids. It's not a pleasant place to be.

[Anonymous]

NP. Not a TJ parent, and I see both sides of the issue. But I think the OP has a point - TJ is not a magic ticket - there are no magic tickets. Does it help some? Sure. But most kids aren't going to be anything but a regular working stiff...just like most Ivy grads

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Not a TJ parent, and I see both sides of the issue. But I think the OP has a point - TJ is not a magic ticket - there are no magic tickets. Does it help some? Sure. But most kids aren't going to be anything but a regular working stiff...just like most Ivy grads

True. But you don't know where most people went to school. The head of the Virginia Covid response department went to TJ. He's not well known but glad he receive a good education and was able to help us all out.

[Anonymous]

Yep the only TJ grad I know works for the federal government. So prestigious, LOL

[Anonymous]

I’m sure there are some families applying for the prestige factor and to hope it gives their kid a better shot at some off the charts life. But there are plenty of others who just see it as a really great environment and opportunity for HS and that’s why they’re picking it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outside of the top 1% of students, it seems like most kids that graduate from TJ end up working normal-ish corporate jobs. I grew up in an affluent neighborhood and a bunch of my friends ended up going to TJ and then to UVA/Tech/other state schools. Two went to ivies and they both burned out, barely graduated and one works as a preschool teacher now, the other works at a mathnasium part time while trying to figure out his next career move. The others that went to state schools were considered "average" at TJ and work in the same technical field as me now.

So what are the advantages of going to TJ?

Um who do you think you are judging people like that? You don’t know why people work certain jobs. Gtfo.

Agree. Stop judging. Some people go into teaching because they love kids and we need MORE teachers like this. Maybe this person genuinely loves kids and doesn't need the money from a corporate job (you mentioned you grew up in an affluent neighborhood).

Let me guess, you're posting elsewhere about how we don't have enough good preschool teachers? Maybe it's because people like you are so judgy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outside of the top 1% of students, it seems like most kids that graduate from TJ end up working normal-ish corporate jobs. I grew up in an affluent neighborhood and a bunch of my friends ended up going to TJ and then to UVA/Tech/other state schools. Two went to ivies and they both burned out, barely graduated and one works as a preschool teacher now, the other works at a mathnasium part time while trying to figure out his next career move. The others that went to state schools were considered "average" at TJ and work in the same technical field as me now.

So what are the advantages of going to TJ?

Um who do you think you are judging people like that? You don’t know why people work certain jobs. Gtfo.

Agree. Stop judging. Some people go into teaching because they love kids and we need MORE teachers like this. Maybe this person genuinely loves kids and doesn't need the money from a corporate job (you mentioned you grew up in an affluent neighborhood).

Let me guess, you're posting elsewhere about how we don't have enough good preschool teachers? Maybe it's because people like you are so judgy.

+1. Many TJ alumni go into the teaching profession (mostly HS or university professors) because they value education.