My kid will be taking Chem next year as a Sophomore. How hard/easy is this course? DS hated Biology and is hoping Chemistry is more interesting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid took TJ summer chem so they could take a fun elective during the school year. I’d bet mine was the only kid that didn’t take an AP science during that following school year. In fact, I know some that took both AP Bio and AP Chem following summer chem. My kid got an A in TJ summer chem but has other passions that I support. Would like to attend a T20, but is aware other TJ peers will show more rigor on their transcript. At least in science classes.

Is Rigor "always" more important than the Grades?
I mean a B+ (4.3 weighted, assuming weight of 1) with Rigor and A (4.5 for Honors weight of .5) without Rigor (normal TJ course) is better . Yeah a A- or A with Rigor definitely has higher GPA (if GPA is counted)

At TJ, there will always be a bunch of kids that have top rigor AND straight As (maybe an A- thrown in there). So a student that doesn’t maximize rigor but still gets straight As probably won’t be as successful with T20 admissions (absent a hook) because they are compared against classmates. With holistic admissions you never know, but I think it’s fair to say high rigor is “better” for elite college admissions. On the other hand, taking classes you enjoy vs taking classes that you think may be better for college admissions is worth something and a TJ education will be helpful no matter where the student ends up.

Possibly lower with 2025 and beyond, so normal track with A's could be good too. Does FCPS share the college board AP exam stats by grade (could help show the rigor and where the class stands)?

It will be interesting to see stats of class of 2025. I wouldn’t be surprised if the number of AP exams taken by 2025 students as sophomores this year was lower than previous years. They take the PSAT for NMS in October. There will probably be a drop in the number of semi-finalists/finalists. I have a child in this class and know there are some very smart students with straight As in difficult courses, but students struggling (according to my DC) and many of those struggling and repeating math courses perhaps wouldn’t have gotten in under the old admissions criteria?

school obviously has records that track student count of all courses enrolled and grades earned, and has stopped producing and making public such reports since the admissions criteria change.



Do you know how many AP classes on min, max, and average students took before class of 2025? Don't think school records anything.

school obviously has records that track student count of all courses enrolled and grades earned, and has stopped producing and making public such reports since the admissions criteria change

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid took TJ summer chem so they could take a fun elective during the school year. I’d bet mine was the only kid that didn’t take an AP science during that following school year. In fact, I know some that took both AP Bio and AP Chem following summer chem. My kid got an A in TJ summer chem but has other passions that I support. Would like to attend a T20, but is aware other TJ peers will show more rigor on their transcript. At least in science classes.

Is Rigor "always" more important than the Grades?
I mean a B+ (4.3 weighted, assuming weight of 1) with Rigor and A (4.5 for Honors weight of .5) without Rigor (normal TJ course) is better . Yeah a A- or A with Rigor definitely has higher GPA (if GPA is counted)

At TJ, there will always be a bunch of kids that have top rigor AND straight As (maybe an A- thrown in there). So a student that doesn’t maximize rigor but still gets straight As probably won’t be as successful with T20 admissions (absent a hook) because they are compared against classmates. With holistic admissions you never know, but I think it’s fair to say high rigor is “better” for elite college admissions. On the other hand, taking classes you enjoy vs taking classes that you think may be better for college admissions is worth something and a TJ education will be helpful no matter where the student ends up.

Possibly lower with 2025 and beyond, so normal track with A's could be good too. Does FCPS share the college board AP exam stats by grade (could help show the rigor and where the class stands)?

It will be interesting to see stats of class of 2025. I wouldn’t be surprised if the number of AP exams taken by 2025 students as sophomores this year was lower than previous years. They take the PSAT for NMS in October. There will probably be a drop in the number of semi-finalists/finalists. I have a child in this class and know there are some very smart students with straight As in difficult courses, but students struggling (according to my DC) and many of those struggling and repeating math courses perhaps wouldn’t have gotten in under the old admissions criteria?

