TJ Admissions

[Anonymous]

Stuyvesant HS, Bronx Science and Brooklyn Tech only use the test score for admissions. Stuyvesant determines the number of freshman they will take and offer a spot to the top scorers. They go down the list until they are maxed out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"The kids in middle school are confused at who got in and who didn't. Some of the brightest were turned down and the not so bright accepted. I have heard the bar is set at different levels for different middle schools."

With all due respect, sometimes kids don't really know who is smart and who isn't. They may not realize that the quiet, low key child in the class is extremely bright. By the same token, the child who brags about how smart he is, may not be quite as bright as he thinks he is.

Also, kids don't always know what the other kids are doing outside of school and how committed and accomplished they are in their outside activities. Or, how well their essays are written.

It might be hurtful to some children if kids are saying that the "not so bright" kids were accepted. Also, my understanding is that they look at the applicant pool as a whole and not separated out by middle school. The standards are the same for all the applicants.

you probably believe each UVA applicant is treated equally too

[Anonymous]

There is a list circulating among the Asian students at Kilmer MS (apparently it's just a group of kids at different middle schools in Fairfax County forming a social network) that names at least 100 kids who got in (my DC included - white non-asian), but also lists the names of dozens of classmates who the group knows DIDN'T get in, and also a small list of kids they know who never applied. My DC thought it was a hurtful list for friends who didn't want it advertised that they didn't get in. Just a taste of what TJ can be like, unfortunately. Very competitive and ambitious kids.

[Anonymous]

that's just mean - I hope my DS isn't on the list of who didn't get in

[Anonymous]

Maybe your child should alert the principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a list circulating among the Asian students at Kilmer MS (apparently it's just a group of kids at different middle schools in Fairfax County forming a social network) that names at least 100 kids who got in (my DC included - white non-asian), but also lists the names of dozens of classmates who the group knows DIDN'T get in, and also a small list of kids they know who never applied. My DC thought it was a hurtful list for friends who didn't want it advertised that they didn't get in. Just a taste of what TJ can be like, unfortunately. Very competitive and ambitious kids.

Gotta love it. Social networking for hyper-competitive nerds.

[Anonymous]

Not everyone at TJ is uber-competitive, kids help each other when they need it. Students will go to their friends for help before their teachers. You can all "surmise" or "imagine" what happens there but unless you are in the school daily -- you really don't know what it is like. They have good and some very bad teachers but it is the students that make the school great! I would be the first to say, your DC would be missing out on a great experience. After TJ -- college is a snap

[Anonymous]

I know I really shouldn't be on a parenting board, but I was pretty pumped about getting into TJ and did a quick Google search on the school (this came up). Here are my stats

50/50 on the math section
46/50 on the english/reading section
3.7 unweighted GPA
Math class: Geometry Honors
Extracurriculars: Technology Students Association, Model UN, Knowledge Masters, Out of school track team
Race: "Multiracial/Other" lol
County: Fairfax

As happy as I am about getting in, I'm pretty pissed that some of my friends didn't. For example, one girl I know scored in the top ten in State Mathcounts, is currently dual enrolling in Geometry Honors and Algebra 2, scored ~2200 on the SAT's in 7th grade, and memorized 1020 digits of pi for pi day and didn't get in.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately it is not based just on your scores and awards -- they also consider the two essays you wrote when you took the test.

[Anonymous]

My son had perfect GPA (4.0), 49/50 Math, 50/50 Verbal on the TJ exam, 2 excellent (highest) teacher recommendations (Science and Math), Honors High School Geometry for current math class, 2,160 SAT when he was 11 years (710 math, 700 Reading, 750 Writing), CTY-SET and CTY Grand Ceremony Honoree and CTY math classes, 2nd place at the TJ Math open for the highest category (geometry and above), top 10 finish at the Regional Mathcounts, Robotics Club leader, Spelling Bee champion, Swim team member, National History Day participant who wrote a major research paper that is almost a college level paper that was some 35+ pages including endnotes, annotations etc. not to mention a highly rated (by USCF) chess player and a member of Mensa since 8. He did not take any SAT or TJ prep classes. He just took those tests.

In other words, not only good at math/science but also good at verbal/humanities/writing ability and still he was not accepted.

[Anonymous]

However you don't know what the scores for his essays were -- you are just assuming they were great. You don't know how many other applicants have similar or equally great stats/ec etc. His resume is impressive but you will see great stats on CC for HYP applicants and they are denied acceptances. It is said that Harvard could fill their incoming freshman class with valedictorians and students who scored 2400 on the SAT but they don't accept everyone with those stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son had perfect GPA (4.0), 49/50 Math, 50/50 Verbal on the TJ exam, 2 excellent (highest) teacher recommendations (Science and Math), Honors High School Geometry for current math class, 2,160 SAT when he was 11 years (710 math, 700 Reading, 750 Writing), CTY-SET and CTY Grand Ceremony Honoree and CTY math classes, 2nd place at the TJ Math open for the highest category (geometry and above), top 10 finish at the Regional Mathcounts, Robotics Club leader, Spelling Bee champion, Swim team member, National History Day participant who wrote a major research paper that is almost a college level paper that was some 35+ pages including endnotes, annotations etc. not to mention a highly rated (by USCF) chess player and a member of Mensa since 8. He did not take any SAT or TJ prep classes. He just took those tests.

In other words, not only good at math/science but also good at verbal/humanities/writing ability and still he was not accepted.

I wonder who would want to packge their kid strating at age by, for example, making them take the SAT at 11. What the heck for?
And writing a 35 page research paper (with endnotes and annottions)? I am convinced more than ever these kids can have TJ.
If TJ is for these types of kids they can have it.

[Anonymous]

people are explaining the admissions to TJ in terrms of "hard work." Making a kid take the SATs at 11 isn't hard work, it's obsessive-compulsive. It looks like there is alot of "ticket-punching" going on even among the very young. And yet the kid bombed the essays and didn't get in? Not eneough work put into writing I guess.

[Anonymous]

Wow what a cynical outlook! If you knew anything about CTY you would know that the SAT is required testing for participation in their program, not "ticket-punching". She states that her son didn't do TJ or SAT test prep and still scored as high as he did. Children like this do exist whether you believe it or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: <snip>
In other words, not only good at math/science but also good at verbal/humanities/writing ability and still he was not accepted.

I wonder who would want to packge their kid strating at age by, for example, making them take the SAT at 11. What the heck for?
And writing a 35 page research paper (with endnotes and annottions)? I am convinced more than ever these kids can have TJ.
If TJ is for these types of kids they can have it.

Evidently TJ isn't for those types of kids since he didn't get in. 8)

TJ changed the student information sheet that applicants complete a couple of years ago. It used to be that applicants just listed various activities and achievements, but now the applicants answer 8 short essay questions such as "What is your best subject in school and why?" and "What one thing about yourself do you believe would make the biggest contribution to the community of learners at TJHSST?" This is the opportunity to brag about your accomplishments. but you have to figure out a way to fit that in while answering these questions. TJ is looking for something more than a laundry list of accomplishments - they also want a bit of self-reflection and that can be difficult for anyone, and especially for a child who's only 13. You can see the student information sheet here - http://www.tjhsst.edu/abouttj/admissions/docs/studinfo2015-final.pdf