My child isn't sure they want to go to TJ
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Anonymous
| has been accepted but still isn't sure. And now I'm wondering about focusing too much on science. What if 1/2 way thru school DD decides she'd rather work in business or something other than stem? I don't want to tell her what to do. Also, the talk about summer school is making me sad that DD will have to do that and give up her summers. Anyone see have a child who is thinking hey this may be too focused and on 1 thing? |
Anonymous
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I think TJ is the kind of thing that the kid has to want to do (internal motivation) or it is going to blow up when the pressure is on. Best thing for her is to meet some kids who are there -- either she will be excited to see that real kids do it or she will be repulsed by the geeky-freakiness.
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Anonymous
| Most use it as a way in to UVA with no special interest in STEM - - ability, yes. Planning for a STEM career or college major, no. |
Anonymous
If the goal is UVA, then base school is preferable. 124 TJ students were rejected by TJ last year, and around 100 didn't apply to UVA. |
Anonymous
TYPO should say 124 TJ students were rejected by UVA.. |
Anonymous
| Lots of TJ grads in finance and management consulting. Some would say Jobs and Gates are pretty good businessmen. Either way, no big deal, I'd encourage, but not force, them going to TJ. |
Anonymous
We are in the same boat. My child's interest keeps changing every few months - from robotics to medicine to Law. Right now it's Snapchat. I'm sure it will change a few times before they are done with HS. So for now, the decision is to go to TJ. TJ supposedly have a great offerings in Humanities and we know someone who started off with STEM intentions and now wants to study Journalism in college! This student is a Junior now.. We are looking at TJ as an opportunity to go to one of the top High schools in the country. Can always switch back to the base HS once interests solidify and TJ is no longer necessary or just focus on said interests and just complete at TJ. Can't go wrong either way.. |
Anonymous
| What is the difference between TJ and local high school instruction for the 9-11th grade? Looks like in 12th grade they get to do research in their fancy labs, but I want to know the difference for the other 3 years. |
Anonymous
9-11th grade reasearch opportunities in the underclass JUMP lab STEM summer internship opportunities Required Design Technology Freshman year Freshman Bio and Sophomore Chemistry taught at AP level, and out of the AP books Required CS by the end of sophomore year, taught at AP level Required research stats class freshman year Integrated learners no: IBET, CHUM (or C+HUM) and 2 class humanities blocks junior & senior years Required pre-recs for your senior lab by the end of junior year: https://fcps.tjhsst.edu/coursemgmt/media/300/resource/LAB%20PREREQs%20Class%20of%202017%20v2.pdf Math taught on a semester model that condenses 2 years of A2/Pre-Calc into 3 semesters Math homework based on packets, because the teachers have agreed that the problem sets in the textbooks are "too easy" Foreign languages taught as immersion classes 8th period clubs and activities Every class taught at a higher, harder and deeper level, and moves much faster. Freshman and sophomore classes at TJ generally align with freshman and sophomore college classes And, most importantly, the peer group That's just off the top of my head... |
Anonymous
Very helpful info. Thank You! |
Anonymous
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If your child doesn't love STEM, I wouldn't bother having them apply to TJ. Their electives will be taken up by required STEM courses leaving little room to pursue other interests.
