Anonymous
05/04/2025 06:00
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If they have the offer, it’s a good idea to just go and recalculate later. Turning down something without truly experiencing it can lead to regret later.
As a mentor of mine years ago said, don’t close a door. Go through the door, find out what’s there. You can always change course, but if you miss an opportunity, you don’t know what future opportunities you might be closing off.
I thought the goal was to get many to feel intimidated and decline, so there is more waitlist movement?
The number of students that returned to their base schools jumped from like 4-5 a year to as high as 40 when they started the new admissions process and Ann Bonitatibus implemented all sorts of ways to reduce that number. But, as you can see， most of the students stay. Worth trying.
Anonymous
05/04/2025 04:35
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If they have the offer, it’s a good idea to just go and recalculate later. Turning down something without truly experiencing it can lead to regret later.
As a mentor of mine years ago said, don’t close a door. Go through the door, find out what’s there. You can always change course, but if you miss an opportunity, you don’t know what future opportunities you might be closing off.
I thought the goal was to get many to feel intimidated and decline, so there is more waitlist movement?
Nah; that’s just your bizarre conspiracy theory. I’m the parent of a 2028 student, yet you STILL keep trotting out this tired, paranoid, trope.
All: if your child really doesn’t want to go, DON’T FORCE THEM.
Agree.
TJ already has enough unhappy students who are only there because their parents forced them to go. Don’t be that parent.
Not enough parents push their kids towards education. If we all did, we wouldn't be making any visits to juvenile prisons.
Anonymous
05/04/2025 00:06
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If they have the offer, it’s a good idea to just go and recalculate later. Turning down something without truly experiencing it can lead to regret later.
As a mentor of mine years ago said, don’t close a door. Go through the door, find out what’s there. You can always change course, but if you miss an opportunity, you don’t know what future opportunities you might be closing off.
I thought the goal was to get many to feel intimidated and decline, so there is more waitlist movement?
Nah; that’s just your bizarre conspiracy theory. I’m the parent of a 2028 student, yet you STILL keep trotting out this tired, paranoid, trope.
All: if your child really doesn’t want to go, DON’T FORCE THEM.
Agree.
TJ already has enough unhappy students who are only there because their parents forced them to go. Don’t be that parent.
Anonymous
05/04/2025 00:05
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If they have the offer, it’s a good idea to just go and recalculate later. Turning down something without truly experiencing it can lead to regret later.
As a mentor of mine years ago said, don’t close a door. Go through the door, find out what’s there. You can always change course, but if you miss an opportunity, you don’t know what future opportunities you might be closing off.
I thought the goal was to get many to feel intimidated and decline, so there is more waitlist movement?
Nah; that’s just your bizarre conspiracy theory. I’m the parent of a 2028 student, yet you STILL keep trotting out this tired, paranoid, trope.
All: if your child really doesn’t want to go, DON’T FORCE THEM.
+1.
Anonymous
05/04/2025 00:05
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If they have the offer, it’s a good idea to just go and recalculate later. Turning down something without truly experiencing it can lead to regret later.
As a mentor of mine years ago said, don’t close a door. Go through the door, find out what’s there. You can always change course, but if you miss an opportunity, you don’t know what future opportunities you might be closing off.
I thought the goal was to get many to feel intimidated and decline, so there is more waitlist movement?
Nah; that’s just your bizarre conspiracy theory. I’m the parent of a 2028 student, yet you STILL keep trotting out this tired, paranoid, trope.
All: if your child really doesn’t want to go, DON’T FORCE THEM.
Anonymous
05/03/2025 18:39
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
Current offers with no STEM readiness evaluation are pretty much a random lottery selection. As it is with any random selection, this means each recipient has about a 50% chance of either struggling or succeeding at TJ. It’s up to the student and their parents to figure out which half of that equation they’re likely to fall into.
Anonymous
05/03/2025 16:54
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If they have the offer, it’s a good idea to just go and recalculate later. Turning down something without truly experiencing it can lead to regret later.
As a mentor of mine years ago said, don’t close a door. Go through the door, find out what’s there. You can always change course, but if you miss an opportunity, you don’t know what future opportunities you might be closing off.
I thought the goal was to get many to feel intimidated and decline, so there is more waitlist movement?
OP's kid got in last year. I believe OP's intention is kind. TJ had 165 semifinalists in 2024. That number decreased to 81 for 2025 merit semifinalists. Getting in TJ doesn't guarantee success indeed.
Anonymous
05/03/2025 14:29
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
“ TJ is a wonderful place, but not for everyone. It’s also important to remember that attending TJ doesn’t guarantee success in life. There’s no single “right” choice here - just what’s best for your child and your family.”
+10. Great advice.
And we too had the discussion with our DC about just giving it a shot and the base school being there if it did not work - even as early as going back the first half of 9th. I think knowing that escape door was there if needed helped.
+10. Great advice.
And we too had the discussion with our DC about just giving it a shot and the base school being there if it did not work - even as early as going back the first half of 9th. I think knowing that escape door was there if needed helped.
