Anonymous wrote:Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

This is ridiculous. Let me guess: you're sending out annual surveys that are answered by professors and employers from senior year of HS onward? No, this is what you're telling yourself. The answer is that very bright kids generally do well no matter where they are.

That's like a base HS kid who goes to an ivy league looking at the TJ kid going to VCU and saying "kids in the top of their HSs who get into the ivies dominate because their colleges are far superior to lower ranked colleges. We have more money from the endowment pouring in!!" The answer is that bright kids are bright and do well no matter where they are, and that includes middle school to base HS OR TJ and then base HS OR TJ on to x college.

- We turned TJ down for base HS and my kid is heading to an ivy next year. It is NOT "a little" harder to getting into elite schools from TJ. It's a lot harder. We strategically picked our local HS.

Anonymous wrote:If everyone made their decision based on my being in the top 5% or not, TJ would be very small. If you think your child will thrive at TJ, and that might not mean straight A's, then let them go. If you think your child will be challenged and that being in school with a lot of other really smart kids that will push them, then TJ will be good for them. Plenty of people do well in life with degrees from schools that are are not in the top 10, or 25, or 50, or even 100.

-Signed a parent of a TJ applicant who attended a college none of you know, earned a PhD, and is doing well in life

My wife went to Mary Washington College (as it was known back in the day) and went on to be a Mayo Clinic/Johns Hopkins trained transplant surgeon. There's more to life than college admissions.

My 2c' - Take the 4 years of guaranteed great education at TJ vs the crapshoot that Ivy league or T20 admission is!

a) Does the kid WANT to go for the challenge and/or peer group, opportunities - or instead for the bragging rights?

b) Is the kid's college goal Ivy or bust? (Yes, generally harder to get to that very top layer from TJ unless a standout since so many other kids at the school are strong candidates too.)

Answers vary about whether they should go depending on the replies.

If you can get into TJ I'd do it for the peer group alone.

Anonymous wrote:If everyone made their decision based on my being in the top 5% or not, TJ would be very small. If you think your child will thrive at TJ, and that might not mean straight A's, then let them go. If you think your child will be challenged and that being in school with a lot of other really smart kids that will push them, then TJ will be good for them. Plenty of people do well in life with degrees from schools that are are not in the top 10, or 25, or 50, or even 100.

-Signed a parent of a TJ applicant who attended a college none of you know, earned a PhD, and is doing well in life

Bingo!

If everyone made their decision based on my being in the top 5% or not, TJ would be very small. If you think your child will thrive at TJ, and that might not mean straight A's, then let them go. If you think your child will be challenged and that being in school with a lot of other really smart kids that will push them, then TJ will be good for them. Plenty of people do well in life with degrees from schools that are are not in the top 10, or 25, or 50, or even 100.

-Signed a parent of a TJ applicant who attended a college none of you know, earned a PhD, and is doing well in life

Anonymous wrote:TJ provides a better education, with a more academically motivated peer group, and more opportunities for advanced learning. If your child is more of a go with the flow kid, he will go with the flow at his local public too, aka likely not work up to his potential and feel comfortable being in the top 1/4 of his class.
Side note, what are your and his goals for high school? At some point the goal of “BEST COLLEGE POSSIBLE FROM A PRESTIGE STANDPOINT!” goes away, once the child is accepted to college. If that’s literally their/ your only goal for the last decade; where does that leave them? Think on it

well said!

Kids from TJ get into the real world and dominate pretty much regardless of where they go to undergrad.

The differences in opportunities as far as course availability, facilities and equipment, and student groups is just so incredibly stark when compared to even the best base schools.

So yeah, it's possible that it might be a little harder to get into the most elite colleges from TJ... but as the years and decades have gone by, the value add from those schools has been depressed significantly AND you're increasing your chances of admission by a relatively small amount - it's by no means a guarantee.

Anonymous wrote:local HS is a decent one, I can assume the kid will surely be in top 5%

What sort of idiotic question is this? Where do you think your kid will get a better education? Why are you fixating on percentages like this?

TJ provides a better education, with a more academically motivated peer group, and more opportunities for advanced learning. If your child is more of a go with the flow kid, he will go with the flow at his local public too, aka likely not work up to his potential and feel comfortable being in the top 1/4 of his class.
Side note, what are your and his goals for high school? At some point the goal of “BEST COLLEGE POSSIBLE FROM A PRESTIGE STANDPOINT!” goes away, once the child is accepted to college. If that’s literally their/ your only goal for the last decade; where does that leave them? Think on it

I am the OP

I believe if DS works really hard, he probably can be top 20%. But at least from what I see now, he is not very self motivated. If he is around 30-40%, he is probably comfortable with that.

It depends on what the goal of TJ is. Better preparation for college, stronger peer group, amazing opportunities that aren’t available at any other high school, senior research project. TJ has a 40% admit rate to UVA, higher than any other FCPS high school.

No. The TJ not good option for not in top 5 percent.

local HS is a decent one, I can assume the kid will surely be in top 5%