Anonymous
04/30/2025 08:56
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So you've been admitted to TJ?
Congratulations.
TJ rigor is no joke and there is no lack of advice on whether or not you should attend.
If you do decide to attend, here are a few words of advice.
If you have been taking Spanish up until now and you do not speak Spanish in the home and/or are not culturally Hispanic, switch your language to German or something. Spanish is unreasonably difficult at TJ. French is almost as bad.
Think about taking econ the summer before TJ, it is a required course and you will probably wish you had that slot for something more interesting later on.
A lot of the clubs are capped in size so if you snooze you lose. A lot of clubs are almost frozen out for freshmen because upperclassmen have priority.
Try out for a sport you like, being on a team with upper classmen can provide a lot of peer support (academically, socially and emotionally) that you don't necessarily get from some of the clubs.
Pick at least a few clubs that sound fun and interesting. At LEAST half your clubs should just be fun. At least 1 club should resemble something that demonstrates academic interest. If you load up on clubs like your building a resume, you are going to burn out.
If you go to class and you understand everything that the teacher says and you so there, you are not prepared for the exams, you are on track for a C. Understanding the classroom material is just the starting point. You have to wrestle with the material and get a "deep" understanding. This is especially true in math. So many straight A math students with 99th percentile math standardized test scores get their first C in math at TJ.
Thanks! Could you elaborate on the econ remark? --Is it because it's boring or less useful or what?
I would suggest take PE summer instead to open up a slot.
Also, if you are a band kid, please joint marching band. It will start on the summer and really it will help you make friends before the school start.
+1
My kid is not in band but from what I can tell the band group is pretty tight
Anonymous
04/29/2025 11:01
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So you've been admitted to TJ?
Congratulations.
TJ rigor is no joke and there is no lack of advice on whether or not you should attend.
If you do decide to attend, here are a few words of advice.
If you have been taking Spanish up until now and you do not speak Spanish in the home and/or are not culturally Hispanic, switch your language to German or something. Spanish is unreasonably difficult at TJ. French is almost as bad.
Think about taking econ the summer before TJ, it is a required course and you will probably wish you had that slot for something more interesting later on.
A lot of the clubs are capped in size so if you snooze you lose. A lot of clubs are almost frozen out for freshmen because upperclassmen have priority.
Try out for a sport you like, being on a team with upper classmen can provide a lot of peer support (academically, socially and emotionally) that you don't necessarily get from some of the clubs.
Pick at least a few clubs that sound fun and interesting. At LEAST half your clubs should just be fun. At least 1 club should resemble something that demonstrates academic interest. If you load up on clubs like your building a resume, you are going to burn out.
If you go to class and you understand everything that the teacher says and you so there, you are not prepared for the exams, you are on track for a C. Understanding the classroom material is just the starting point. You have to wrestle with the material and get a "deep" understanding. This is especially true in math. So many straight A math students with 99th percentile math standardized test scores get their first C in math at TJ.
Thanks! Could you elaborate on the econ remark? --Is it because it's boring or less useful or what?
I would suggest take PE summer instead to open up a slot.
Also, if you are a band kid, please joint marching band. It will start on the summer and really it will help you make friends before the school start.
+1
Anonymous
04/29/2025 09:56
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DC has been speaking Spanish since Kindergarten (Spanish Immersion) and not in the home. Will TJ Spanish still be too difficult?
That seems like it should be enough to handle the Spanish at TJ.
Students from Spanish immersion programs, like APS', have done fine in Spanish at TJ.
I know of two juniors from the APS program who find the program challenging but very do-able.
They are in Spanish honor society, etc.
I suspect that middle schools that have IB language programs might also have students who do fine in Spanish.
To be fair, the top Spanish students coming out of APS's immersion, if they stay in APS, are tracked into AP Spanish freshman year, with the rest in AP Spanish as sophomores.
Do you know when they took AP Spanish at TJ?
Anonymous
04/29/2025 09:17
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DC has been speaking Spanish since Kindergarten (Spanish Immersion) and not in the home. Will TJ Spanish still be too difficult?