TJ kids have to take classes over the summer if they want to have room for things like band and art. |
Anonymous
AKA-- a really rigorous, very challenging education. It is a ton of hard work. It requires sacrifices and tradeoffs. If it's not your thing, don't send your kid. PP asked how it was different from the base school grades 9-11. This is how. Certainly you don't think TJ end up as the top school in the country academically (most NMSFs, most perfect AP scores, highest average SATs, most kids admitted to MIT, kids on the national Physics Olympics team, Intel winners, etc., etc.) by having a slacker curriculum? It is extremely difficult. And 90+% of the kids there have signed up to attend TJ have to work incredibly hard to keep up, when they could coast through their base school with minimal effort and get a 4.0 with 8-10 APs. But, they chose the tough path instead. And most end up at top STEM colleges. The TJ curriculum is very, very different than the base school curriculum. And if you and your kid decide that's not what they want out of high school, that's a valid choice, even if your kid is downright brilliant. You certainly give things up to attend TJ-- sleep, commute time, all the extra hours studying each week when you could be having a "normal" social life, football games and social events and going to HS with the friends you have attended school with for years. And once there, you will end up with a lower GPA, for much more work. Some kids embrace the challege anyways. My kid does it because he was bored in a strong ES and MS AAP programs, and gets excited by the classwork and assignments. He also is a nerdy kid who feels like he belongs and has found his peer group. But every kid has a different answer about why they are there. It would be nice if parents who opt not to send their kids to TJ could recognize the sacrifice involved in TJ, and that there is something admirable about kids who push themselves academically. As opposed to those parents just being snarky. You can admit that TJ kids work very hard and give things up to get the TJ diploma doesn't mean it's the best choice to your family or your kid. But, why would you not praise the hard work and perisitence of TJ kids who put all that time and energy into an elite academic program. And understand-- I am proud of my kid for attending TJ. Not because I want bragging rights, but I am proud of him for rising to the challenge of TJ and stretching himself academically. My kids have no talent in sports, and no desire to spend hours a day to practice a sport at a high level. They are musicians, in a school and community band/orchestra way, but are not putting in the hours of daily practice necessary to apply to Juilliard or Oberlin and become a professional musician. And yet, I admire kids who put in the time and commitment to follow their Olympic of NCAA Div I dream, or to apply to Julliard, or to Oberlin. I admire the hard work, and determination, and their willingness to sacrifice to chase a passion. So, why not have a similar respect for TJ kids? So enough of the hating. You do what's best for your kid. My kid loves TJ, loves the quirky nerdy student body, loves attending Hack TJ and participating in iNite, and loves that he is attending a school where perople share his interest. It works for him, for reasons that have nothing to do with bragging rights. So, give your fellow parents the benefit or the doubt, and assume that parents who send kids to TJ are doing what the think is best for their specific kid. Just like I don't judge parents who have kids accepted to TJ, but decide it's not the right choice, and send their kid to the base school or private. And I don't judge parents whose kids spend hours a day on non-academic passions (music, art, sports, writing, etc). They know their kid, and their family situation best. We are all trying to do right by our kids. Maybe keep that in mind the net time you decide to tear down another parent who is just trying to do right by their kid. And for FFS stop tearing down 14-18 year olds who give up a lot to follow a passion or pursued a dream. It's petty, and unnecessary. |
Anonymous
| PP, you have a really eloquent post that I totally support. You made it in response to a snarky, TJ hate post that added nothing to the discussion so I reported it and Jeff deleted it. Just in case anyone is wondering why you posted your post! |
Anonymous
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PP, you've written a lot of good information about TJ. Thanks for taking the time and effort to do this, I think it will be helpful for a lot of families who need to make a big decision.
We went through this a few years ago with my child. He honestly didn't think he'd be accepted, and then when he was, he was sort of taken aback and had to stop and think if he really wanted to go there. We went to the open houses and he loved how welcoming the students and faculty there were and, to be honest, how special they made him feel. He was used to being the odd kid out much of the time, so it was new to feel part of the group. We decided to make the decision one year at a time. As a family, we realized that turning down TJ would mean that he would never know if it would be a good choice for him, but if he went, he could always go back to his regular school. He was not an Olympic athlete, but he did spend hours a day on his sport and he was able to do that at TJ and be part of a great group of kids on his team. (On a side note, there actually was a kid with Olympic potential at TJ when my kid was there! It's amazing to think of the hard work and persistence that young man put into his academics and his sport!) If your child has any inkling at all that he might like TJ, I would suggest going to the open houses, talking to lots of stand parents, and after all that, consider committing for one year at a time so the child gives it a good chance. If he really doesn't like it, he can go back to his regular school, but I think it is worth it to give TJ a chance. Good luck in your decision! |
Anonymous
Ugh, should be students and parents. |