If a kid will fall in top 30-50% in TJ, is going to TJ a better idea

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's nice to see that folks are already lining up the narratives to get their kids into TJ off the waitlist.

It's almost a comforting rhythm - a flood of TJ sh!tposting right around the application deadlines to depress competition, and another flood gearing up for the admissions notices going out on mid-March to incentivize decline rates.

So much thirst.

Such BS. TJ can absolutely hurt college chances.

Honestly, so what? Even if this is true - and I'm not entirely convinced that it is - you'll find no end of TJ alumni who didn't get into their first choice college who are killing it and credit their TJ experience for what it taught them. A pair of twins I know went to TJ and then a state school and Langley then a high-end Ivy - and the TJ kid is doing way better and no one is surprised.

Of course I'll find an end of TJ grads who didn't get into their first choice and are still upset and aren't "killing it." The fact that you know a pair of twins who you claim is doing better than a Langley ivy grad doesn't change this fact.

To say "so what" completely ignores those who value what a higher ranked college can do versus what a higher ranked HS can do. Do you think:

- base high school grads going to top ranked colleges don't do amazingly well in those colleges?
- going to a top ranked colleges comes with "extras" like personal connections that result in job offers/internships, benefits to job offers from college being very well respected. etc.

We turned TJ down because we valued the longer game and are very happy with our choices even though it was difficult at the time. Sure, TJ has some great opportunities, but we saw that they were outweighed by the opportunities that could be afforded in college.

Wait,

You thought optimizing for college admissions over early academic rigor was playing "the longer game?"

We aren't talking about Harvard from base vs GMU from TJ.

Unless you are from a title 1 school, we are most likely talking about UVA from base vs something like W&M or VT from TJ.

I’m talking about turning TJ down for 9th and a a HS class of ‘26 heading to an ivy. We feel pretty confident the ivy would not have happened from TJ.

You're going to get less from the Ivy compared to the other school they'd have attended than you would have gotten from TJ compared to your base.

You made the bet and won, but in the long run you're still going to lose.

No, I made the bet and won. It is far, far better to go to a highly ranked ivy than it is to be at lower ranked schools if you're driven and successful no matter where you'd go. I know some kooks think saying you went to TJ when you were 16 helps you when you're 42. You're one.

DP

This isn't about bragging rights because frankly at 42 nobody cares where you went to college any more than where you went to high school.

If you successfully get through TJ, you will likely be better trained than if you go to your base.
It's not always worth it because a lot of people fail to get through TJ successfully and you can learn that discipline later in life but the cost is higher then.
If you go to grad school, the value of a name brand undergrad almost evaporates unless you went to HYPSM (and maybe caltech).
And if you can get into HYPSM at base school, you would not have struggled at TJ.
I cannot think of a single kid from Langley that got into HYPSM that would not have done similarly well at TJ.

The kids that shouldn't go to TJ are the ones that can get into UVA from Base but not from TJ.

I would rather my kids go to a great college (academic fit + good ranking) over TJ (v base).

That's partly the point. TJ can change where you would academically fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's nice to see that folks are already lining up the narratives to get their kids into TJ off the waitlist.

It's almost a comforting rhythm - a flood of TJ sh!tposting right around the application deadlines to depress competition, and another flood gearing up for the admissions notices going out on mid-March to incentivize decline rates.

So much thirst.

Such BS. TJ can absolutely hurt college chances.

Honestly, so what? Even if this is true - and I'm not entirely convinced that it is - you'll find no end of TJ alumni who didn't get into their first choice college who are killing it and credit their TJ experience for what it taught them. A pair of twins I know went to TJ and then a state school and Langley then a high-end Ivy - and the TJ kid is doing way better and no one is surprised.

Of course I'll find an end of TJ grads who didn't get into their first choice and are still upset and aren't "killing it." The fact that you know a pair of twins who you claim is doing better than a Langley ivy grad doesn't change this fact.

To say "so what" completely ignores those who value what a higher ranked college can do versus what a higher ranked HS can do. Do you think:

- base high school grads going to top ranked colleges don't do amazingly well in those colleges?
- going to a top ranked colleges comes with "extras" like personal connections that result in job offers/internships, benefits to job offers from college being very well respected. etc.

We turned TJ down because we valued the longer game and are very happy with our choices even though it was difficult at the time. Sure, TJ has some great opportunities, but we saw that they were outweighed by the opportunities that could be afforded in college.

Wait,

You thought optimizing for college admissions over early academic rigor was playing "the longer game?"

We aren't talking about Harvard from base vs GMU from TJ.

Unless you are from a title 1 school, we are most likely talking about UVA from base vs something like W&M or VT from TJ.

