The website says: demonstration of commitment to/interest in STEM, Map-M, and 7th/8th grades (1st q of 8th).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/apply_test.php

so MAP-M now

It says “part” of the process. What else? And what scores? Can anyone share scores of admitted students?

OP, nobody knows exact criteria and MCPS wants it that way so they can bring in more underserved kids to the program.

Right but current students know what their scores were when they got admitted and what their grades were and what they highlighted in their application. And so do their parents. Perhaps they might be inclined to share them here, unless it’s all one big secret. That’s all I’m asking.

After a certain highish score, I am not sure it matters.

Grades, test scores, essays

So, it looks like you get 2 short answer boxes for awards/ECs, 1 for school service/contributions and 1 short essay about what you are passionate about. I think they will look at these closely and not just pull from map scores. I know Blair has become more aware of a need for greater diversity.

My kids were admitted to various magnets under the old systems. Oldest could write separate essays for separate programs and got into everything. 2nd could write 1 essay only (like now, but it may have been longer) that was sent to all the programs. Wrote about something stem related and only got into stem programs (rejected from CAP, did not apply to RM, no regional IB then) despite having higher verbal scores/percentile and outstanding performing arts ECs. I think they really looked at these essays for fit. I also think the programs value achievements in complimentary fields. I think Blair and Wheaton liked my kids because they had science awards and performing arts/music awards. There is a push in the STEM programs to embrace the arts.

Also, I noticed on the short answer sections, you don't need to write in complete sentences, and it can be a list, so pack in the honors/ECs/etc. Get creative! Cooking? Fine art? Dance? I think you will want to stand out beyond honor roll and quiz team. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/apply_test.php

so MAP-M now

It says “part” of the process. What else? And what scores? Can anyone share scores of admitted students?

OP, nobody knows exact criteria and MCPS wants it that way so they can bring in more underserved kids to the program.

Right but current students know what their scores were when they got admitted and what their grades were and what they highlighted in their application. And so do their parents. Perhaps they might be inclined to share them here, unless it’s all one big secret. That’s all I’m asking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/apply_test.php

so MAP-M now

It says “part” of the process. What else? And what scores? Can anyone share scores of admitted students?

OP, nobody knows exact criteria and MCPS wants it that way so they can bring in more underserved kids to the program.

+1 holistic admissions = opaque

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/apply_test.php

so MAP-M now

It says “part” of the process. What else? And what scores? Can anyone share scores of admitted students?

OP, nobody knows exact criteria and MCPS wants it that way so they can bring in more underserved kids to the program.

Anonymous wrote:https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/apply_test.php

so MAP-M now

It says “part” of the process. What else? And what scores? Can anyone share scores of admitted students?

https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/apply_test.php

so MAP-M now

Anonymous wrote:Our of four programs you listed, only two really matter - SMAC and RM/IB

Matter for what??? I didn’t ask what mattered. I’m interested in how they chose admitted students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what they are looking for? I know they are highly competitive but what types of students get in? What scores, what extracurricular activities, what was it about current students that got them selected? Trying to work out how much of a shot my kid might have at any of them.

I don't know if they look at any of that stuff at this point. My guess is it's pretty hard to determine. For Blair, there are potentially 8000 students vying for 100 slots. I'm guessing 2000+ have straight A's. Not sure extracurriculars are even a factor currently.

So what is a factor? If thousands have straight As, then what are they looking for? How do they make decisions?

Anonymous wrote:Our of four programs you listed, only two really matter - SMAC and RM/IB

"Of the four programs you listed, only two really matter to me, because I am a soulless killjoy, coming into every magnet thread to explain how inferior other children are. I hope my sons inherit my sociopathy and my daughters my willingness to subjugate any hopes and dreams they might have like I did long ago--because everyone in DC knows the only way to get a government job is to go to HYP."

Fixed that for you.

*This is not actually true.

Our of four programs you listed, only two really matter - SMAC and RM/IB

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what they are looking for? I know they are highly competitive but what types of students get in? What scores, what extracurricular activities, what was it about current students that got them selected? Trying to work out how much of a shot my kid might have at any of them.

I don't know if they look at any of that stuff at this point. My guess is it's pretty hard to determine. For Blair, there are potentially 8000 students vying for 100 slots. I'm guessing 2000+ have straight A's. Not sure extracurriculars are even a factor currently.

Does anyone know what they are looking for? I know they are highly competitive but what types of students get in? What scores, what extracurricular activities, what was it about current students that got them selected? Trying to work out how much of a shot my kid might have at any of them.