TJ or Edison, which do you think would get your high achieiving kid into a better college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People don't hate on TJ because of excellence, but it is funny how vehemently TJ supporters attack anyone who dares suggest that a student at another school might do just as well, or be just as smart, or even have an advantage getting into a top university. TJ has a higher concentration of very smart kids -- that's the nature of a magnet school -- but that doesn't mean that students who don't choose to go there are lesser beings intellectually or otherwise. That's what PP meant by hubris and it is all over this thread and any other that dares question whether TJ is the only route to success in this area.

If it works for your kid, great, but realize that other kids may choose different and for them, equally or more challenging paths.

Applause. So true.

Attack is when someone uses words/phrases like "hubris" or "too many Asians" or "close it down". When did TJ supporters say only TJ students were smart? When did TJ supporters say there are no smart kids at other schools. When did TJ supporters say kids at other schools are lesser beings intellectually? That would be ludicrous.

There are many ways to successful accomplishments. You have it backwards. TJ supporters are offering opinions/arguments whereas real "attacks/hostility" come from the TJ haters. Stop hating and recognize there are many routes to success including places like TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA is probably considered comparable to Cornell or even better in terms of reputation.[/quote

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, absolutely true. And TJ is not for everyone- it's a hard decision to make for many families. But there are also definite statistics that are very transparent w/r/t TJ, because TJ publishes them. For example, the number of TJ students accepted to Princeton is supposedly the highest number of admitted students for any HS in the country. I have personally spoken with Harvard application reviewers for the DC area who were astounded how many TJ applicants sailed through the process (it was described as the DC HS that Harvard offered admission to the most students to). If Edison has acceptance numbers, those could be placed next to TJ's and a comparison could be made. But I don't think overall one can say that Edison admission stats match TJ's - it's just not true.

Fantastic straw man argument. Of corse, no one is making that argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now, if you assume that TJ kids not at the top of the class are competing against top 10% of Edison kids, yes, probably top 10% of Edison kids do better than the middle third of TJ kids. But for the top of the TJ class, Edison is not going to serve them as well.

Setting aside the fact that I don't think anyone is claiming otherwise, there are neatly 500 kids per class at TJ. Top 50 will no doubt get the cream of the crop offers. The next 50 are probably going to do quite well, too. But the next 100? And the 250 who will graduate from TJ, but in the bottom half of their class? I think it's less clear.

[Anonymous]

Well if you parse the admission statistics / and assume a student would prefer UVA to Wm & Mary, it appears that a sizable percentage of the bottom half of the TJ class go to WM, which is highly ranked as a public college by USNWR (plus something crazy like #1 in undergrad teaching) and qualifies for the VA prepaid tuition program, which is a huge bonus for parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now, if you assume that TJ kids not at the top of the class are competing against top 10% of Edison kids, yes, probably top 10% of Edison kids do better than the middle third of TJ kids. But for the top of the TJ class, Edison is not going to serve them as well.

Setting aside the fact that I don't think anyone is claiming otherwise, there are neatly 500 kids per class at TJ. Top 50 will no doubt get the cream of the crop offers. The next 50 are probably going to do quite well, too. But the next 100? And the 250 who will graduate from TJ, but in the bottom half of their class? I think it's less clear.

First, typical graduating class is around 430. The bottom 30% of TJ students get accepted to places like W&M, VaTech, VCU, CMU, Indiana University, Boston University, Drexel University, Penn State, Rensselaer, RIT, Stevens Institute of Technology, Syracuse, GW, Tulane, University of Illinois etc. I think that's much better than 90% of Edison graduates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People don't hate on TJ because of excellence, but it is funny how vehemently TJ supporters attack anyone who dares suggest that a student at another school might do just as well, or be just as smart, or even have an advantage getting into a top university. TJ has a higher concentration of very smart kids -- that's the nature of a magnet school -- but that doesn't mean that students who don't choose to go there are lesser beings intellectually or otherwise. That's what PP meant by hubris and it is all over this thread and any other that dares question whether TJ is the only route to success in this area.