Do you know how many AP classes on min, max, and average students took before class of 2025? Don't think school records anything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid took TJ summer chem so they could take a fun elective during the school year. I’d bet mine was the only kid that didn’t take an AP science during that following school year. In fact, I know some that took both AP Bio and AP Chem following summer chem. My kid got an A in TJ summer chem but has other passions that I support. Would like to attend a T20, but is aware other TJ peers will show more rigor on their transcript. At least in science classes.

Is Rigor "always" more important than the Grades?
I mean a B+ (4.3 weighted, assuming weight of 1) with Rigor and A (4.5 for Honors weight of .5) without Rigor (normal TJ course) is better . Yeah a A- or A with Rigor definitely has higher GPA (if GPA is counted)

At TJ, there will always be a bunch of kids that have top rigor AND straight As (maybe an A- thrown in there). So a student that doesn’t maximize rigor but still gets straight As probably won’t be as successful with T20 admissions (absent a hook) because they are compared against classmates. With holistic admissions you never know, but I think it’s fair to say high rigor is “better” for elite college admissions. On the other hand, taking classes you enjoy vs taking classes that you think may be better for college admissions is worth something and a TJ education will be helpful no matter where the student ends up.

Possibly lower with 2025 and beyond, so normal track with A's could be good too. Does FCPS share the college board AP exam stats by grade (could help show the rigor and where the class stands)?

It will be interesting to see stats of class of 2025. I wouldn’t be surprised if the number of AP exams taken by 2025 students as sophomores this year was lower than previous years. They take the PSAT for NMS in October. There will probably be a drop in the number of semi-finalists/finalists. I have a child in this class and know there are some very smart students with straight As in difficult courses, but students struggling (according to my DC) and many of those struggling and repeating math courses perhaps wouldn’t have gotten in under the old admissions criteria?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid took TJ summer chem so they could take a fun elective during the school year. I’d bet mine was the only kid that didn’t take an AP science during that following school year. In fact, I know some that took both AP Bio and AP Chem following summer chem. My kid got an A in TJ summer chem but has other passions that I support. Would like to attend a T20, but is aware other TJ peers will show more rigor on their transcript. At least in science classes.

Is Rigor "always" more important than the Grades?
I mean a B+ (4.3 weighted, assuming weight of 1) with Rigor and A (4.5 for Honors weight of .5) without Rigor (normal TJ course) is better . Yeah a A- or A with Rigor definitely has higher GPA (if GPA is counted)

At TJ, there will always be a bunch of kids that have top rigor AND straight As (maybe an A- thrown in there). So a student that doesn’t maximize rigor but still gets straight As probably won’t be as successful with T20 admissions (absent a hook) because they are compared against classmates. With holistic admissions you never know, but I think it’s fair to say high rigor is “better” for elite college admissions. On the other hand, taking classes you enjoy vs taking classes that you think may be better for college admissions is worth something and a TJ education will be helpful no matter where the student ends up.

Possibly lower with 2025 and beyond, so normal track with A's could be good too. Does FCPS share the college board AP exam stats by grade (could help show the rigor and where the class stands)?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid took TJ summer chem so they could take a fun elective during the school year. I’d bet mine was the only kid that didn’t take an AP science during that following school year. In fact, I know some that took both AP Bio and AP Chem following summer chem. My kid got an A in TJ summer chem but has other passions that I support. Would like to attend a T20, but is aware other TJ peers will show more rigor on their transcript. At least in science classes.

Is Rigor "always" more important than the Grades?
I mean a B+ (4.3 weighted, assuming weight of 1) with Rigor and A (4.5 for Honors weight of .5) without Rigor (normal TJ course) is better . Yeah a A- or A with Rigor definitely has higher GPA (if GPA is counted)

At TJ, there will always be a bunch of kids that have top rigor AND straight As (maybe an A- thrown in there). So a student that doesn’t maximize rigor but still gets straight As probably won’t be as successful with T20 admissions (absent a hook) because they are compared against classmates. With holistic admissions you never know, but I think it’s fair to say high rigor is “better” for elite college admissions. On the other hand, taking classes you enjoy vs taking classes that you think may be better for college admissions is worth something and a TJ education will be helpful no matter where the student ends up.