That seems like it should be enough to handle the Spanish at TJ.
Students from Spanish immersion programs, like APS', have done fine in Spanish at TJ.
I know of two juniors from the APS program who find the program challenging but very do-able.
They are in Spanish honor society, etc.
I suspect that middle schools that have IB language programs might also have students who do fine in Spanish.
Anonymous
04/29/2025 09:16
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
All TJ parents/accepted students should read this post on graduation requirements, it is very thorough:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1271395.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1271395.page
Anonymous
04/29/2025 09:00
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can my son take Spanish 3 as a FCPS online class and then take a 2nd elective?
Yes, that would meet the minimum graduation requirement of three language credits before entering TJ. However, be aware that this path prevents the student from earning a fourth language credit at TJ, if that's important to the student.
Some colleges require 4 years of language. That's why I suggest you consider switching if you are taking Spanish. Getting 4 years of Spanish at TJ can be brutal.
Anonymous
04/28/2025 18:05
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the 9th class choices - hoping it is explained tonight or tomorrow. Do kids use an elective for history? Computer science? PE? Econ? Is this why need to take classes over summer? Are there just 2 electives in 9th?
DD hasn’t done “9th period” ever. I think that would be tough for kids that do sports or other time consuming ECs.
But about everyone does summer classes. DD did both PEs over the summer then the Personal Econ one and the extra SS course in summer too. Junior year summer she’s saving for applications and an internship
Anonymous
04/28/2025 17:59
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So you've been admitted to TJ?
Congratulations.
TJ rigor is no joke and there is no lack of advice on whether or not you should attend.
If you do decide to attend, here are a few words of advice.
If you have been taking Spanish up until now and you do not speak Spanish in the home and/or are not culturally Hispanic, switch your language to German or something. Spanish is unreasonably difficult at TJ. French is almost as bad.
Think about taking econ the summer before TJ, it is a required course and you will probably wish you had that slot for something more interesting later on.
A lot of the clubs are capped in size so if you snooze you lose. A lot of clubs are almost frozen out for freshmen because upperclassmen have priority.
Try out for a sport you like, being on a team with upper classmen can provide a lot of peer support (academically, socially and emotionally) that you don't necessarily get from some of the clubs.
Pick at least a few clubs that sound fun and interesting. At LEAST half your clubs should just be fun. At least 1 club should resemble something that demonstrates academic interest. If you load up on clubs like your building a resume, you are going to burn out.
If you go to class and you understand everything that the teacher says and you so there, you are not prepared for the exams, you are on track for a C. Understanding the classroom material is just the starting point. You have to wrestle with the material and get a "deep" understanding. This is especially true in math. So many straight A math students with 99th percentile math standardized test scores get their first C in math at TJ.
+1
Great advice!
I’d also echo the try marching band comment that another PP made - wonderful to start school with friends already.
Anonymous
04/28/2025 17:42
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:DC has been speaking Spanish since Kindergarten (Spanish Immersion) and not in the home. Will TJ Spanish still be too difficult?
That seems like it should be enough to handle the Spanish at TJ.
Anonymous
04/28/2025 17:41
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:DC has been speaking Spanish since Kindergarten (Spanish Immersion) and not in the home. Will TJ Spanish still be too difficult?
I don't know your daughter's comfort level with Spanish but the complaint about the Spanish department rigor are legit.
Anonymous
04/28/2025 17:39
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:Thank you for this info and starting thread - are clubs 8th period choices?
They are clubs but in many clubs, spaces are limited.
Anonymous
04/28/2025 17:38
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:Thank you. We are in a school where highest math is geometry. What is the path for acceleration at Tj?
We have already done 2 years of Spanish. Non Hispanic family. If we switch to German does it go against the 4 years of language requirement most colleges have?
Spanish is unreasonably hard at TJ. If you switch to German, you are starting over but that is better than sticking with Spanish unless they start letting people take AP Spanish over the summer
Anonymous
04/28/2025 17:36
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:Thank you. We are in a school where highest math is geometry. What is the path for acceleration at Tj?
