Is TJ worth it? To answer that, you would need to look at kids that could have gone to TJ but didn't...and see how they did in life. I have not seen any stats on, for example, the SAT scores of admitted but did not go to TJ.

Another way to do it is to partition the 400 or so students to the base school...it is about 25 kids per HS. Assume that they are equivalent to the top 25 at each school, and see people went. How many people from TJ went to MIT? How about the rest of FCPS?

Anonymous wrote:I'll bite. I went to TJ and think it was a mistake. I (or my parents) got caught up in the arms race of achievement without me taking a real look at my interests, which were not STEM based.

I did fine and left for my base school after a year. It was not the right fit for me and I think parents are in such a rush to get the "best" for their kids they don't think through what is the "right" place for them.

I have small kids now and unless they express a strong interest in STEM and have a crazy focus/executive skills, I won't push TJ.

So true.

Anonymous wrote:If your kid really likes school and gets good grades, yes, I will recommend. Otherwise, if he is not really into school or is self-motivated, he/she will be fine at base school or TJ (if they get in.)

It is really best for people who thrive in a very challenging environment.

It doesn't really open doors for you.... or rather, if you are smart enough to have doors open for you, it will happen whether you go to TJ or you go to your base school.

-Graduate

Are you paying attention parents????

If your kid really likes school and gets good grades, yes, I will recommend. Otherwise, if he is not really into school or is self-motivated, he/she will be fine at base school or TJ (if they get in.)

It is really best for people who thrive in a very challenging environment.

It doesn't really open doors for you.... or rather, if you are smart enough to have doors open for you, it will happen whether you go to TJ or you go to your base school.

-Graduate

I'll bite. I went to TJ and think it was a mistake. I (or my parents) got caught up in the arms race of achievement without me taking a real look at my interests, which were not STEM based.

I did fine and left for my base school after a year. It was not the right fit for me and I think parents are in such a rush to get the "best" for their kids they don't think through what is the "right" place for them.

I have small kids now and unless they express a strong interest in STEM and have a crazy focus/executive skills, I won't push TJ.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will confer confidence and open doors like no other school in this region can. It is a valuable badge to have in the wallet for a lifetime.

For a lifetime, really? Any grown-up who is still living off his/her TJ acceptance/experience is just as pathetic as the high school sports star who never moved on.

your

Anonymous wrote:Basically ivy league based on intelligence. Even if you are in the bottom half you will get into better colleges than the top half of mediocre and crap high schools.

Basically, you're writing is incoherent.

Anonymous wrote:It will confer confidence and open doors like no other school in this region can. It is a valuable badge to have in the wallet for a lifetime.

For a lifetime, really? Any grown-up who is still living off his/her TJ acceptance/experience is just as pathetic as the high school sports star who never moved on.

Anonymous wrote:I give it the finger every time I drive by

TJ mom here: Don't send your DC just because they were accepted. Need to have a strong interest in STEM subjects. The teachers at TJ are not the best. But it is perfect for many kids there.

Anonymous wrote:Never met a person that went that didn't love it. I'm sure there is, but they're unicorns.

I must know several unicorns. I know many who love it, I know many that are okay with it and I know some that transferred because the costs were not worth the benefits and I know a few for whom it was detrimental. Jut like every other HS.

Anonymous wrote:Basically ivy league based on intelligence. Even if you are in the bottom half you will get into better colleges than the top half of mediocre and crap high schools.

Northern Virginia has very few "mediocre and crap high schools."

Basically ivy league based on intelligence. Even if you are in the bottom half you will get into better colleges than the top half of mediocre and crap high schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never met a person that went that didn't love it. I'm sure there is, but they're unicorns.

You haven't met my husband, who made it through well enough but will never send our kids there.

And it is much worse today than even 10 years ago