If it works for your kid, great, but realize that other kids may choose different and for them, equally or more challenging paths.

A thousand times this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People don't hate on TJ because of excellence, but it is funny how vehemently TJ supporters attack anyone who dares suggest that a student at another school might do just as well, or be just as smart, or even have an advantage getting into a top university. TJ has a higher concentration of very smart kids -- that's the nature of a magnet school -- but that doesn't mean that students who don't choose to go there are lesser beings intellectually or otherwise. That's what PP meant by hubris and it is all over this thread and any other that dares question whether TJ is the only route to success in this area.

If it works for your kid, great, but realize that other kids may choose different and for them, equally or more challenging paths.

A thousand times this.

Attack is when someone uses words/phrases like "hubris" or "too many Asians" or "close it down". When did TJ supporters say only TJ students were smart? When did TJ supporters say there are no smart kids at other schools. When did TJ supporters say kids at other schools are lesser beings intellectually? That would be ludicrous.

There are many ways to successful accomplishments. You have it backwards. TJ supporters are offering opinions/arguments whereas real "attacks/hostility" come from the TJ haters. Stop hating and recognize there are many routes to success including places like TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People don't hate on TJ because of excellence, but it is funny how vehemently TJ supporters attack anyone who dares suggest that a student at another school might do just as well, or be just as smart, or even have an advantage getting into a top university. TJ has a higher concentration of very smart kids -- that's the nature of a magnet school -- but that doesn't mean that students who don't choose to go there are lesser beings intellectually or otherwise. That's what PP meant by hubris and it is all over this thread and any other that dares question whether TJ is the only route to success in this area.

If it works for your kid, great, but realize that other kids may choose different and for them, equally or more challenging paths.

A thousand times this.

Inferiority Complex!

[Anonymous]

"Edison's graduates have typically moved on to attend local and state colleges and universities, such as Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, The College of William and Mary, George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University, James Madison University, West Virginia University and Northern Virginia Community College."

"The Edison Academy acts as a school within a school. Upperclassmen can enroll in Academy courses to gain knowledge and skills in specific careers they want to seek after graduation. Courses offered range from cosmetology to automobile maintenance".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
First, typical graduating class is around 430. The bottom 30% of TJ students get accepted to places like W&M, VaTech, VCU, CMU, Indiana University, Boston University, Drexel University, Penn State, Rensselaer, RIT, Stevens Institute of Technology, Syracuse, GW, Tulane, University of Illinois etc. I think that's much better than 90% of Edison graduates.

Perhaps, though "much better" is likely a bit of a stretch. But probably not better than the top 10% at Edison, and that may be significant for a kid that would otherwise qualify for TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
First, typical graduating class is around 430. The bottom 30% of TJ students get accepted to places like W&M, VaTech, VCU, CMU, Indiana University, Boston University, Drexel University, Penn State, Rensselaer, RIT, Stevens Institute of Technology, Syracuse, GW, Tulane, University of Illinois etc. I think that's much better than 90% of Edison graduates.

Perhaps, though "much better" is likely a bit of a stretch. But probably not better than the top 10% at Edison, and that may be significant for a kid that would otherwise qualify for TJ.

If you really think you will be in the bottom 30% of TJ, maybe it's better to go to Edison. But the bottom 30% of TJ graduating class looks pretty good. Most people would be thrilled with the colleges listed above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And PP when they get those As, I bet they are in any college or university they choose.

Actually that's not true. I know a TJ grad who had all A's except for one B, as well as a nearly perfect SAT score, and she didn't get into any Ivies. She went to UVA.

Maybe she wanted to go to UVA.

She got into Duke, Rice, Carnegie Mellon and UVA. Did not get into Harvard (one parent had a Harvard grad degree), Brown, Columbia, Princeton, Penn or UC Berkeley. Participated in 2 varsity sports, plus other extracurriculars. I know all of this because I'm good friends with her mom.

