Anonymous wrote:Is it possible that the student admitted to Stanford is URM? Because I know TJ kids with more advanced math/science courses with great credentials who were rejected. Is it possible you did not/could not (due to your math sequence) take many Post AP math and science courses like other top TJ students and thus had less rigorous schedule compared to those who did take many of those Post AP courses?
You could not take AP physics until the senior year due to your math sequence, you could not take Post AP math courses such as linear Algebra, multivariable calculus, complex variables, , numerical analysis, differential equations, AMT etc. due to your math sequence. Did you take Artificial Intelligence, Parallel Computing or Organic Chemistry? You could take those without calculus? Also, you could not take Quantum or Computational physics without calculus but maybe you could in senior year with school permission. Did you take those courses?
The point is you were not able to take most of the post AP courses that most top TJ students take. Thus, although your GPA is great, your transcript may be lacking in rigor relative to other TJ students.
I know there are TJ students who seek out easy courses and easy teachers to maintain high GPAs.
Did you submit original research for Siemens or Intel etc? Did you engage in academic club competitions, sports, any of the Olympiads etc.while maintaining rigorous schedule?
I do not want to take a way from your achievement. However, if you only took 1 or 2 post AP courses or even less, or if you didn't conduct original research (I am not referring to the senior year mandatory research course) what was the point in attending TJ? I am being serious here not trying to be argumentative. Was it just to be around other smart kids? The TJ name? The challenge?
If you want to impress people with your GPA, you have to be prepared for little scrutiny as well.
Anonymous wrote:I realize this forum is somewhat aged, but I would like to say that I am a representative of many of the minorities that have been discussed. I am a white female who only completed middle school with Algebra I, and managed to gain admission to TJ's Class of 2014, which just recently graduated (I believe most of the statistics cited from 2010 are referring to my class). Being out of county (Prince William), I was physically unable to take a higher level of math as an eighth grader. And guess what? We do belong at TJ. Just because our parents didn't paying tens of thousands of dollars for us to attend private schools to get ahead a year or two in math courses, doesn't mean we should be excluded from TJ. I just graduated high school a week ago with a 4.00 GPA (UNWEIGHTED) and a 4.47 GPA, weighted, if you want some statistics as to how well freshman entering with only Algebra I do at TJ. The experiences, friends, and sleepless nights that we all lived through are worth more than you'd imagine. Are you telling me that I didn't belong at TJ, or that people like me, who only entered with Algebra I math experience, shouldn't be admitted to TJ? One of the guys from my freshman Geometry class is attending Stanford this fall. I'll be attending UC Berkeley with a half scholarship to study Electrical Engineering. Now that takes perseverance. The name of a math class means absolutely nothing when it comes to dedication and guts. The things you learn outside of class are oftentimes more important than the things you learn inside of class. An education is more than a typed string of words on a white piece of paper. Happy?
Anonymous wrote:I realize this forum is somewhat aged, but I would like to say that I am a representative of many of the minorities that have been discussed. I am a white female who only completed middle school with Algebra I, and managed to gain admission to TJ's Class of 2014, which just recently graduated (I believe most of the statistics cited from 2010 are referring to my class). Being out of county (Prince William), I was physically unable to take a higher level of math as an eighth grader. And guess what? We do belong at TJ. Just because our parents didn't paying tens of thousands of dollars for us to attend private schools to get ahead a year or two in math courses, doesn't mean we should be excluded from TJ. I just graduated high school a week ago with a 4.00 GPA (UNWEIGHTED) and a 4.47 GPA, weighted, if you want some statistics as to how well freshman entering with only Algebra I do at TJ. The experiences, friends, and sleepless nights that we all lived through are worth more than you'd imagine. Are you telling me that I didn't belong at TJ, or that people like me, who only entered with Algebra I math experience, shouldn't be admitted to TJ? One of the guys from my freshman Geometry class is attending Stanford this fall. I'll be attending UC Berkeley with a half scholarship to study Electrical Engineering. Now that takes perseverance. The name of a math class means absolutely nothing when it comes to dedication and guts. The things you learn outside of class are oftentimes more important than the things you learn inside of class. An education is more than a typed string of words on a white piece of paper. Happy?
Anonymous wrote:I realize this forum is somewhat aged, but I would like to say that I am a representative of many of the minorities that have been discussed. I am a white female who only completed middle school with Algebra I, and managed to gain admission to TJ's Class of 2014, which just recently graduated (I believe most of the statistics cited from 2010 are referring to my class). Being out of county (Prince William), I was physically unable to take a higher level of math as an eighth grader. And guess what? We do belong at TJ. Just because our parents didn't paying tens of thousands of dollars for us to attend private schools to get ahead a year or two in math courses, doesn't mean we should be excluded from TJ. I just graduated high school a week ago with a 4.00 GPA (UNWEIGHTED) and a 4.47 GPA, weighted, if you want some statistics as to how well freshman entering with only Algebra I do at TJ. The experiences, friends, and sleepless nights that we all lived through are worth more than you'd imagine. Are you telling me that I didn't belong at TJ, or that people like me, who only entered with Algebra I math experience, shouldn't be admitted to TJ? One of the guys from my freshman Geometry class is attending Stanford this fall. I'll be attending UC Berkeley with a half scholarship to study Electrical Engineering. Now that takes perseverance. The name of a math class means absolutely nothing when it comes to dedication and guts. The things you learn outside of class are oftentimes more important than the things you learn inside of class. An education is more than a typed string of words on a white piece of paper. Happy?
