Anonymous
02/07/2023 08:25
Subject: Re:Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:MIT grad here, I'm strongly discouraging it.
Friends kid in 10th grade. Both parents with PhDs, kid just as smart. Up until 1am most nights per parents maybe later they say.
I want a different life for my kid. Less stress less pressure
When my child got admission this is what I was most worried about. I talked to others and got mixed messages. Having 8+ hours of sleep and free time for friends/family is non-negotiable for me.
We accepted and the experience is absolutely nothing like that. On average it is taking 30-45 minutes of work at home during weekdays. 2 hours per day on weekends to complete all work. My child stayed past 10 PM twice so far this academic year. Both times got to bed by 11 PM and it is because they did not plan it well. Really enjoys the classroom and school experience. Child did not get admitted to TJ in 9th grade and got admission in sophomore round. So child has experience both at base and TJ. Definitely likes TJ a lot more and finds it really enjoyable so far.
At base, child did not even spend 5 minutes on home work. Everything used to be finished at school it self and this is at a base HS that is mentioned as among the top 5 in FCPS.
Many of my child's friends have similar experience. But I do know others who are staying up until 1 AM.
Know your child, it could be an extremely good experience or it might not be.
My DC also gets plenty of sleep with strong ECs, and loves the school. I think some kids may not be ready for the type of rigor TJ provides. (Students from the traditional TJ feeder schools are ready.) That's okay, but know what the work entails and expect lower grades than base HS.
Offering this for those weighing OP’s question …
Similar experience so far in 9th. But I also think some of it may hinge on how much work ahead a kid does on the weekends to not end up staying up super late AND their class mix. DC is on the “normal” track not the advanced one that is Math 4+ freshman year. It IS much much more rigorous than MS was though. That is what DC likes about it - that and the other kids there.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 08:16
Subject: Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
I didn’t have any interest but now my child (5th grade) has said TJ and MIT is their goal. Many years to go before then but I was surprised bc we never talk about it.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 08:11
Subject: Re:Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:MIT grad here, I'm strongly discouraging it.
Friends kid in 10th grade. Both parents with PhDs, kid just as smart. Up until 1am most nights per parents maybe later they say.
I want a different life for my kid. Less stress less pressure
When my child got admission this is what I was most worried about. I talked to others and got mixed messages. Having 8+ hours of sleep and free time for friends/family is non-negotiable for me.
We accepted and the experience is absolutely nothing like that. On average it is taking 30-45 minutes of work at home during weekdays. 2 hours per day on weekends to complete all work. My child stayed past 10 PM twice so far this academic year. Both times got to bed by 11 PM and it is because they did not plan it well. Really enjoys the classroom and school experience. Child did not get admitted to TJ in 9th grade and got admission in sophomore round. So child has experience both at base and TJ. Definitely likes TJ a lot more and finds it really enjoyable so far.
At base, child did not even spend 5 minutes on home work. Everything used to be finished at school it self and this is at a base HS that is mentioned as among the top 5 in FCPS.
Many of my child's friends have similar experience. But I do know others who are staying up until 1 AM.
Know your child, it could be an extremely good experience or it might not be.
My DC also gets plenty of sleep with strong ECs, and loves the school. I think some kids may not be ready for the type of rigor TJ provides. (Students from the traditional TJ feeder schools are ready.) That's okay, but know what the work entails and expect lower grades than base HS.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 07:35
Subject: Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
I don’t know. My kid applied, but like others, I worry about the work load & stress if he gets in. Thanks, PP, for sharing your perspective.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 07:22
Subject: Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
Anonymous wrote:It’s not about the parent. It’s about the kid.
Do you want world peace too?
Anonymous
02/07/2023 07:17
Subject: Re:Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:MIT grad here, I'm strongly discouraging it.
Friends kid in 10th grade. Both parents with PhDs, kid just as smart. Up until 1am most nights per parents maybe later they say.
I want a different life for my kid. Less stress less pressure
When my child got admission this is what I was most worried about. I talked to others and got mixed messages. Having 8+ hours of sleep and free time for friends/family is non-negotiable for me.
We accepted and the experience is absolutely nothing like that. On average it is taking 30-45 minutes of work at home during weekdays. 2 hours per day on weekends to complete all work. My child stayed past 10 PM twice so far this academic year. Both times got to bed by 11 PM and it is because they did not plan it well. Really enjoys the classroom and school experience. Child did not get admitted to TJ in 9th grade and got admission in sophomore round. So child has experience both at base and TJ. Definitely likes TJ a lot more and finds it really enjoyable so far.
At base, child did not even spend 5 minutes on home work. Everything used to be finished at school it self and this is at a base HS that is mentioned as among the top 5 in FCPS.
Many of my child's friends have similar experience. But I do know others who are staying up until 1 AM.
Know your child, it could be an extremely good experience or it might not be.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 07:06
Subject: Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
I won’t encourage it. If my kid wants to apply I would support them.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 07:02
Subject: Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
It’s not about the parent. It’s about the kid.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 07:01
Subject: Re:Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
No clue, we’ll figure that out when he is in 8th grade if he wants to apply. I want him to be have a voice in his education and TJ is 100% his call, not mine.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 06:22
Subject: Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
No. My child already tends towards anxious, I don’t need to add to that.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 06:01
Subject: Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
Not want.
Relative went there and it worked out fine (free ride to college was nice) but after everything I heard, not what I want for my own kids.
Relative went there and it worked out fine (free ride to college was nice) but after everything I heard, not what I want for my own kids.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 00:26
Subject: Re:Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
Anonymous wrote:MIT grad here, I'm strongly discouraging it.
Friends kid in 10th grade. Both parents with PhDs, kid just as smart. Up until 1am most nights per parents maybe later they say.
I want a different life for my kid. Less stress less pressure
Anonymous
02/07/2023 00:21
Subject: Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
It depends. If they really want it and they're at the level where they won't be totally stressed out with keeping up in the classes, I'd be fine with it.
If getting in would require Herculean effort and they'll spend four years of their life struggling to pass their classes and are borderline suicidal from the stress, then no.
We've got a few years before it's an issue, but based on what I know of my kids' level of ambition, drive, and achievement, I don't think they'd hack it and I don't think they'd want it anyway. I'm perfectly fine with that.
I do want them to go to a better school than Lewis HS, with peers who are more at their level (above grade-level, but not all Einsteins) so they're actually pushed a little and learn something. Right now, except for the one in the AAP center school, most of their teachers spend all their time with all the lower achieving kids, while kids sit bored and twiddling their thumbs...so frustrating.
If getting in would require Herculean effort and they'll spend four years of their life struggling to pass their classes and are borderline suicidal from the stress, then no.
We've got a few years before it's an issue, but based on what I know of my kids' level of ambition, drive, and achievement, I don't think they'd hack it and I don't think they'd want it anyway. I'm perfectly fine with that.
I do want them to go to a better school than Lewis HS, with peers who are more at their level (above grade-level, but not all Einsteins) so they're actually pushed a little and learn something. Right now, except for the one in the AAP center school, most of their teachers spend all their time with all the lower achieving kids, while kids sit bored and twiddling their thumbs...so frustrating.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 00:06
Subject: Re:Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
MIT grad here, I'm strongly discouraging it.
Anonymous
02/07/2023 00:00
Subject: Do you want or do you not want your kid to go to TJ?
Question in the title