TJ Today -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting if they changed to a system of looking only at grades, teacher recommendations, work samples, and interviews and just completely cut out the testing. The selection would then be based more on the child's work over time, rather than one or two days of testing.

Why do you think this would change the outcome in terms of student ratio?

I didn't say it would.

I think it would be interesting because it seems that every year there are complaints that some kids with very high scores were not accepted while others with lower scores were. I think that test scores don't tell the whole story about students and their potential and that work over time gives a better picture of a student's work ethic and abilities, so it would be interesting to take tests completely out of the equation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting if they changed to a system of looking only at grades, teacher recommendations, work samples, and interviews and just completely cut out the testing. The selection would then be based more on the child's work over time, rather than one or two days of testing.

Why do you think this would change the outcome in terms of student ratio?

I didn't say it would.

I think it would be interesting because it seems that every year there are complaints that some kids with very high scores were not accepted while others with lower scores were. I think that test scores don't tell the whole story about students and their potential and that work over time gives a better picture of a student's work ethic and abilities, so it would be interesting to take tests completely out of the equation.

Interesting, like as a thought experiment?
Or do you mean it would be an improvement to eliminate the testing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son was WLed with 89 reading, 96 science, and 96 math.

That is a bummer. Those are great scores. Have heard that lots of kids get in off wait list. good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting if they changed to a system of looking only at grades, teacher recommendations, work samples, and interviews and just completely cut out the testing. The selection would then be based more on the child's work over time, rather than one or two days of testing.

Why do you think this would change the outcome in terms of student ratio?

I didn't say it would.

I think it would be interesting because it seems that every year there are complaints that some kids with very high scores were not accepted while others with lower scores were. I think that test scores don't tell the whole story about students and their potential and that work over time gives a better picture of a student's work ethic and abilities, so it would be interesting to take tests completely out of the equation.

I think the only "soft" variables in the entire process are the teacher recommendations and part II of the test. There is probably a direct correlation between grades in school and performance in test 1. They do consider grades and teacher recommendations so it does include a "work over time" perspective. I don't think interviews are a good idea. That would be moving away from the blind admission process where they do not know who the kid is during the selection process. Introducing an interview would result in perception of bias. But overall, I don't think it would change who gets in..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting if they changed to a system of looking only at grades, teacher recommendations, work samples, and interviews and just completely cut out the testing. The selection would then be based more on the child's work over time, rather than one or two days of testing.

Why do you think this would change the outcome in terms of student ratio?

I didn't say it would.

I think it would be interesting because it seems that every year there are complaints that some kids with very high scores were not accepted while others with lower scores were. I think that test scores don't tell the whole story about students and their potential and that work over time gives a better picture of a student's work ethic and abilities, so it would be interesting to take tests completely out of the equation.

I think the only "soft" variables in the entire process are the teacher recommendations and part II of the test. There is probably a direct correlation between grades in school and performance in test 1. They do consider grades and teacher recommendations so it does include a "work over time" perspective. I don't think interviews are a good idea. That would be moving away from the blind admission process where they do not know who the kid is during the selection process. Introducing an interview would result in perception of bias. But overall, I don't think it would change who gets in..

They could do phone interviews.

Dropping the standardized tests wouldn't make a big difference in who is selected, but it would put a brake on some businesses that are out there making a lot of money off families with test prep classes. Some of those same businesses are the ones that collect questions from tests given at TJ and are involved in some of the test cheating that goes on there- they keep up relationships with kids who took their prep classes and ask them to memorize test questions and tell them so they can put together a test question bank. So dropping the tests could possibly have a good effect at TJ itself.

I just don't think the tests are absolutely necessary given the other information that is available to the admissions committee. There are colleges that are dropping requirements for standardized testing and TJ is dealing with smaller numbers of applicants than most colleges. FCPS would be able to save a fair amount of money on the testing and still put together a good class.

[Anonymous]

They could do phone interviews.

Dropping the standardized tests wouldn't make a big difference in who is selected, but it would put a brake on some businesses that are out there making a lot of money off families with test prep classes. Some of those same businesses are the ones that collect questions from tests given at TJ and are involved in some of the test cheating that goes on there- they keep up relationships with kids who took their prep classes and ask them to memorize test questions and tell them so they can put together a test question bank. So dropping the tests could possibly have a good effect at TJ itself.

I just don't think the tests are absolutely necessary given the other information that is available to the admissions committee. There are colleges that are dropping requirements for standardized testing and TJ is dealing with smaller numbers of applicants than most colleges. FCPS would be able to save a fair amount of money on the testing and still put together a good class.