I’m talking about turning TJ down for 9th and a a HS class of ‘26 heading to an ivy. We feel pretty confident the ivy would not have happened from TJ.

You're going to get less from the Ivy compared to the other school they'd have attended than you would have gotten from TJ compared to your base.

You made the bet and won, but in the long run you're still going to lose.

No, I made the bet and won. It is far, far better to go to a highly ranked ivy than it is to be at lower ranked schools if you're driven and successful no matter where you'd go. I know some kooks think saying you went to TJ when you were 16 helps you when you're 42. You're one.

DP

This isn't about bragging rights because frankly at 42 nobody cares where you went to college any more than where you went to high school.

If you successfully get through TJ, you will likely be better trained than if you go to your base.
It's not always worth it because a lot of people fail to get through TJ successfully and you can learn that discipline later in life but the cost is higher then.
If you go to grad school, the value of a name brand undergrad almost evaporates unless you went to HYPSM (and maybe caltech).
And if you can get into HYPSM at base school, you would not have struggled at TJ.
I cannot think of a single kid from Langley that got into HYPSM that would not have done similarly well at TJ.

The kids that shouldn't go to TJ are the ones that can get into UVA from Base but not from TJ.

I would rather my kids go to a great college (academic fit + good ranking) over TJ (v base).

That's partly the point. TJ can change where you would academically fit.

Life is full of “may,” “can” or “might.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's nice to see that folks are already lining up the narratives to get their kids into TJ off the waitlist.

It's almost a comforting rhythm - a flood of TJ sh!tposting right around the application deadlines to depress competition, and another flood gearing up for the admissions notices going out on mid-March to incentivize decline rates.

So much thirst.

Such BS. TJ can absolutely hurt college chances.

Honestly, so what? Even if this is true - and I'm not entirely convinced that it is - you'll find no end of TJ alumni who didn't get into their first choice college who are killing it and credit their TJ experience for what it taught them. A pair of twins I know went to TJ and then a state school and Langley then a high-end Ivy - and the TJ kid is doing way better and no one is surprised.

Of course I'll find an end of TJ grads who didn't get into their first choice and are still upset and aren't "killing it." The fact that you know a pair of twins who you claim is doing better than a Langley ivy grad doesn't change this fact.

To say "so what" completely ignores those who value what a higher ranked college can do versus what a higher ranked HS can do. Do you think:

- base high school grads going to top ranked colleges don't do amazingly well in those colleges?
- going to a top ranked colleges comes with "extras" like personal connections that result in job offers/internships, benefits to job offers from college being very well respected. etc.

We turned TJ down because we valued the longer game and are very happy with our choices even though it was difficult at the time. Sure, TJ has some great opportunities, but we saw that they were outweighed by the opportunities that could be afforded in college.

Wait,

You thought optimizing for college admissions over early academic rigor was playing "the longer game?"

We aren't talking about Harvard from base vs GMU from TJ.

Unless you are from a title 1 school, we are most likely talking about UVA from base vs something like W&M or VT from TJ.

I’m talking about turning TJ down for 9th and a a HS class of ‘26 heading to an ivy. We feel pretty confident the ivy would not have happened from TJ.

You're going to get less from the Ivy compared to the other school they'd have attended than you would have gotten from TJ compared to your base.

You made the bet and won, but in the long run you're still going to lose.

No, I made the bet and won. It is far, far better to go to a highly ranked ivy than it is to be at lower ranked schools if you're driven and successful no matter where you'd go. I know some kooks think saying you went to TJ when you were 16 helps you when you're 42. You're one.

DP

This isn't about bragging rights because frankly at 42 nobody cares where you went to college any more than where you went to high school.

If you successfully get through TJ, you will likely be better trained than if you go to your base.
It's not always worth it because a lot of people fail to get through TJ successfully and you can learn that discipline later in life but the cost is higher then.
If you go to grad school, the value of a name brand undergrad almost evaporates unless you went to HYPSM (and maybe caltech).
And if you can get into HYPSM at base school, you would not have struggled at TJ.
I cannot think of a single kid from Langley that got into HYPSM that would not have done similarly well at TJ.

The kids that shouldn't go to TJ are the ones that can get into UVA from Base but not from TJ.

I would rather my kids go to a great college (academic fit + good ranking) over TJ (v base).

That's partly the point. TJ can change where you would academically fit.

Life is full of “may,” “can” or “might.”

Are you asking for guarantees?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's nice to see that folks are already lining up the narratives to get their kids into TJ off the waitlist.

It's almost a comforting rhythm - a flood of TJ sh!tposting right around the application deadlines to depress competition, and another flood gearing up for the admissions notices going out on mid-March to incentivize decline rates.

