We didn’t file an appeal - actually didn’t know that was available and honestly wouldn’t have done that anyways. Just sent a nice email at end of spring mentioning that she was still interested, her grades for spring and extra activities that she’d completed that weren’t in the application. We took same approach for college waitlists for our older son. That’s it - honestly they are really nice and will make room for kids off the waitlist if they can. Not sure our email made a difference or if it was entirely based on grades + test scores. Best of luck.

Anonymous wrote:I think it was over the summer - she was able to attend the APEX orientation in Aug. We did communicate with the APEX folks (who are really nice BTW) and sent updated grades from the spring and additional extracurriculars. I am pretty sure they rank the waitlist (grades plus test score etc), but it seemed like several kids got in off the waitlist. But WJ is a really great school, whether or not your student is in APEX. Lots of great kids, teachers, staff, classes, clubs, sports etc. ~ 17:55

Question for this PP, or others who submitted extra information: did you do this within the appeal process, or does the program allow you at some point to submit extra info?

Thank you.

Yes, there is movement off the waist list. In addition to those going to magnets and privates, if I remember correctly, they don't over accept like the magnet programs do so they go to the wait pool right away.

Does APEX consider CoGAT scores, and is there any percentage in submitting additional materials that the APEX committee may not have seen to help chances of getting in from the wait list?

A PP with a son who's a junior in APEX. Definitely do the shadowing -- my kid found it really helpful. He was going to do APEX anyway but he became more excited about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Missed the meeting last night. What is summer academy and what shadowing is available?

Here's what I heard at yesterday's meeting:

The Summer Academy will be held from June 24 to 27 at WJ, and is a team-building experience to get to know other APEX classmates, as well as preparation for APEX AP Gov, with alumni and teacher discussion. If an accepted student cannot attend, he receives a packet of note-taking and study skills tips instead.

Shadowing is a half or full day during this school year, where accepted students can follow an APEX 9th grader to get a feel for the program. It's actually available to all rising 9th graders if they would like to shadow a WJ student. Middle schools usually give an excused absence for this.

THANK YOU!

Anonymous wrote:Missed the meeting last night. What is summer academy and what shadowing is available?

Here's what I heard at yesterday's meeting:

The Summer Academy will be held from June 24 to 27 at WJ, and is a team-building experience to get to know other APEX classmates, as well as preparation for APEX AP Gov, with alumni and teacher discussion. If an accepted student cannot attend, he receives a packet of note-taking and study skills tips instead.

Shadowing is a half or full day during this school year, where accepted students can follow an APEX 9th grader to get a feel for the program. It's actually available to all rising 9th graders if they would like to shadow a WJ student. Middle schools usually give an excused absence for this.

Missed the meeting last night. What is summer academy and what shadowing is available?

Parent of a WJ Apex kid here. Agree with PPs - your kid can recreate (and more) the Apex program with APs/strong math classes, rigorous curriculum. My kid had many classes with Apex and non-Apex kids. Getting into Apex is of course a nice self-confidence boost for a young kid, but there are plenty of super-smart kids who don't get in for whatever reason - or that elect not to apply. I've seen examples of both. Your kid will see that firsthand once they start there.

WJ is a really wonderful school - your kid can shine there in many different ways, not just through Apex.

Also posting to say that WJ is a great school with lots of strong students both inside and outside APEX, and lots of strong teachers and course offerings. My oldest is in APEX, and as a junior he only has 1 APEX class (APEX AP World History). Except for that class, he has mostly non-APEX friends in his other AP classes. I know some of his friends who didn't get into APEX but are taking multiple APs and putting together rigorous class schedules. So I hope OP's kid and other kids get in off the waitlist, but they can and should still have a challenging high school experience without it.

And I will also put in a plug for ACES like a PP did -- my oldest chose to do the "highly rigorous" program (I think it's called) and did both honors chem and honors bio freshman year. Definitely work but doable, and if you have a science kid he or she can really dig in freshman year.

But BCC IB is not test-in