Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Yep DD is base school and DS is TJ, and both immediately shared schedules, compared with friends, etc. and DD was also praying for and against certain teachers.
But agree. They made a lot of progress in getting the curriculum standard in core STEM classes— and especially math. But, HUM classes are harder to standardize. And there are a handful of teachers across all departments who are very harsh graders.
I'm told that there are no "base schools" in Fairfax County at the high-school level. "Base school" is AAP terminology that doesn't apply post-8th grade. Is this true?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Yep DD is base school and DS is TJ, and both immediately shared schedules, compared with friends, etc. and DD was also praying for and against certain teachers.
But agree. They made a lot of progress in getting the curriculum standard in core STEM classes— and especially math. But, HUM classes are harder to standardize. And there are a handful of teachers across all departments who are very harsh graders.
I'm told that there are no "base schools" in Fairfax County at the high-school level. "Base school" is AAP terminology that doesn't apply post-8th grade. Is this true?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated in the bottom 25% of the class (about 3.8 WGPA), went to WM, double majored in STEM subjects, graduated summa cum laude (found college easier than TJ), and is now at a top 10 university working on their PhD. So, yeah, even the kids at the bottom of the class do OK.
Except MIT, Mudd and Chicago, every TJ kid says college is much, much easier than high school.
This is actually what most kids who did a rigorous HS prep (IB, AP, TJ, good private) often say. Because the pressure of getting top grades to get into college is intense, the experience of college is often easier.
Totally agree. I have no doubt these elite schools are more difficult, but not in a good way. They have turned HS into an endurance contest and conflate acceleration with merit. In college you have TIME to dig deeper into topics you are interested in, discuss with peers and faculty relationships with other areas and applications without the extreme time and volume constraints of HS. The extreme acceleration in HS leads to acceptance of cheating, cramming for tests without really having the time to actually learn, and wasting free time self-studying for the easy AP exams they are not really interested in.
TJ kids certainly dig deeper into topics, discuss with extraordinary peers and teachers, conduct research and enjoy bully free environment where academics is encouraged for a change as it should be for schools instead of sports, drinking, dramas, bullying, class discrimination, cheating, working on side doors to colleges etc.
DC's friend who is at TJ was chatting with DC this summer and said that their history class basically spent their class time filling out worksheets and had no homework. We were...floored (and kind of incredulous, but why would the friend make that up?)
Yep— you must be talking about summer school upperclass history? The “4th non-AP history” class everyone has to shoehorn in their schedule somewhere and many kids do over summer school? Yep. They usually have base school FCPS teachers teach the history summer school classes and they are kinf od a joke. Okay really a joke. In fact, the 4th non-AP histories during the school year— anthropology, law and society, etc. are also the easiest classes most kids take. Okay really a joke. World History, APUSH and AP Gov during the year on the other hand as teams HUM classes OTOH are the real deal.
Anonymous wrote:Agree with above. Many summer history classes are viewed as just "busy worK" by kids and not taught by TJ teachers.
If this is a class during regular year, there is a wide disparity in grading and rigor in classes at TJ. This is one of the enduring issues that's been repeatedly brought up during this and the previous administration.
Some teachers are easy and some teachers are wicked hard - schedules were released today@6am and the kids' social media immediately blew up with who's got what teacher. Tell me - does this happen at another FCPS school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated in the bottom 25% of the class (about 3.8 WGPA), went to WM, double majored in STEM subjects, graduated summa cum laude (found college easier than TJ), and is now at a top 10 university working on their PhD. So, yeah, even the kids at the bottom of the class do OK.
Except MIT, Mudd and Chicago, every TJ kid says college is much, much easier than high school.
This is actually what most kids who did a rigorous HS prep (IB, AP, TJ, good private) often say. Because the pressure of getting top grades to get into college is intense, the experience of college is often easier.
Totally agree. I have no doubt these elite schools are more difficult, but not in a good way. They have turned HS into an endurance contest and conflate acceleration with merit. In college you have TIME to dig deeper into topics you are interested in, discuss with peers and faculty relationships with other areas and applications without the extreme time and volume constraints of HS. The extreme acceleration in HS leads to acceptance of cheating, cramming for tests without really having the time to actually learn, and wasting free time self-studying for the easy AP exams they are not really interested in.