So much thirst.

Such BS. TJ can absolutely hurt college chances.

Honestly, so what? Even if this is true - and I'm not entirely convinced that it is - you'll find no end of TJ alumni who didn't get into their first choice college who are killing it and credit their TJ experience for what it taught them. A pair of twins I know went to TJ and then a state school and Langley then a high-end Ivy - and the TJ kid is doing way better and no one is surprised.

Of course I'll find an end of TJ grads who didn't get into their first choice and are still upset and aren't "killing it." The fact that you know a pair of twins who you claim is doing better than a Langley ivy grad doesn't change this fact.

To say "so what" completely ignores those who value what a higher ranked college can do versus what a higher ranked HS can do. Do you think:

- base high school grads going to top ranked colleges don't do amazingly well in those colleges?
- going to a top ranked colleges comes with "extras" like personal connections that result in job offers/internships, benefits to job offers from college being very well respected. etc.

We turned TJ down because we valued the longer game and are very happy with our choices even though it was difficult at the time. Sure, TJ has some great opportunities, but we saw that they were outweighed by the opportunities that could be afforded in college.

Wait,

You thought optimizing for college admissions over early academic rigor was playing "the longer game?"

We aren't talking about Harvard from base vs GMU from TJ.

Unless you are from a title 1 school, we are most likely talking about UVA from base vs something like W&M or VT from TJ.

I’m talking about turning TJ down for 9th and a a HS class of ‘26 heading to an ivy. We feel pretty confident the ivy would not have happened from TJ.

You're going to get less from the Ivy compared to the other school they'd have attended than you would have gotten from TJ compared to your base.

You made the bet and won, but in the long run you're still going to lose.

No, I made the bet and won. It is far, far better to go to a highly ranked ivy than it is to be at lower ranked schools if you're driven and successful no matter where you'd go. I know some kooks think saying you went to TJ when you were 16 helps you when you're 42. You're one.

You won't really know this until your kid is about 30.

[Anonymous]

Both my kids ended up at HYPSM (same STEM major)
DC 1 attended top 5 FCPS.
DC 2 attended TJ.

The kid that attended TJ was way more prepared and had easier time academically than kid that went to base HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both my kids ended up at HYPSM (same STEM major)
DC 1 attended top 5 FCPS.
DC 2 attended TJ.

The kid that attended TJ was way more prepared and had easier time academically than kid that went to base HS.

HYPSM = Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT

[Anonymous]

I have a TJ senior who has a 7th semester GPA over 4.5, top test scores, but not the highest rigor possible. Accepted to T20 (intentionally being vague). Top colleges know the rigor of TJ, and kids can still have great college results even if they don't take the absolute hardest courses. There are TJ kids who get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and more without taking AP Physics C or math beyond Calculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a TJ senior who has a 7th semester GPA over 4.5, top test scores, but not the highest rigor possible. Accepted to T20 (intentionally being vague). Top colleges know the rigor of TJ, and kids can still have great college results even if they don't take the absolute hardest courses. There are TJ kids who get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and more without taking AP Physics C or math beyond Calculus.

Bingo. Believe it or not, those schools are more forgiving of a less-than-perfect academic record if the applicant can give them another great reason to admit them. Some folks call that a "hook"... others just call it "being interesting".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a TJ senior who has a 7th semester GPA over 4.5, top test scores, but not the highest rigor possible. Accepted to T20 (intentionally being vague). Top colleges know the rigor of TJ, and kids can still have great college results even if they don't take the absolute hardest courses. There are TJ kids who get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and more without taking AP Physics C or math beyond Calculus.

Bingo. Believe it or not, those schools are more forgiving of a less-than-perfect academic record if the applicant can give them another great reason to admit them. Some folks call that a "hook"... others just call it "being interesting".

Bingo what?

A T20 is frequently attainable through FCPS' base program. What you wrote applies to all kids everywhere - once there is a base level of scores (GPA, testing if required, etc.) a lower stats kid can easily leapfrog over ones with higher rigor and stats depending on ECs/awards. And as for this comment: There are TJ kids who get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and more without taking AP Physics C or math beyond Calculus. Again, this applies to all kids everywhere. It depends on what else the kid has done.

And the bolded is 100% not a hook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a TJ senior who has a 7th semester GPA over 4.5, top test scores, but not the highest rigor possible. Accepted to T20 (intentionally being vague). Top colleges know the rigor of TJ, and kids can still have great college results even if they don't take the absolute hardest courses. There are TJ kids who get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and more without taking AP Physics C or math beyond Calculus.