Anonymous
05/03/2025 14:25
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
Anonymous wrote:I agree 100%. My child, male, is doing ok but still is refusing to study. He'd be doing a lot better if he put the time into it. We had this conversation before he accepted but he really did not listen to me saying you will need to study. So we've basically been fighting about study habits all year. While I'm glad it's pushing him to put in effort, I'm not happy that I've been saddled with the stress of working with him to change.
NP. This is us too. It's mostly DS (who is one of the new and improved demographics with a 504) but some of the blame goes to homework free elementary and middle school.
It turns out, even for the very smart kids, TJ involves some work. Not an inordinate amount, but some. DS is gradually coming around to studying on his own, and I think sophomore year may go better, in that respect.
Anonymous
05/03/2025 14:19
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
Anonymous wrote:If they have the offer, it’s a good idea to just go and recalculate later. Turning down something without truly experiencing it can lead to regret later.
As a mentor of mine years ago said, don’t close a door. Go through the door, find out what’s there. You can always change course, but if you miss an opportunity, you don’t know what future opportunities you might be closing off.
I thought the goal was to get many to feel intimidated and decline, so there is more waitlist movement?
Anonymous
05/03/2025 14:06
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
If they have the offer, it’s a good idea to just go and recalculate later. Turning down something without truly experiencing it can lead to regret later.
As a mentor of mine years ago said, don’t close a door. Go through the door, find out what’s there. You can always change course, but if you miss an opportunity, you don’t know what future opportunities you might be closing off.
As a mentor of mine years ago said, don’t close a door. Go through the door, find out what’s there. You can always change course, but if you miss an opportunity, you don’t know what future opportunities you might be closing off.
Anonymous
05/03/2025 13:59
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
Anonymous wrote:First of all, congratulations - having options is a great place to be!
We were in the same position last year, so I’d like to share some thoughts based on our experience:
1. If your child wants to attend and is academically prepared (especially in math, Geometry as the cutoff), then let them go.
2. If your child wants to go but you’re concerned about the academic rigor (honestly that is a sign that you are concerned about their academic ability and potential), take a step back and evaluate together. You know your child best - their personality, study habits, resilience, and academic preparation. Have an honest conversation.
3. If your child is unsure, refer back to point #2 and talk it through.
4. If your child clearly doesn’t want to go, don’t go. TJ demands four years of hard work, the student must be fully committed.
We talked to at least 15 TJ families, face in face (not on anonymous online form), before we took the offer. We also agreed at that time that the kid will go back to the base school if the freshman year is not going well. TJ is a wonderful place, but not for everyone. It’s also important to remember that attending TJ doesn’t guarantee success in life. There’s no single “right” choice here - just what’s best for your child and your family.
Thank you! My child has had a hard time choosing if she actually wants to go. We told her take her time, and if she really has to think about whether to go or not it’s probably not the best idea. She went, with the deal that if she wasn’t doing well in freshman year it would be best to transfer back to base. She is currently thriving at TJ!
Anonymous
05/03/2025 13:53
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
I agree 100%. My child, male, is doing ok but still is refusing to study. He'd be doing a lot better if he put the time into it. We had this conversation before he accepted but he really did not listen to me saying you will need to study. So we've basically been fighting about study habits all year. While I'm glad it's pushing him to put in effort, I'm not happy that I've been saddled with the stress of working with him to change.
Anonymous
05/03/2025 13:23
Subject: For those who are still deciding on your kid's TJ offer...
First of all, congratulations - having options is a great place to be!
We were in the same position last year, so I’d like to share some thoughts based on our experience:
1. If your child wants to attend and is academically prepared (especially in math, Geometry as the cutoff), then let them go.
2. If your child wants to go but you’re concerned about the academic rigor (honestly that is a sign that you are concerned about their academic ability and potential), take a step back and evaluate together. You know your child best - their personality, study habits, resilience, and academic preparation. Have an honest conversation.
3. If your child is unsure, refer back to point #2 and talk it through.
4. If your child clearly doesn’t want to go, don’t go. TJ demands four years of hard work, the student must be fully committed.
We talked to at least 15 TJ families, face in face (not on anonymous online form), before we took the offer. We also agreed at that time that the kid will go back to the base school if the freshman year is not going well. TJ is a wonderful place, but not for everyone. It’s also important to remember that attending TJ doesn’t guarantee success in life. There’s no single “right” choice here - just what’s best for your child and your family.
We were in the same position last year, so I’d like to share some thoughts based on our experience:
1. If your child wants to attend and is academically prepared (especially in math, Geometry as the cutoff), then let them go.
2. If your child wants to go but you’re concerned about the academic rigor (honestly that is a sign that you are concerned about their academic ability and potential), take a step back and evaluate together. You know your child best - their personality, study habits, resilience, and academic preparation. Have an honest conversation.
3. If your child is unsure, refer back to point #2 and talk it through.
4. If your child clearly doesn’t want to go, don’t go. TJ demands four years of hard work, the student must be fully committed.
We talked to at least 15 TJ families, face in face (not on anonymous online form), before we took the offer. We also agreed at that time that the kid will go back to the base school if the freshman year is not going well. TJ is a wonderful place, but not for everyone. It’s also important to remember that attending TJ doesn’t guarantee success in life. There’s no single “right” choice here - just what’s best for your child and your family.