Anonymous
08/08/2024 11:13
Subject: Re:Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
do you know anyone accepted this year for Sophomore? do you know the acceptance rate this year? do they need to write SPS Essay at their own time not like an exam?
Anonymous
09/03/2023 17:06
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's incredibly difficult to get in as a sophomore - consequently, the kids who do it are usually very well-prepared and honestly relieved to be out of the base school environment.
The hardest transition is in science. People usually think it's math, but the way TJ goes about teaching science is a far bigger delta from what you get at a base school.
Really? I would expect no more than 45 kids apply. If that is true, then 15 out of those 45 are selected, which is 33% acceptance rate. Seems easier. Also, seems like the JMO and like kids settle in Langley and Mclean and are not interested in TJ any more.
New poster.
Acceptance rate is not really a good way to determine how difficult the admissions are for several reasons - cohort of students applying for freshman vs sophomore are quite different.
Sophomore admissions are evaluated by TJ faculty and a big component of the admissions is recommendations letters. Teacher input is quite specific and the bar is high for admission. This is understandable, why take a student who is doing very well in school already (if not doing well, recommendation ding the student) and put them in a school that is much more rigorous?
TJ faculty knows why type of student would do well in TJ.
What this ends up doing is, most sophomore admits would be in the top 10% of the class.
I have a limited sample of students who have gone through this, including DC but that has been our experience.
I do understand why someone who is doing so well would just not want to change. We went through that as well.
Prior to the admission changes the froshmore used to have "imposter" syndrome. With what you are saying/seeing (assuming it is true) the froshmore's after the new admission policy (class of 2025 and beyond) should no longer have the "imposter" syndrome.
Anonymous
08/30/2023 22:00
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
Anonymous wrote:TJ is much harder than any base school so unless you are a very top student, just stay and do well where you are. For the top students, there are many more EC opportunities than the base school.
Because it’s built into TJ’s school day.
Anonymous
08/30/2023 21:37
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's incredibly difficult to get in as a sophomore - consequently, the kids who do it are usually very well-prepared and honestly relieved to be out of the base school environment.
The hardest transition is in science. People usually think it's math, but the way TJ goes about teaching science is a far bigger delta from what you get at a base school.
Really? I would expect no more than 45 kids apply. If that is true, then 15 out of those 45 are selected, which is 33% acceptance rate. Seems easier. Also, seems like the JMO and like kids settle in Langley and Mclean and are not interested in TJ any more.
Where on earth do you get 45 from? Especially in today’s environment, I’d think it would be hundreds.
Anonymous
08/30/2023 21:01
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's incredibly difficult to get in as a sophomore - consequently, the kids who do it are usually very well-prepared and honestly relieved to be out of the base school environment.
The hardest transition is in science. People usually think it's math, but the way TJ goes about teaching science is a far bigger delta from what you get at a base school.
Really? I would expect no more than 45 kids apply. If that is true, then 15 out of those 45 are selected, which is 33% acceptance rate. Seems easier. Also, seems like the JMO and like kids settle in Langley and Mclean and are not interested in TJ any more.
New poster.
Acceptance rate is not really a good way to determine how difficult the admissions are for several reasons - cohort of students applying for freshman vs sophomore are quite different.
Sophomore admissions are evaluated by TJ faculty and a big component of the admissions is recommendations letters. Teacher input is quite specific and the bar is high for admission. This is understandable, why take a student who is doing very well in school already (if not doing well, recommendation ding the student) and put them in a school that is much more rigorous?
TJ faculty knows why type of student would do well in TJ.
What this ends up doing is, most sophomore admits would be in the top 10% of the class.
I have a limited sample of students who have gone through this, including DC but that has been our experience.
I do understand why someone who is doing so well would just not want to change. We went through that as well.
15 kids enter as froshmore. If they all are really in top 10% (approx. within top 50 kids in 530 total kids) then certainly there is a big gap in selection process and the admission process should analyze the data. Also, most of the kids applying in the sophomore round already applied and were not selected due to whatever may be the reason (so cohort may not matter as much).
Anonymous
08/30/2023 10:03
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
TJ is much harder than any base school so unless you are a very top student, just stay and do well where you are. For the top students, there are many more EC opportunities than the base school.
Anonymous
08/30/2023 09:50
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's incredibly difficult to get in as a sophomore - consequently, the kids who do it are usually very well-prepared and honestly relieved to be out of the base school environment.