Bingo. Believe it or not, those schools are more forgiving of a less-than-perfect academic record if the applicant can give them another great reason to admit them. Some folks call that a "hook"... others just call it "being interesting".

Bingo what?

A T20 is frequently attainable through FCPS' base program. What you wrote applies to all kids everywhere - once there is a base level of scores (GPA, testing if required, etc.) a lower stats kid can easily leapfrog over ones with higher rigor and stats depending on ECs/awards. And as for this comment: There are TJ kids who get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and more without taking AP Physics C or math beyond Calculus. Again, this applies to all kids everywhere. It depends on what else the kid has done.

And the bolded is 100% not a hook.

As I've said before - TJ is not a great first line on a resume, but it's a tremendous third or fourth line.

i.e. Wait a minute, you did all of these cool, sustainable, service-oriented things outside of school, AND you went to TJ? Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a TJ senior who has a 7th semester GPA over 4.5, top test scores, but not the highest rigor possible. Accepted to T20 (intentionally being vague). Top colleges know the rigor of TJ, and kids can still have great college results even if they don't take the absolute hardest courses. There are TJ kids who get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and more without taking AP Physics C or math beyond Calculus.

Bingo. Believe it or not, those schools are more forgiving of a less-than-perfect academic record if the applicant can give them another great reason to admit them. Some folks call that a "hook"... others just call it "being interesting".

Bingo what?

A T20 is frequently attainable through FCPS' base program. What you wrote applies to all kids everywhere - once there is a base level of scores (GPA, testing if required, etc.) a lower stats kid can easily leapfrog over ones with higher rigor and stats depending on ECs/awards. And as for this comment: There are TJ kids who get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and more without taking AP Physics C or math beyond Calculus. Again, this applies to all kids everywhere. It depends on what else the kid has done.

And the bolded is 100% not a hook.

As I've said before - TJ is not a great first line on a resume, but it's a tremendous third or fourth line.

i.e. Wait a minute, you did all of these cool, sustainable, service-oriented things outside of school, AND you went to TJ? Done.

Yes, very much aware of what you’ve said before. Very different from reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a TJ senior who has a 7th semester GPA over 4.5, top test scores, but not the highest rigor possible. Accepted to T20 (intentionally being vague). Top colleges know the rigor of TJ, and kids can still have great college results even if they don't take the absolute hardest courses. There are TJ kids who get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and more without taking AP Physics C or math beyond Calculus.

Bingo. Believe it or not, those schools are more forgiving of a less-than-perfect academic record if the applicant can give them another great reason to admit them. Some folks call that a "hook"... others just call it "being interesting".

Bingo what?

A T20 is frequently attainable through FCPS' base program. What you wrote applies to all kids everywhere - once there is a base level of scores (GPA, testing if required, etc.) a lower stats kid can easily leapfrog over ones with higher rigor and stats depending on ECs/awards. And as for this comment: There are TJ kids who get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and more without taking AP Physics C or math beyond Calculus. Again, this applies to all kids everywhere. It depends on what else the kid has done.

And the bolded is 100% not a hook.

The most selective colleges always evaluate applicants in the "context" of their school and what is available to them. Because of that, it is harder to be among the "top" in rigor at TJ without taking Physics C or multivariable calc (and higher). But these colleges know the rigor of TJ curriculum. Sure, it may be harder to get into MIT from TJ without the most rigorous TJ curriculum Vs. taking only AB Calc from a low performing HS, but TJ kids are extremely well prepared for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both my kids ended up at HYPSM (same STEM major)
DC 1 attended top 5 FCPS.
DC 2 attended TJ.

The kid that attended TJ was way more prepared and had easier time academically than kid that went to base HS.

Also, my kid that went to base HS had friends they met at college who went to TJ and said TJ classmates were way more prepared for the STEM classes than they were despite taking the "same" courses in HS. BC calc at base high school is not the same as BC calc at TJ (not even close).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both my kids ended up at HYPSM (same STEM major)
DC 1 attended top 5 FCPS.
DC 2 attended TJ.

The kid that attended TJ was way more prepared and had easier time academically than kid that went to base HS.

Also, my kid that went to base HS had friends they met at college who went to TJ and said TJ classmates were way more prepared for the STEM classes than they were despite taking the "same" courses in HS. BC calc at base high school is not the same as BC calc at TJ (not even close).

How many can be in this sampling? It would need to be:

- kids attending the same college as your kid

Further narrowed by

- TJ grads your kid met at the college

Compared to
- base HS kids

Narrowed by

- those taking the same Calc BC titled course

Narrowed by those

- taking the same course by the same professor at the same college

Narrowed by those who shared info with your kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

This is smart.