s/o: Force child to go to TJ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely wouldn't force them. TJ isn't for everyone and if the kid isn't fully in you are setting yourself up for failure. Most kids will still excel at their local school.

Some posters here will say things like Don't go but it's not because they believe this, but to create waitlist movement. I'd try to understand the students reasons for reluctance to better evaluate this.

The waitlist for the class of 2029 does not exist at this time because offers have not been made at this time.

Why are you making up ridiculous conspiracy theories?

[Anonymous]

When I was 14, I was reluctant for many wrong reasons. My parents, in their infinite wisdom, forced me to go. I am grateful for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely wouldn't force them. TJ isn't for everyone and if the kid isn't fully in you are setting yourself up for failure. Most kids will still excel at their local school.

Some posters here will say things like Don't go but it's not because they believe this, but to create waitlist movement. I'd try to understand the students reasons for reluctance to better evaluate this.

And some of us legitimately have experience, but enjoy your conspiracy theory.

Yes, some of us have experience with pushy parents who will do anything to get their kid in like make up BS to create waitlist movement.

I am a two timer TJ parent and TJ is every bit as tough as people say. It's great for the right kid but the admissions process no longer selects kids that are most likely to succeed there.

It is not enough to just understand the material taught in class, you have to go the next step on your own. If you perfectly matter the material taught in class but no further, you are getting a B- or C+ in math.

With that said, you can always return to your base school, that is ALWAYS an option and your freshman grades are the least consequential grades of your high school career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid took the entrance exam and has a good chance of getting in based on comparing notes with the other kids from his school who took the test (few took the test and several who did were either stumped by the math problem or did not finish the essays). But he does not want to go and I am not going to push him to go if he does get in. I wish the school was more like Harvard where the hardest thing is getting in. I don't think a cut throat, super competitive high school environment is actually that helpful for long term success.

DD is a junior. Her experience has not been “cut throat”. But the school has also intentionally tried to tone down the hyper competitiveness vibe that it seemed to have acquired in recent years.

While I much prefer Mr. Mukai as TJ’s principal, I can appreciate Dr. Bonitatibus’ intense focus on TJ students’ social and emotional well-being.

TJ is not easy. It is most definitely not the right fit for the vast majority of learners in FCPS.

But it need not be cut throat, and Dr. Bonitatibus sought out ways to increase a sense of collaboration and teamwork amongst the student body at TJ.

Agree they were very successful in detoxifying TJ.

Detoxifying TJ is easy. Getting a 5 on an AP exam is an automatic A, getting a 4 is an automatic B. To many kids getting 5 on AP exam and a C in the class because you don't want to give all the kids As.

Reduce that GPA pressure a little bit and the environment changes overnight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid took the entrance exam and has a good chance of getting in based on comparing notes with the other kids from his school who took the test (few took the test and several who did were either stumped by the math problem or did not finish the essays). But he does not want to go and I am not going to push him to go if he does get in. I wish the school was more like Harvard where the hardest thing is getting in. I don't think a cut throat, super competitive high school environment is actually that helpful for long term success.

DD is a junior. Her experience has not been “cut throat”. But the school has also intentionally tried to tone down the hyper competitiveness vibe that it seemed to have acquired in recent years.

While I much prefer Mr. Mukai as TJ’s principal, I can appreciate Dr. Bonitatibus’ intense focus on TJ students’ social and emotional well-being.

TJ is not easy. It is most definitely not the right fit for the vast majority of learners in FCPS.

But it need not be cut throat, and Dr. Bonitatibus sought out ways to increase a sense of collaboration and teamwork amongst the student body at TJ.

Agree they were very successful in detoxifying TJ.

Detoxifying TJ is easy. Getting a 5 on an AP exam is an automatic A, getting a 4 is an automatic B. To many kids getting 5 on AP exam and a C in the class because you don't want to give all the kids As.

Reduce that GPA pressure a little bit and the environment changes overnight.

Give it a rest. An 80% on an AP exam is a five.

Stop trying to dumb down TJ. The kids can handle the higher standards than the AP tests.

[Anonymous]

no!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely wouldn't force them. TJ isn't for everyone and if the kid isn't fully in you are setting yourself up for failure. Most kids will still excel at their local school.

Some posters here will say things like Don't go but it's not because they believe this, but to create waitlist movement. I'd try to understand the students reasons for reluctance to better evaluate this.

The waitlist for the class of 2029 does not exist at this time because offers have not been made at this time.

Why are you making up ridiculous conspiracy theories?

... Assuming you're posting this in bad faith because no one who birthed a child capable of admission to TJ would actually be stupid enough to not understand this.