Anonymous wrote:My kid took TJ summer chem so they could take a fun elective during the school year. I’d bet mine was the only kid that didn’t take an AP science during that following school year. In fact, I know some that took both AP Bio and AP Chem following summer chem. My kid got an A in TJ summer chem but has other passions that I support. Would like to attend a T20, but is aware other TJ peers will show more rigor on their transcript. At least in science classes.

Is Rigor "always" more important than the Grades?
I mean a B+ (4.3 weighted, assuming weight of 1) with Rigor and A (4.5 for Honors weight of .5) without Rigor (normal TJ course) is better . Yeah a A- or A with Rigor definitely has higher GPA (if GPA is counted)

My kid took TJ summer chem so they could take a fun elective during the school year. I’d bet mine was the only kid that didn’t take an AP science during that following school year. In fact, I know some that took both AP Bio and AP Chem following summer chem. My kid got an A in TJ summer chem but has other passions that I support. Would like to attend a T20, but is aware other TJ peers will show more rigor on their transcript. At least in science classes.

Usually kids who want to take AP bio AND Chem sophomore year. My kid sez it is only for the truly truly hard core. And not for those who are truly interested in Chem. Because it is absurdly condensed. More for those who’d like to rack up as many APs as possible. Which is a good chunk of TJ. But not everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Typical TJ rush* to clear space for/get to other classes faster. My understanding is that kids taking summer chem before 10th grade are usually planning to take AP Chem or (more likely) AP Bio as sophomores. (AP Bio can be taken simultaneously with regular chem in 10th, but doing chem in the summer just opens up another course slot.)


* I don't mean anything negative by this, notwithstanding that my spouse and I wouldn't let our TJ student take any important classes (like chem or Math 5) in the summer, even if he'd wanted to (which for Math 5 he did. Tough, kid).

first sentence and footnote are unnecessary. thanks for the rest of the reply

🙄
Not pp but jeez. You ask a question here you take what you get. The first part of PP’s answer is also useful info - it’s just part of what people do.

Thank you for your zero contribution

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Typical TJ rush* to clear space for/get to other classes faster. My understanding is that kids taking summer chem before 10th grade are usually planning to take AP Chem or (more likely) AP Bio as sophomores. (AP Bio can be taken simultaneously with regular chem in 10th, but doing chem in the summer just opens up another course slot.)


* I don't mean anything negative by this, notwithstanding that my spouse and I wouldn't let our TJ student take any important classes (like chem or Math 5) in the summer, even if he'd wanted to (which for Math 5 he did. Tough, kid).

first sentence and footnote are unnecessary. thanks for the rest of the reply

🙄
Not pp but jeez. You ask a question here you take what you get. The first part of PP’s answer is also useful info - it’s just part of what people do.

Chem and Bio are both taught twice, once at HS level and then again at AP level, and since it is the same material both times (but AP goes deeper), it's a good candidate for doing the first version in summer, if student is well-prepared and a quick learner.

Anonymous wrote:Typical TJ rush* to clear space for/get to other classes faster. My understanding is that kids taking summer chem before 10th grade are usually planning to take AP Chem or (more likely) AP Bio as sophomores. (AP Bio can be taken simultaneously with regular chem in 10th, but doing chem in the summer just opens up another course slot.)


* I don't mean anything negative by this, notwithstanding that my spouse and I wouldn't let our TJ student take any important classes (like chem or Math 5) in the summer, even if he'd wanted to (which for Math 5 he did. Tough, kid).

first sentence and footnote are unnecessary. thanks for the rest of the reply

Typical TJ rush* to clear space for/get to other classes faster. My understanding is that kids taking summer chem before 10th grade are usually planning to take AP Chem or (more likely) AP Bio as sophomores. (AP Bio can be taken simultaneously with regular chem in 10th, but doing chem in the summer just opens up another course slot.)


* I don't mean anything negative by this, notwithstanding that my spouse and I wouldn't let our TJ student take any important classes (like chem or Math 5) in the summer, even if he'd wanted to (which for Math 5 he did. Tough, kid).

TJ Chemistry 1 appears to be a consistently offered summer course. What's the main reason for taking this in summer instead of during normal academic year?