Magnet not "cool" enough?

[Anonymous]

This is anxiety talking. She is afraid she will not get in so she is kind of deflecting fear into thinking she does not care.
100 spots OP. 100! For the entire Blair magnet. That Magnet feeds from what 30 Middle schools?
Anyone knows how many kids will be applying? Someone said 5000? That is what.. like 50 kids per spot.
Your kid does not need to be the best to get in, she just needs to be better then the other 49 kids.

[Anonymous]

It's like saying, a kid is not going to apply to Harvard because they don't think they will look good in... whatever that color is.. burgundy?

[Anonymous]

No it's like saying they won't apply to Harvard because they don't think it would be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Long story short, DD and I spoke and she said she'd be willing to apply now and worry later -- if she happens to get in.

I didn't mention two things:
1. This is only our second year in MCPS, so she is not eager to start over socially all over again
2. She is "2e" (I kind of hate that jargon,) but she is "gifted" and also has ADHD and some other learning issues. So she is the type to earn A's in challenging classes and struggle in the "easy" ones. (Those of you who spend time on the Special Ed board know what I'm talking about.)

FWIW, I don't think she's worried about getting in, I think she's preoccupied with *fitting in*, which strikes me as developmentally appropriate but just possibly shortsighted. She doesn't want to be "nerdy," different, or exceptional in any way if at all possible. I'm sure some of your kids are like this...? She wants to be just like everyone else -- and at the same time, she's trying to figure out who she is.

Anyway, thanks to those that provided some insight and shared your experience. Lots of possible good paths forward. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:279 would be below average for 8th grade TPMS, not easy for her to get in Blair

STFU you pain-in-the-ass mom. You are loathed by all. Even your own kids and husband.

Why? This is factual info. NP.

Exactly, what is your problem ?? Your DC has score well below 279??
Don’t be delusional..

Can you imagine feeling superior because your child had a good math map score? Oh, right. So many of you can. It's all you have. It's not reading. It doesn't really matter.

[Anonymous]

Op, I'm sorry people are horrible here and I know the 2e kids quite well. If the classes are too easy they don't do better. All I want for my own 2e child is a small cohort and challenges that will keep them engaged. What I don't want is the kind of cutthroat, antagonistic bullshit I read on these boards whenever magnets, or scores, or anyone's questions come up. It would be nice if these parents of high achievers could also raise them to be kind... but their own self esteem seems too closely tied into the whole endeavor. You have to drown them out when you ask advice, and God forbid, if your child does end up with their children as friends and they are forced to endure one of those middle school sleepovers... well, perhaps it can be the topic of a character-building college essay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Perhaps this is not the real reason? The magnet high schools are incredibly selective, and your daughter might not want to apply if she's afraid of rejection. What MAP scores does she have?

The math person at her MS told me highest in the school. Math was 279 I think?

That's what my 7th grader scored this fall. Her good friend scored 289, and they are not the most advanced or talented at math in their grade. I don't know that either one could get in anyway due to the "peer cohort" rationale. STEM is crazy competitive around here. If your DD doesn't want that path, don't force it. She'll be just fine taking AP classes at her home HS.

Unless her homeschool is Kennedy, Watkins Mill, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:279 would be below average for 8th grade TPMS, not easy for her to get in Blair

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Long story short, DD and I spoke and she said she'd be willing to apply now and worry later -- if she happens to get in.

I didn't mention two things:
1. This is only our second year in MCPS, so she is not eager to start over socially all over again
2. She is "2e" (I kind of hate that jargon,) but she is "gifted" and also has ADHD and some other learning issues. So she is the type to earn A's in challenging classes and struggle in the "easy" ones. (Those of you who spend time on the Special Ed board know what I'm talking about.)

FWIW, I don't think she's worried about getting in, I think she's preoccupied with *fitting in*, which strikes me as developmentally appropriate but just possibly shortsighted. She doesn't want to be "nerdy," different, or exceptional in any way if at all possible. I'm sure some of your kids are like this...? She wants to be just like everyone else -- and at the same time, she's trying to figure out who she is.

Anyway, thanks to those that provided some insight and shared your experience. Lots of possible good paths forward. Thanks!

OP, as I am sure you can see most transplants hate this area for all these posts show. Tigers and helicopters who are way over involved and micro engineer their kids lives since they could walk. I suggest staying put. My daughter left a magnet 1 year in and went back to her homeschool in 7th. She hasn’t looked back since. She is happy, social, thriving, and sleeping. Involved in many things in and out of school. You can not even imagine the way these magnet kids talk and demean others. They are miserable themselves and surprisingly, there is already pill popping to stay ahead. The parents are pushy and so over involved in their teen’s lives, it is scary. Let her lead the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If she were in a magnet now, she would realize that there are cool kids there, who hang out all weekend and have sleepovers every Friday and Saturday nights, and somehow still manage to do well in their enriched classes. I don't entirely approve of it, but this is what certain 8th graders do at the Takoma Park STEM magnet.