TJ kids certainly dig deeper into topics, discuss with extraordinary peers and teachers, conduct research and enjoy bully free environment where academics is encouraged for a change as it should be for schools instead of sports, drinking, dramas, bullying, class discrimination, cheating, working on side doors to colleges etc.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated in the bottom 25% of the class (about 3.8 WGPA), went to WM, double majored in STEM subjects, graduated summa cum laude (found college easier than TJ), and is now at a top 10 university working on their PhD. So, yeah, even the kids at the bottom of the class do OK.
Except MIT, Mudd and Chicago, every TJ kid says college is much, much easier than high school.
This is actually what most kids who did a rigorous HS prep (IB, AP, TJ, good private) often say. Because the pressure of getting top grades to get into college is intense, the experience of college is often easier.
Totally agree. I have no doubt these elite schools are more difficult, but not in a good way. They have turned HS into an endurance contest and conflate acceleration with merit. In college you have TIME to dig deeper into topics you are interested in, discuss with peers and faculty relationships with other areas and applications without the extreme time and volume constraints of HS. The extreme acceleration in HS leads to acceptance of cheating, cramming for tests without really having the time to actually learn, and wasting free time self-studying for the easy AP exams they are not really interested in.
TJ kids certainly dig deeper into topics, discuss with extraordinary peers and teachers, conduct research and enjoy bully free environment where academics is encouraged for a change as it should be for schools instead of sports, drinking, dramas, bullying, class discrimination, cheating, working on side doors to colleges etc.
DC's friend who is at TJ was chatting with DC this summer and said that their history class basically spent their class time filling out worksheets and had no homework. We were...floored (and kind of incredulous, but why would the friend make that up?)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated in the bottom 25% of the class (about 3.8 WGPA), went to WM, double majored in STEM subjects, graduated summa cum laude (found college easier than TJ), and is now at a top 10 university working on their PhD. So, yeah, even the kids at the bottom of the class do OK.
Except MIT, Mudd and Chicago, every TJ kid says college is much, much easier than high school.
This is actually what most kids who did a rigorous HS prep (IB, AP, TJ, good private) often say. Because the pressure of getting top grades to get into college is intense, the experience of college is often easier.
Totally agree. I have no doubt these elite schools are more difficult, but not in a good way. They have turned HS into an endurance contest and conflate acceleration with merit. In college you have TIME to dig deeper into topics you are interested in, discuss with peers and faculty relationships with other areas and applications without the extreme time and volume constraints of HS. The extreme acceleration in HS leads to acceptance of cheating, cramming for tests without really having the time to actually learn, and wasting free time self-studying for the easy AP exams they are not really interested in.
TJ kids certainly dig deeper into topics, discuss with extraordinary peers and teachers, conduct research and enjoy bully free environment where academics is encouraged for a change as it should be for schools instead of sports, drinking, dramas, bullying, class discrimination, cheating, working on side doors to colleges etc.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated in the bottom 25% of the class (about 3.8 WGPA), went to WM, double majored in STEM subjects, graduated summa cum laude (found college easier than TJ), and is now at a top 10 university working on their PhD. So, yeah, even the kids at the bottom of the class do OK.
Except MIT, Mudd and Chicago, every TJ kid says college is much, much easier than high school.
This is actually what most kids who did a rigorous HS prep (IB, AP, TJ, good private) often say. Because the pressure of getting top grades to get into college is intense, the experience of college is often easier.
Totally agree. I have no doubt these elite schools are more difficult, but not in a good way. They have turned HS into an endurance contest and conflate acceleration with merit. In college you have TIME to dig deeper into topics you are interested in, discuss with peers and faculty relationships with other areas and applications without the extreme time and volume constraints of HS. The extreme acceleration in HS leads to acceptance of cheating, cramming for tests without really having the time to actually learn, and wasting free time self-studying for the easy AP exams they are not really interested in.
TJ kids certainly dig deeper into topics, discuss with extraordinary peers and teachers, conduct research and enjoy bully free environment where academics is encouraged for a change as it should be for schools instead of sports, drinking, dramas, bullying, class discrimination, cheating, working on side doors to colleges etc.