The hardest transition is in science. People usually think it's math, but the way TJ goes about teaching science is a far bigger delta from what you get at a base school.
Really? I would expect no more than 45 kids apply. If that is true, then 15 out of those 45 are selected, which is 33% acceptance rate. Seems easier. Also, seems like the JMO and like kids settle in Langley and Mclean and are not interested in TJ any more.
New poster.
Acceptance rate is not really a good way to determine how difficult the admissions are for several reasons - cohort of students applying for freshman vs sophomore are quite different.
Sophomore admissions are evaluated by TJ faculty and a big component of the admissions is recommendations letters. Teacher input is quite specific and the bar is high for admission. This is understandable, why take a student who is doing very well in school already (if not doing well, recommendation ding the student) and put them in a school that is much more rigorous?
TJ faculty knows why type of student would do well in TJ.
What this ends up doing is, most sophomore admits would be in the top 10% of the class.
I have a limited sample of students who have gone through this, including DC but that has been our experience.
I do understand why someone who is doing so well would just not want to change. We went through that as well.
Anonymous
08/29/2023 20:33
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's incredibly difficult to get in as a sophomore - consequently, the kids who do it are usually very well-prepared and honestly relieved to be out of the base school environment.
The hardest transition is in science. People usually think it's math, but the way TJ goes about teaching science is a far bigger delta from what you get at a base school.
Really? I would expect no more than 45 kids apply. If that is true, then 15 out of those 45 are selected, which is 33% acceptance rate. Seems easier. Also, seems like the JMO and like kids settle in Langley and Mclean and are not interested in TJ any more.
I know one kid who would be a lock for sophomore admissions who is not planning to apply.
+ I have heard from a parent of a current Senior. They are not planning to apply for their younger child, the rational base school seems more attractive now.
Anonymous
08/29/2023 20:29
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's incredibly difficult to get in as a sophomore - consequently, the kids who do it are usually very well-prepared and honestly relieved to be out of the base school environment.
The hardest transition is in science. People usually think it's math, but the way TJ goes about teaching science is a far bigger delta from what you get at a base school.
Really? I would expect no more than 45 kids apply. If that is true, then 15 out of those 45 are selected, which is 33% acceptance rate. Seems easier. Also, seems like the JMO and like kids settle in Langley and Mclean and are not interested in TJ any more.
I know one kid who would be a lock for sophomore admissions who is not planning to apply.
Anonymous
08/29/2023 20:19
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
Anonymous wrote:It's incredibly difficult to get in as a sophomore - consequently, the kids who do it are usually very well-prepared and honestly relieved to be out of the base school environment.
The hardest transition is in science. People usually think it's math, but the way TJ goes about teaching science is a far bigger delta from what you get at a base school.
Really? I would expect no more than 45 kids apply. If that is true, then 15 out of those 45 are selected, which is 33% acceptance rate. Seems easier. Also, seems like the JMO and like kids settle in Langley and Mclean and are not interested in TJ any more.
Anonymous
08/29/2023 11:42
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
It's incredibly difficult to get in as a sophomore - consequently, the kids who do it are usually very well-prepared and honestly relieved to be out of the base school environment.
The hardest transition is in science. People usually think it's math, but the way TJ goes about teaching science is a far bigger delta from what you get at a base school.
The hardest transition is in science. People usually think it's math, but the way TJ goes about teaching science is a far bigger delta from what you get at a base school.
Anonymous
08/29/2023 09:42
Subject: Re:Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
It's probably easier for folks who are coming from within the FCPS system. My student came in from one of the other districts, and it took a bit more time to learn the basics of the systems. This is one of the things they help the first years transition into. Sophomore year, the classes start and you're expected to be ready to go.
Anonymous
08/24/2023 17:03
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
The sophomore admits are usually so high caliber they probably won't have an issue.
Anonymous
08/24/2023 15:43
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
If you are admitted as a sophomore you will do fine.
This is our experience with DC and several of the friends who were admitted as sophomores.
Is your child admitted or were you planning to apply for next year?
This is our experience with DC and several of the friends who were admitted as sophomores.
Is your child admitted or were you planning to apply for next year?
Anonymous
08/24/2023 14:37
Subject: Entering TJ as a sophomore vs. as a freshman
How challenging would it be to adapt to TJ curriculum as an entering Sophomore after missing out on the acclimatization that the freshman year provides? Conversely, what are the upsides to joing as a sophomore?