Anonymous wrote:I realize this forum is somewhat aged, but I would like to say that I am a representative of many of the minorities that have been discussed. I am a white female who only completed middle school with Algebra I, and managed to gain admission to TJ's Class of 2014, which just recently graduated (I believe most of the statistics cited from 2010 are referring to my class). Being out of county (Prince William), I was physically unable to take a higher level of math as an eighth grader. And guess what? We do belong at TJ. Just because our parents didn't paying tens of thousands of dollars for us to attend private schools to get ahead a year or two in math courses, doesn't mean we should be excluded from TJ. I just graduated high school a week ago with a 4.00 GPA (UNWEIGHTED) and a 4.47 GPA, weighted, if you want some statistics as to how well freshman entering with only Algebra I do at TJ. The experiences, friends, and sleepless nights that we all lived through are worth more than you'd imagine. Are you telling me that I didn't belong at TJ, or that people like me, who only entered with Algebra I math experience, shouldn't be admitted to TJ? One of the guys from my freshman Geometry class is attending Stanford this fall. I'll be attending UC Berkeley with a half scholarship to study Electrical Engineering. Now that takes perseverance. The name of a math class means absolutely nothing when it comes to dedication and guts. The things you learn outside of class are oftentimes more important than the things you learn inside of class. An education is more than a typed string of words on a white piece of paper. Happy?
Anonymous wrote:Tell what to the TJ admissions?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9HJGSQ453D03/$file/R3355.pdf
Link to the recent regs on TJ admissions.
There it is!! Algebra 1 in 8th grade would suffice, not necessarily geometry.
Only about 4-5% of the admitted students have taken only Algebra I.
This statement is worthless without link to a creditable source. Or at least specify the academic year it applies to.
What does it matter? The number of students with only Algebra I Honors under their belt has been declining for years- the stats are in line with that.
Frankly, I don't think that any student who has just completed Algebra I Honors needs or should go to TJ. There are plenty of classes available to them in their home HS- they have plenty of options there.
Agreed. Incoming TJ students with Algebra 1 typically have math sequence as follows: Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-calculus, Calculus AB. These courses are all available at any base schools and they would probably earn higher grades at base school compared to TJ.
You better go tell that to the TJ admissions. ASAP.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9HJGSQ453D03/$file/R3355.pdf
Link to the recent regs on TJ admissions.
There it is!! Algebra 1 in 8th grade would suffice, not necessarily geometry.
Only about 4-5% of the admitted students have taken only Algebra I.
This statement is worthless without link to a creditable source. Or at least specify the academic year it applies to.
What does it matter? The number of students with only Algebra I Honors under their belt has been declining for years- the stats are in line with that.
Frankly, I don't think that any student who has just completed Algebra I Honors needs or should go to TJ. There are plenty of classes available to them in their home HS- they have plenty of options there.
Agreed. Incoming TJ students with Algebra 1 typically have math sequence as follows: Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-calculus, Calculus AB. These courses are all available at any base schools and they would probably earn higher grades at base school compared to TJ.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9HJGSQ453D03/$file/R3355.pdf
Link to the recent regs on TJ admissions.
There it is!! Algebra 1 in 8th grade would suffice, not necessarily geometry.
Only about 4-5% of the admitted students have taken only Algebra I.
This statement is worthless without link to a creditable source. Or at least specify the academic year it applies to.
What does it matter? The number of students with only Algebra I Honors under their belt has been declining for years- the stats are in line with that.
Frankly, I don't think that any student who has just completed Algebra I Honors needs or should go to TJ. There are plenty of classes available to them in their home HS- they have plenty of options there.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9HJGSQ453D03/$file/R3355.pdf
Link to the recent regs on TJ admissions.
There it is!! Algebra 1 in 8th grade would suffice, not necessarily geometry.
Only about 4-5% of the admitted students have taken only Algebra I.
This statement is worthless without link to a creditable source. Or at least specify the academic year it applies to.
What does it matter? The number of students with only Algebra I Honors under their belt has been declining for years- the stats are in line with that.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9HJGSQ453D03/$file/R3355.pdf
Link to the recent regs on TJ admissions.
There it is!! Algebra 1 in 8th grade would suffice, not necessarily geometry.
Only about 4-5% of the admitted students have taken only Algebra I.