Barf - bunch of racist a-holes constantly putting their own kids on pedestals; the county used to be such a better place to raise kids before the hyper-competitive Tiger Moms and Dads showed up.
White TJ parent here. They aren’t. They are pro hard work. And white kids who work hard and are smart get in too. If you want something different for your kid, do something different.
And you may want to re-read your post before crying racism.
Exactly! No one is asking others not to play the game. The world has become flat and if you can't beat them you join them.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated in the bottom 25% of the class (about 3.8 WGPA), went to WM, double majored in STEM subjects, graduated summa cum laude (found college easier than TJ), and is now at a top 10 university working on their PhD. So, yeah, even the kids at the bottom of the class do OK.
Except MIT, Mudd and Chicago, every TJ kid says college is much, much easier than high school.
This is actually what most kids who did a rigorous HS prep (IB, AP, TJ, good private) often say. Because the pressure of getting top grades to get into college is intense, the experience of college is often easier.
Totally agree. I have no doubt these elite schools are more difficult, but not in a good way. They have turned HS into an endurance contest and conflate acceleration with merit. In college you have TIME to dig deeper into topics you are interested in, discuss with peers and faculty relationships with other areas and applications without the extreme time and volume constraints of HS. The extreme acceleration in HS leads to acceptance of cheating, cramming for tests without really having the time to actually learn, and wasting free time self-studying for the easy AP exams they are not really interested in.
TJ kids certainly dig deeper into topics, discuss with extraordinary peers and teachers, conduct research and enjoy bully free environment where academics is encouraged for a change as it should be for schools instead of sports, drinking, dramas, bullying, class discrimination, cheating, working on side doors to colleges etc.
Barf - bunch of racist a-holes constantly putting their own kids on pedestals; the county used to be such a better place to raise kids before the hyper-competitive Tiger Moms and Dads showed up.
White TJ parent here. They aren’t. They are pro hard work. And white kids who work hard and are smart get in too. If you want something different for your kid, do something different.
And you may want to re-read your post before crying racism.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated in the bottom 25% of the class (about 3.8 WGPA), went to WM, double majored in STEM subjects, graduated summa cum laude (found college easier than TJ), and is now at a top 10 university working on their PhD. So, yeah, even the kids at the bottom of the class do OK.
Except MIT, Mudd and Chicago, every TJ kid says college is much, much easier than high school.
This is actually what most kids who did a rigorous HS prep (IB, AP, TJ, good private) often say. Because the pressure of getting top grades to get into college is intense, the experience of college is often easier.
Totally agree. I have no doubt these elite schools are more difficult, but not in a good way. They have turned HS into an endurance contest and conflate acceleration with merit. In college you have TIME to dig deeper into topics you are interested in, discuss with peers and faculty relationships with other areas and applications without the extreme time and volume constraints of HS. The extreme acceleration in HS leads to acceptance of cheating, cramming for tests without really having the time to actually learn, and wasting free time self-studying for the easy AP exams they are not really interested in.
TJ kids certainly dig deeper into topics, discuss with extraordinary peers and teachers, conduct research and enjoy bully free environment where academics is encouraged for a change as it should be for schools instead of sports, drinking, dramas, bullying, class discrimination, cheating, working on side doors to colleges etc.
Barf - bunch of racist a-holes constantly putting their own kids on pedestals; the county used to be such a better place to raise kids before the hyper-competitive Tiger Moms and Dads showed up.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated in the bottom 25% of the class (about 3.8 WGPA), went to WM, double majored in STEM subjects, graduated summa cum laude (found college easier than TJ), and is now at a top 10 university working on their PhD. So, yeah, even the kids at the bottom of the class do OK.
Except MIT, Mudd and Chicago, every TJ kid says college is much, much easier than high school.
This is actually what most kids who did a rigorous HS prep (IB, AP, TJ, good private) often say. Because the pressure of getting top grades to get into college is intense, the experience of college is often easier.