We have already done 2 years of Spanish. Non Hispanic family. If we switch to German does it go against the 4 years of language requirement most colleges have?
Geometry is fine.
If you really want that extra year, you can accelerate math this summer and take the first semester of pre calc freshmen year, you have to take the second semester of pre calc next summer to really get the benefit of that extra year.
Once again, geometry is fine. Unless your kid is a hard core math kid that wants to take concrete mat, number theory, etc. it's not necessary. If they are engineer/cs type, they are fine with geometry in 8th grade.
Math is no joke here, accelerate at your own risk.
Anonymous
04/28/2025 16:44
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So you've been admitted to TJ?
Congratulations.
TJ rigor is no joke and there is no lack of advice on whether or not you should attend.
If you do decide to attend, here are a few words of advice.
If you have been taking Spanish up until now and you do not speak Spanish in the home and/or are not culturally Hispanic, switch your language to German or something. Spanish is unreasonably difficult at TJ. French is almost as bad.
Think about taking econ the summer before TJ, it is a required course and you will probably wish you had that slot for something more interesting later on.
A lot of the clubs are capped in size so if you snooze you lose. A lot of clubs are almost frozen out for freshmen because upperclassmen have priority.
Try out for a sport you like, being on a team with upper classmen can provide a lot of peer support (academically, socially and emotionally) that you don't necessarily get from some of the clubs.
Pick at least a few clubs that sound fun and interesting. At LEAST half your clubs should just be fun. At least 1 club should resemble something that demonstrates academic interest. If you load up on clubs like your building a resume, you are going to burn out.
If you go to class and you understand everything that the teacher says and you so there, you are not prepared for the exams, you are on track for a C. Understanding the classroom material is just the starting point. You have to wrestle with the material and get a "deep" understanding. This is especially true in math. So many straight A math students with 99th percentile math standardized test scores get their first C in math at TJ.
Thanks! Could you elaborate on the econ remark? --Is it because it's boring or less useful or what?
It's not boring but it's available during the summer and frees up space for higher level math and science.
Someone else mentioned PE which isn't a bad idea but my kid enjoys having that break in the middle of their day
My son is taking the Econ and personal finance course as pass/fail. You complete the course at your own pace. I know a girl who was able to finish the course in three days.
Anonymous
04/28/2025 16:32
Subject: Advice to kids that got into TJ (and those who didn't)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So you've been admitted to TJ?
Congratulations.
TJ rigor is no joke and there is no lack of advice on whether or not you should attend.
If you do decide to attend, here are a few words of advice.
If you have been taking Spanish up until now and you do not speak Spanish in the home and/or are not culturally Hispanic, switch your language to German or something. Spanish is unreasonably difficult at TJ. French is almost as bad.
Think about taking econ the summer before TJ, it is a required course and you will probably wish you had that slot for something more interesting later on.
A lot of the clubs are capped in size so if you snooze you lose. A lot of clubs are almost frozen out for freshmen because upperclassmen have priority.
Try out for a sport you like, being on a team with upper classmen can provide a lot of peer support (academically, socially and emotionally) that you don't necessarily get from some of the clubs.
Pick at least a few clubs that sound fun and interesting. At LEAST half your clubs should just be fun. At least 1 club should resemble something that demonstrates academic interest. If you load up on clubs like your building a resume, you are going to burn out.
If you go to class and you understand everything that the teacher says and you so there, you are not prepared for the exams, you are on track for a C. Understanding the classroom material is just the starting point. You have to wrestle with the material and get a "deep" understanding. This is especially true in math. So many straight A math students with 99th percentile math standardized test scores get their first C in math at TJ.
Thanks! Could you elaborate on the econ remark? --Is it because it's boring or less useful or what?
It's not boring but it's available during the summer and frees up space for higher level math and science.
Someone else mentioned PE which isn't a bad idea but my kid enjoys having that break in the middle of their day