Perhaps this is not the real reason? The magnet high schools are incredibly selective, and your daughter might not want to apply if she's afraid of rejection. What MAP scores does she have?

I have to say that I love this response to the OP because this poster perfectly channels her inner mean girl to let us know her child is brilliant, popular, and cool.

Then she doubles down by demanding to know the map scores so she can tell you they're not that great, and obviously your kid is mediocre compared to dear Larla.

This is quite typical of the Tpms magnet parents... At least some of them.

+1

[Anonymous]

Majority of magnet MS students stay in the program. Not only survive but thrive because they have supportive parents. No tigers can force them wake up early morning to take long bus ride to the school, no helicopters can transport them to varies after school activities such as competitive swimming, tennis and other sports.

These are committed and disciplined kids.

A typical TPMS parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Majority of magnet MS students stay in the program. Not only survive but thrive because they have supportive parents. No tigers can force them wake up early morning to take long bus ride to the school, no helicopters can transport them to varies after school activities such as competitive swimming, tennis and other sports.

These are committed and disciplined kids.

A typical TPMS parent

I have seen Tigers and Helicopters force kids in every high school, magnets or not. Private or public.

A typical teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Majority of magnet MS students stay in the program. Not only survive but thrive because they have supportive parents. No tigers can force them wake up early morning to take long bus ride to the school, no helicopters can transport them to varies after school activities such as competitive swimming, tennis and other sports.

These are committed and disciplined kids.

A typical TPMS parent

I have seen Tigers and Helicopters force kids in every high school, magnets or not. Private or public.

A typical teacher

A typical troll -- no such a teacher who can see " in every high school" --- how many high school have you ever worked ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Long story short, DD and I spoke and she said she'd be willing to apply now and worry later -- if she happens to get in.

I didn't mention two things:
1. This is only our second year in MCPS, so she is not eager to start over socially all over again
2. She is "2e" (I kind of hate that jargon,) but she is "gifted" and also has ADHD and some other learning issues. So she is the type to earn A's in challenging classes and struggle in the "easy" ones. (Those of you who spend time on the Special Ed board know what I'm talking about.)

FWIW, I don't think she's worried about getting in, I think she's preoccupied with *fitting in*, which strikes me as developmentally appropriate but just possibly shortsighted. She doesn't want to be "nerdy," different, or exceptional in any way if at all possible. I'm sure some of your kids are like this...? She wants to be just like everyone else -- and at the same time, she's trying to figure out who she is.

Anyway, thanks to those that provided some insight and shared your experience. Lots of possible good paths forward. Thanks!

Glad that she is willing to apply! Couple of points:

1. If she has not struggled so far in MCPS MS (in MCPS - generally speaking - academically advanced students are less likely to have their needs met in ES/MS compared to HS), she should be fine in home HS if she ends up going there.

2. Have her look into RMIB magnet - may be she will be more open to that because it might seem less "nerdy" to her

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Long story short, DD and I spoke and she said she'd be willing to apply now and worry later -- if she happens to get in.

I didn't mention two things:
1. This is only our second year in MCPS, so she is not eager to start over socially all over again
2. She is "2e" (I kind of hate that jargon,) but she is "gifted" and also has ADHD and some other learning issues. So she is the type to earn A's in challenging classes and struggle in the "easy" ones. (Those of you who spend time on the Special Ed board know what I'm talking about.)

FWIW, I don't think she's worried about getting in, I think she's preoccupied with *fitting in*, which strikes me as developmentally appropriate but just possibly shortsighted. She doesn't want to be "nerdy," different, or exceptional in any way if at all possible. I'm sure some of your kids are like this...? She wants to be just like everyone else -- and at the same time, she's trying to figure out who she is.

Anyway, thanks to those that provided some insight and shared your experience. Lots of possible good paths forward. Thanks!

Glad that she is willing to apply! Couple of points:

1. If she has not struggled so far in MCPS MS (in MCPS - generally speaking - academically advanced students are less likely to have their needs met in ES/MS compared to HS), she should be fine in home HS if she ends up going there.

2. Have her look into RMIB magnet - may be she will be more open to that because it might seem less "nerdy" to her

Forgot to add:

3. Ignore the posts on MAP scores; I am sure there are students in TPMS with scores of 300+. But definitely there are others who are not in that same league. DC went through TPMS magnet and did very well without a 300+ score in MAP and then got into Blair. It is not just the MAP score that determines admission. It is just one of many factors.