Reply to Reasons why one would not accept TJ offer?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Colleges care ONLY about GPA.

If you think your child cannot land in the top half of the TJ class AND get a 4.0 (w) or above GPA - then avoid TJ.

The overall curriculum at TJ is same as any base HS - they all cover mostly the same courses such as AP Stats, AP Cal A/B or B/C, AP Physics. [/quote]

if that's really true and I'm skeptical, then FCPS should consider a different magnet model. I suspect it isn't really true and most elite colleges are familiar with schools like TJ that frequently listed as the #1 HS in the USA.[/quote]

Colleges are aware of the differences but they are not going to accept a ton of students from one school. This is an issue for the elite private schools. Check out the discussions on the private school forums. The 4.0 kids at Sidwell who are not legacies or athletes struggle to get accepted at the Ivies or top schools because the spots for their school are taken by legacies and athletes. Universities have a limited number of slots that they will use for any school and a limited number of slots for geographic regions. I kid who is a B student at TJ, taking AP classes, will probably have better prospects at their base school because the academic competition at the base school is likely to be less then at TJ. That B at TJ is more likely to be an A at their base school.

Is that the only reason to turn down an ofer from TJ? No. There is something to be said for kids challenging themselves and being around a lot of other kids who are academically motivated. Is it something to consider? Sure. It is also a different consideration for a kid who might go to Lewis or Mt Vernon or Herndon then a kid going to Langley or McLean because there will be more competition academically at McLean and Langley then there will be at Lewis or Mt Vernon or Herndon.

And you can say that TJ offers the same classes as most of the base schools, and they do, but the classes taught at TJ are taught at a higher level. The Teachers know that they have kids who are academically minded and are high achievers, they have higher expectations and demand more. AP classes at the base school will include kids who are in AP because mom and dad want them in AP but they really don't care and Teachers who are working to make sure that those kids are learning the material. TJ is not going to have kids that are being forced to take AP classes. Well, TJ might but the kids are bright and they know that their parents won't tolerate a lower grade so they do the work. More likely, the Teachers don't feel the need to teach to the kids at the bottom of the class because the school is a choice and not a requirement. Kids are expected to keep up and get the help they need if they need help outside of class. [/quote]

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