Their goal is to get parents and kids to decide *now* that they will not accept their offer of admission when granted, so that when they end up on the waitlist, there will be a ton of early movement and their child will have a shot at being called up to the big leagues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely wouldn't force them. TJ isn't for everyone and if the kid isn't fully in you are setting yourself up for failure. Most kids will still excel at their local school.

Some posters here will say things like Don't go but it's not because they believe this, but to create waitlist movement. I'd try to understand the students reasons for reluctance to better evaluate this.

The waitlist for the class of 2029 does not exist at this time because offers have not been made at this time.

Why are you making up ridiculous conspiracy theories?

... Assuming you're posting this in bad faith because no one who birthed a child capable of admission to TJ would actually be stupid enough to not understand this.

Their goal is to get parents and kids to decide *now* that they will not accept their offer of admission when granted, so that when they end up on the waitlist, there will be a ton of early movement and their child will have a shot at being called up to the big leagues.

That’s quite the unhinged conspiracy theory you have going on there! Have you always struggled with mental illness, or just recently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely wouldn't force them. TJ isn't for everyone and if the kid isn't fully in you are setting yourself up for failure. Most kids will still excel at their local school.

Some posters here will say things like Don't go but it's not because they believe this, but to create waitlist movement. I'd try to understand the students reasons for reluctance to better evaluate this.

The waitlist for the class of 2029 does not exist at this time because offers have not been made at this time.

Why are you making up ridiculous conspiracy theories?

... Assuming you're posting this in bad faith because no one who birthed a child capable of admission to TJ would actually be stupid enough to not understand this.

Their goal is to get parents and kids to decide *now* that they will not accept their offer of admission when granted, so that when they end up on the waitlist, there will be a ton of early movement and their child will have a shot at being called up to the big leagues.

This requires a parent to (1) assume that their kid would not get in (2) that their kid is put on a waitlist (3) their post on DCUM would impact enough people to opt out of admission to TJ and (4) that spot would open up to their kid.

Do you understand the probabilities involved? This level of conspiracy belongs in tin foil hat territory, but it looks like we have found one nut job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely wouldn't force them. TJ isn't for everyone and if the kid isn't fully in you are setting yourself up for failure. Most kids will still excel at their local school.

Some posters here will say things like Don't go but it's not because they believe this, but to create waitlist movement. I'd try to understand the students reasons for reluctance to better evaluate this.

The waitlist for the class of 2029 does not exist at this time because offers have not been made at this time.

Why are you making up ridiculous conspiracy theories?

... Assuming you're posting this in bad faith because no one who birthed a child capable of admission to TJ would actually be stupid enough to not understand this.

Their goal is to get parents and kids to decide *now* that they will not accept their offer of admission when granted, so that when they end up on the waitlist, there will be a ton of early movement and their child will have a shot at being called up to the big leagues.

This requires a parent to (1) assume that their kid would not get in (2) that their kid is put on a waitlist (3) their post on DCUM would impact enough people to opt out of admission to TJ and (4) that spot would open up to their kid.

Do you understand the probabilities involved? This level of conspiracy belongs in tin foil hat territory, but it looks like we have found one nut job.

Of course I understand the probabilities involved. It takes a dedicated parent a few seconds to put together a few posts that might give their kid a sliver of hope if they needed it. Not exactly a heavy lift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely wouldn't force them. TJ isn't for everyone and if the kid isn't fully in you are setting yourself up for failure. Most kids will still excel at their local school.

Some posters here will say things like Don't go but it's not because they believe this, but to create waitlist movement. I'd try to understand the students reasons for reluctance to better evaluate this.

The waitlist for the class of 2029 does not exist at this time because offers have not been made at this time.

Why are you making up ridiculous conspiracy theories?

... Assuming you're posting this in bad faith because no one who birthed a child capable of admission to TJ would actually be stupid enough to not understand this.

Their goal is to get parents and kids to decide *now* that they will not accept their offer of admission when granted, so that when they end up on the waitlist, there will be a ton of early movement and their child will have a shot at being called up to the big leagues.

This requires a parent to (1) assume that their kid would not get in (2) that their kid is put on a waitlist (3) their post on DCUM would impact enough people to opt out of admission to TJ and (4) that spot would open up to their kid.

Do you understand the probabilities involved? This level of conspiracy belongs in tin foil hat territory, but it looks like we have found one nut job.

Of course I understand the probabilities involved. It takes a dedicated parent a few seconds to put together a few posts that might give their kid a sliver of hope if they needed it. Not exactly a heavy lift.