That is too simplistic view. There can be another prep classes for phone interviews. Variables are always possible. I think there should be at least one common entrance exam which ensures objectivity and that is Test 1. They try to choose the students in holistic view with Test 2 and teacher recommendations. You can see some applicants with good scores in test 1 fail while some are in with pretty low test score.

[Anonymous]

There was an error. I didn’t know how to quote the previous article. From “That is too simplistic point of view~ is what I want to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting if they changed to a system of looking only at grades, teacher recommendations, work samples, and interviews and just completely cut out the testing. The selection would then be based more on the child's work over time, rather than one or two days of testing.

Why do you think this would change the outcome in terms of student ratio?

I didn't say it would.

I think it would be interesting because it seems that every year there are complaints that some kids with very high scores were not accepted while others with lower scores were. I think that test scores don't tell the whole story about students and their potential and that work over time gives a better picture of a student's work ethic and abilities, so it would be interesting to take tests completely out of the equation.

I think the only "soft" variables in the entire process are the teacher recommendations and part II of the test. There is probably a direct correlation between grades in school and performance in test 1. They do consider grades and teacher recommendations so it does include a "work over time" perspective. I don't think interviews are a good idea. That would be moving away from the blind admission process where they do not know who the kid is during the selection process. Introducing an interview would result in perception of bias. But overall, I don't think it would change who gets in..

They could do phone interviews.

Dropping the standardized tests wouldn't make a big difference in who is selected, but it would put a brake on some businesses that are out there making a lot of money off families with test prep classes. Some of those same businesses are the ones that collect questions from tests given at TJ and are involved in some of the test cheating that goes on there- they keep up relationships with kids who took their prep classes and ask them to memorize test questions and tell them so they can put together a test question bank. So dropping the tests could possibly have a good effect at TJ itself.

I just don't think the tests are absolutely necessary given the other information that is available to the admissions committee. There are colleges that are dropping requirements for standardized testing and TJ is dealing with smaller numbers of applicants than most colleges. FCPS would be able to save a fair amount of money on the testing and still put together a good class.

Fair enough.. Good thought. As long as they can make sure biases do not creep into the interview process, this might work. I do agree on the point about test prep. However, for most of them, TJ prep is just the hook. Most of the kids return for ongoing supplemental classes throughout their HS years. That's where they make the most of their money.

[Anonymous]

I never understand about the prep theory. As long as there is a test, there is a prep. no matter it is SAT or LSAT or GRE or GMAT. Everyone has chance to do prep. The class is open to everyone. If you choose not to prep, you take the consequence. So what is the problem here with Prep????

[Anonymous]

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never understand about the prep theory. As long as there is a test, there is a prep. no matter it is SAT or LSAT or GRE or GMAT. Everyone has chance to do prep. The class is open to everyone. If you choose not to prep, you take the consequence. So what is the problem here with Prep????

The church of WhitepeopleonDCUMland puts out a list of when prep classes are acceptable vs not. You better follow that or forever be banished for your un-American practices!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never understand about the prep theory. As long as there is a test, there is a prep. no matter it is SAT or LSAT or GRE or GMAT. Everyone has chance to do prep. The class is open to everyone. If you choose not to prep, you take the consequence. So what is the problem here with Prep????

The church of WhitepeopleonDCUMland puts out a list of when prep classes are acceptable vs not. You better follow that or forever be banished for your un-American practices!

Hahaha,, if someone wants to be a great sport player, he or she will practice daily and nobody will blame that. Then why not for the best STEM school? It is just nonsense. Where the tests are, there also exist preps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never understand about the prep theory. As long as there is a test, there is a prep. no matter it is SAT or LSAT or GRE or GMAT. Everyone has chance to do prep. The class is open to everyone. If you choose not to prep, you take the consequence. So what is the problem here with Prep????

The church of WhitepeopleonDCUMland puts out a list of when prep classes are acceptable vs not. You better follow that or forever be banished for your un-American practices!

Hahaha,, if someone wants to be a great sport player, he or she will practice daily and nobody will blame that. Then why not for the best STEM school? It is just nonsense. Where the tests are, there also exist preps.

White people don't and are not allowed to practice but they won Olympic gold medals. They're truly geniuses.

[Anonymous]

So much ugliness coming, apparently, from Asians on this thread. Why do we continue to subsidize this school for arrogant snobs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So much ugliness coming, apparently, from Asians on this thread. Why do we continue to subsidize this school for arrogant snobs?

The only arrogant snob (and a jerk) is you, who I guess is a white person.