Totally agree. I have no doubt these elite schools are more difficult, but not in a good way. They have turned HS into an endurance contest and conflate acceleration with merit. In college you have TIME to dig deeper into topics you are interested in, discuss with peers and faculty relationships with other areas and applications without the extreme time and volume constraints of HS. The extreme acceleration in HS leads to acceptance of cheating, cramming for tests without really having the time to actually learn, and wasting free time self-studying for the easy AP exams they are not really interested in.
TJ kids certainly dig deeper into topics, discuss with extraordinary peers and teachers, conduct research and enjoy bully free environment where academics is encouraged for a change as it should be for schools instead of sports, drinking, dramas, bullying, class discrimination, cheating, working on side doors to colleges etc.
Barf - bunch of racist a-holes constantly putting their own kids on pedestals; the county used to be such a better place to raise kids before the hyper-competitive Tiger Moms and Dads showed up.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated in the bottom 25% of the class (about 3.8 WGPA), went to WM, double majored in STEM subjects, graduated summa cum laude (found college easier than TJ), and is now at a top 10 university working on their PhD. So, yeah, even the kids at the bottom of the class do OK.
Except MIT, Mudd and Chicago, every TJ kid says college is much, much easier than high school.
This is actually what most kids who did a rigorous HS prep (IB, AP, TJ, good private) often say. Because the pressure of getting top grades to get into college is intense, the experience of college is often easier.
Totally agree. I have no doubt these elite schools are more difficult, but not in a good way. They have turned HS into an endurance contest and conflate acceleration with merit. In college you have TIME to dig deeper into topics you are interested in, discuss with peers and faculty relationships with other areas and applications without the extreme time and volume constraints of HS. The extreme acceleration in HS leads to acceptance of cheating, cramming for tests without really having the time to actually learn, and wasting free time self-studying for the easy AP exams they are not really interested in.
TJ kids certainly dig deeper into topics, discuss with extraordinary peers and teachers, conduct research and enjoy bully free environment where academics is encouraged for a change as it should be for schools instead of sports, drinking, dramas, bullying, class discrimination, cheating, working on side doors to colleges etc.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated in the bottom 25% of the class (about 3.8 WGPA), went to WM, double majored in STEM subjects, graduated summa cum laude (found college easier than TJ), and is now at a top 10 university working on their PhD. So, yeah, even the kids at the bottom of the class do OK.
Except MIT, Mudd and Chicago, every TJ kid says college is much, much easier than high school.
This is actually what most kids who did a rigorous HS prep (IB, AP, TJ, good private) often say. Because the pressure of getting top grades to get into college is intense, the experience of college is often easier.
Totally agree. I have no doubt these elite schools are more difficult, but not in a good way. They have turned HS into an endurance contest and conflate acceleration with merit. In college you have TIME to dig deeper into topics you are interested in, discuss with peers and faculty relationships with other areas and applications without the extreme time and volume constraints of HS. The extreme acceleration in HS leads to acceptance of cheating, cramming for tests without really having the time to actually learn, and wasting free time self-studying for the easy AP exams they are not really interested in.
TJ kids certainly dig deeper into topics, discuss with extraordinary peers and teachers, conduct research and enjoy bully free environment where academics is encouraged for a change as it should be for schools instead of sports, drinking, dramas, bullying, class discrimination, cheating, working on side doors to colleges etc.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC graduated in the bottom 25% of the class (about 3.8 WGPA), went to WM, double majored in STEM subjects, graduated summa cum laude (found college easier than TJ), and is now at a top 10 university working on their PhD. So, yeah, even the kids at the bottom of the class do OK.
Except MIT, Mudd and Chicago, every TJ kid says college is much, much easier than high school.
This is actually what most kids who did a rigorous HS prep (IB, AP, TJ, good private) often say. Because the pressure of getting top grades to get into college is intense, the experience of college is often easier.
Totally agree. I have no doubt these elite schools are more difficult, but not in a good way. They have turned HS into an endurance contest and conflate acceleration with merit. In college you have TIME to dig deeper into topics you are interested in, discuss with peers and faculty relationships with other areas and applications without the extreme time and volume constraints of HS. The extreme acceleration in HS leads to acceptance of cheating, cramming for tests without really having the time to actually learn, and wasting free time self-studying for the easy AP exams they are not really interested in.