I would throw this right back at you. Perhaps you’re encouraging uninterested kids accept admission so your kid does better once there. Who knows? All I know is if a kid isn’t passionate about these subjects and also bored at the hi chest level in their current school, I would not push a kid to go.

I know many kids who were pushed into TJ specifically and the results are all over the place as adults. Multiple dont talk to their parents, others went in a completely non-STEM direction when they probably wouldn’t have otherwise, others are in STEM fields they don’t care about at all, still trying to please family. There are others who are very happy with where they are, in STEM, but those are the kids the school is for - they love STEM. Only you know your kid, but if the passion AND ability aren’t there, it’s the wrong choice. My priority is raising happy kids who know how to set boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely wouldn't force them. TJ isn't for everyone and if the kid isn't fully in you are setting yourself up for failure. Most kids will still excel at their local school.

Some posters here will say things like Don't go but it's not because they believe this, but to create waitlist movement. I'd try to understand the students reasons for reluctance to better evaluate this.

The waitlist for the class of 2029 does not exist at this time because offers have not been made at this time.

Why are you making up ridiculous conspiracy theories?

... Assuming you're posting this in bad faith because no one who birthed a child capable of admission to TJ would actually be stupid enough to not understand this.

Their goal is to get parents and kids to decide *now* that they will not accept their offer of admission when granted, so that when they end up on the waitlist, there will be a ton of early movement and their child will have a shot at being called up to the big leagues.

This requires a parent to (1) assume that their kid would not get in (2) that their kid is put on a waitlist (3) their post on DCUM would impact enough people to opt out of admission to TJ and (4) that spot would open up to their kid.

Do you understand the probabilities involved? This level of conspiracy belongs in tin foil hat territory, but it looks like we have found one nut job.

+1

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not. What good would come from forcing your child to attend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. What good would come from forcing your child to attend?

Overriding the bad judgment of a 14-year-old. My parents did it for me, and I'm grateful. TJ was life-chagning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely wouldn't force them. TJ isn't for everyone and if the kid isn't fully in you are setting yourself up for failure. Most kids will still excel at their local school.

Some posters here will say things like Don't go but it's not because they believe this, but to create waitlist movement. I'd try to understand the students reasons for reluctance to better evaluate this.

The waitlist for the class of 2029 does not exist at this time because offers have not been made at this time.

Why are you making up ridiculous conspiracy theories?

... Assuming you're posting this in bad faith because no one who birthed a child capable of admission to TJ would actually be stupid enough to not understand this.

Their goal is to get parents and kids to decide *now* that they will not accept their offer of admission when granted, so that when they end up on the waitlist, there will be a ton of early movement and their child will have a shot at being called up to the big leagues.

This requires a parent to (1) assume that their kid would not get in (2) that their kid is put on a waitlist (3) their post on DCUM would impact enough people to opt out of admission to TJ and (4) that spot would open up to their kid.

Do you understand the probabilities involved? This level of conspiracy belongs in tin foil hat territory, but it looks like we have found one nut job.

Of course I understand the probabilities involved. It takes a dedicated parent a few seconds to put together a few posts that might give their kid a sliver of hope if they needed it. Not exactly a heavy lift.

I would throw this right back at you. Perhaps you’re encouraging uninterested kids accept admission so your kid does better once there. Who knows? All I know is if a kid isn’t passionate about these subjects and also bored at the hi chest level in their current school, I would not push a kid to go.

I know many kids who were pushed into TJ specifically and the results are all over the place as adults. Multiple dont talk to their parents, others went in a completely non-STEM direction when they probably wouldn’t have otherwise, others are in STEM fields they don’t care about at all, still trying to please family. There are others who are very happy with where they are, in STEM, but those are the kids the school is for - they love STEM. Only you know your kid, but if the passion AND ability aren’t there, it’s the wrong choice. My priority is raising happy kids who know how to set boundaries.

There is one reality that should overcome every single consideration and, quite frankly, end the discussion with regard to kids and families who are unsure. And it's this:

If you try it and hate it, you can always go back to your base school and the impact on the rest of your academic career will be negligible - but you'll have the peace of mind in knowing that it wasn't the right thing because you actually gave it a shot.

If you decline the offer of admission but realize afterward that doing so was a huge mistake, you have no recourse to then pivot and go to TJ.

Realistically, you'll know within a month if it's something that your family can handle and whether it's the right thing for you. So go to Preview Night when you're invited, get a sense of the place, if you're still unsure then give it a shot.

A lot of people will try to oversell you on the negative impacts of trying TJ and heading back to your base school - there is virtually zero risk whatsoever. But there's huge risk in declining the offer and never giving it a shot.