Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kid is a great athlete, went to TJ high, perfect grades, STEM major. 20 years ago he’d be going to MIT. He tells me he’s going to some state school ranked about 60 is us News.

Is it really this competitive??

Did he tell you why he chose it? Or are you just assuming he couldn’t get in elsewhere?

Exactly—these kids are wising up!
My child chose a state school that accepted APs and dual enrollment classes as credit toward the major. The school also offered early opportunities for student research. They’ll graduate in 2.5 years with no debt and a significant chunk of change remaining in 529s.

OP wants to feel superior because she thinks that private school gives her child a leg up from just regular public school TJ. OP is going to be in for a big surprise when her children are college aged and she sees where they and their friends end up - news flash: the same places as their public school neighbors.

And why is this in the private school forum?

He probably got a free ride.

The TJ grad will probably live a full life and do great things. OP, you, on the other hand, have issues. Please get help for your depression, OP.

Anonymous wrote:Kid is a great athlete, went to TJ high, perfect grades, STEM major. 20 years ago he’d be going to MIT. He tells me he’s going to some state school ranked about 60 is us News.

Is it really this competitive??

Judgemental much? Absolutely nothing wrong with a state school. Maybe it had the program the kid wants to study; maybe a parent is an alumni and he's been cheering for that team since birth; maybe the kid got a scholarship and will graduate debt free, maybe a sibling goes there and they want to be together, or maybe he has mental health issues and needs to stay close to home

Anonymous wrote:A lot of top schools are filled with athletes, children of CEOs, legacies or college professors kids. They are also small and not a lot of open slots.

+2

I don't know why it's so hard for people to understand that the demand is much greater than the supply for admission to these elite schools

If legacy goes away that would make it somewhat easier for applicants

This should be in the FCPS forum or the college forum. No private schools are involved.

All of the above. I know a young kid from the neighborhood who turned down admission at higher ranked schools to go to a lower ranked school for the full ride and stipend. Millennials were expected to take on tons of debt to go to the "best" schools possible, younger kids learned from that mistake.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kid is a great athlete, went to TJ high, perfect grades, STEM major. 20 years ago he’d be going to MIT. He tells me he’s going to some state school ranked about 60 is us News.

Is it really this competitive??

Did he tell you why he chose it? Or are you just assuming he couldn’t get in elsewhere?

+1. Also, it’s become pretty common for kids to apply and choose schools a level down from what they can get into because that’s where they’ll get merit aid / more FA. Kids are recognizing that the top school name on their diploma generally isn’t worth being way more in debt than having another school’s name, especially for undergrad.

+1
This was us...dd accepted at a few out of state schools, but the financial aid offered didn't offset tuition enough to equal in-state schools.


And why is this posted in the Private School Forum.
TJ is an FCPS school, but you knew that Op, right?

And the only proper response: Congratulations! You’ll love Blacksburg (add a relevant nicety here).

Anonymous wrote:Kid is a great athlete, went to TJ high, perfect grades, STEM major. 20 years ago he’d be going to MIT. He tells me he’s going to some state school ranked about 60 is us News.

Is it really this competitive??

You post this like you think he failed or got cheated or something. What is actually wrong with you?

Anonymous wrote:Do you know what other schools he applied to? Did he need merit money? Is he underspending in undergraduate because he needs additional money for grad school? What were his SAT scores? My point is, you can’t interrogate the kid, but there are probably good reasons for his selection.

+1

Financials are the driver for most families.

Money, money, money

Anonymous wrote:There is also a push where kids want to go to SEC schools, state schools etc. Without getting political, do you think those elite east coast schools look fun to a normal kid who has been paying attention to the news over the past year and a half? Many are like “no thanks” I’d rather focus on sports and beer like a normal college kid.

Yeah, TJ kids are well known for their crazy keg parties under the stands. Just can't stop those party animals.