Maybe she didn't take advanced post AP math or post AP science courses that most top students at TJ take.

I have had 2 kids at TJ so I'm familiar with the curriculum. Her only B was in an AP/post AP science class that gives many students their first B. I know she took Calc BC in 10th grade and then the math classes that follow in 11th and 12th. And to address the SAT score, I know her math and CR scores were each 800, writing was a little less. Also had 800s on all her SAT IIs and 5's on her APs. She is very happy at UVA - is getting great job/internship offers and her parents are happy to pay for grad school as she saved them so much money by choosing a state school over a private.

What were the ECs aside from 2 sports? Any officer positions or community service? it's just odd since about 20 ~ 25% of the TJ graduates make it to Ivys.

Do you have a link to this claim? It seems wildly off. 20-25% would mean that 90-110 students go to Ivies or 11-14 per Ivy. I haven't seen those numbers- even for TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And PP when they get those As, I bet they are in any college or university they choose.

Actually that's not true. I know a TJ grad who had all A's except for one B, as well as a nearly perfect SAT score, and she didn't get into any Ivies. She went to UVA.

Maybe she wanted to go to UVA.

She got into Duke, Rice, Carnegie Mellon and UVA. Did not get into Harvard (one parent had a Harvard grad degree), Brown, Columbia, Princeton, Penn or UC Berkeley. Participated in 2 varsity sports, plus other extracurriculars. I know all of this because I'm good friends with her mom.

Maybe she didn't take advanced post AP math or post AP science courses that most top students at TJ take.

I have had 2 kids at TJ so I'm familiar with the curriculum. Her only B was in an AP/post AP science class that gives many students their first B. I know she took Calc BC in 10th grade and then the math classes that follow in 11th and 12th. And to address the SAT score, I know her math and CR scores were each 800, writing was a little less. Also had 800s on all her SAT IIs and 5's on her APs. She is very happy at UVA - is getting great job/internship offers and her parents are happy to pay for grad school as she saved them so much money by choosing a state school over a private.

What were the ECs aside from 2 sports? Any officer positions or community service? it's just odd since about 20 ~ 25% of the TJ graduates make it to Ivys.

Do you have a link to this claim? It seems wildly off. 20-25% would mean that 90-110 students go to Ivies or 11-14 per Ivy. I haven't seen those numbers- even for TJ.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/377204.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And PP when they get those As, I bet they are in any college or university they choose.

Actually that's not true. I know a TJ grad who had all A's except for one B, as well as a nearly perfect SAT score, and she didn't get into any Ivies. She went to UVA.

Maybe she wanted to go to UVA.

She got into Duke, Rice, Carnegie Mellon and UVA. Did not get into Harvard (one parent had a Harvard grad degree), Brown, Columbia, Princeton, Penn or UC Berkeley. Participated in 2 varsity sports, plus other extracurriculars. I know all of this because I'm good friends with her mom.

Maybe she didn't take advanced post AP math or post AP science courses that most top students at TJ take.

I have had 2 kids at TJ so I'm familiar with the curriculum. Her only B was in an AP/post AP science class that gives many students their first B. I know she took Calc BC in 10th grade and then the math classes that follow in 11th and 12th. And to address the SAT score, I know her math and CR scores were each 800, writing was a little less. Also had 800s on all her SAT IIs and 5's on her APs. She is very happy at UVA - is getting great job/internship offers and her parents are happy to pay for grad school as she saved them so much money by choosing a state school over a private.

What were the ECs aside from 2 sports? Any officer positions or community service? it's just odd since about 20 ~ 25% of the TJ graduates make it to Ivys.

Do you have a link to this claim? It seems wildly off. 20-25% would mean that 90-110 students go to Ivies or 11-14 per Ivy. I haven't seen those numbers- even for TJ.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/377204.page

1) Since when is an anonymous post on DCUM evidence?
2) It shows acceptances not where they are going. One student can be accepted to more than one university.
3) The number of "acceptances" on your link is closer to 15% than 20-25%.

Anything else?