Anonymous
Post 04/09/2025 10:34     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
DC is currently Sophomore at TJ.

Taking pre-calc.

Half the class is struggling. Latest test, mid-term - class average was 62 - thats a F.

You can imagine what this does to college applications.

Unless ur kid is out of this world smart and good at math - TJ is not good for college applications.

Base school has many of the same courses up to AP Calc BC and no reason to stress at TJ
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2025 09:55     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The advise to stay at the base HS start popping up now. Maybe because the announcement is coming up.
Parents please be wise. The discouragement maybe because some wants more chance for them.

For me, it is not about the destination (college) but the journey along the way and so far my freshmen kid very enjoy his first year journey at TJ.

I also learnt that in general, not speaking about TJ, college admissions this year is bloodbath. So many top students from top schools with very impressive stats is rejected left and right, with no clear reasons.

So, please take the advise here carefully.



This is true but so is the advice. Don't go to TJ for college prospects because only the top 10-20% actually improve their college prospects by attending TJ.

Go to TJ because it will prepare you for a rigorous college program better than your base school.


I had one child go to Langley and one went to TJ. The Langley child went to an Ivy, the TJ child is at UVA. Both STEM majors.

The child that went to Langley was overall better prepared than the child that went to TJ. (And had MUCH better college admissions.) The one exception is Math and Spanish - the TJ classes were much harder. The Senior lab was nice for the TJ child, but also was not life-changing. My Langley child was easily able to get research at the IVY while the TJ child had to fight to get research opportunities at UVA

Would choose Langley for both if I could go back in time. If Langley is your base school or you can pupil-place for Russian, I would seriously consider it.

Others advice and experience may vary.

Both schools have lots and lots of cheating.


Question for above poster- in what ways was your Langley child better prepared for college? What did you mean by that? Thanks,
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2025 09:53     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The advise to stay at the base HS start popping up now. Maybe because the announcement is coming up.
Parents please be wise. The discouragement maybe because some wants more chance for them.

For me, it is not about the destination (college) but the journey along the way and so far my freshmen kid very enjoy his first year journey at TJ.

I also learnt that in general, not speaking about TJ, college admissions this year is bloodbath. So many top students from top schools with very impressive stats is rejected left and right, with no clear reasons.

So, please take the advise here carefully.



This is true but so is the advice. Don't go to TJ for college prospects because only the top 10-20% actually improve their college prospects by attending TJ.

Go to TJ because it will prepare you for a rigorous college program better than your base school.


I had one child go to Langley and one went to TJ. The Langley child went to an Ivy, the TJ child is at UVA. Both STEM majors.

The child that went to Langley was overall better prepared than the child that went to TJ. (And had MUCH better college admissions.) The one exception is Math and Spanish - the TJ classes were much harder. The Senior lab was nice for the TJ child, but also was not life-changing. My Langley child was easily able to get research at the IVY while the TJ child had to fight to get research opportunities at UVA

Would choose Langley for both if I could go back in time. If Langley is your base school or you can pupil-place for Russian, I would seriously consider it.

Others advice and experience may vary.

Both schools have lots and lots of cheating.

I call BS


The cheating at Langley has likely gotten worse since the PPs child graduated. Many stories of cheating in the AP classes this year with no consequences.

Cheating at TJ has always been overblown.


Cheating how? Using chatGpT for papers?
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2025 09:26     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The advise to stay at the base HS start popping up now. Maybe because the announcement is coming up.
Parents please be wise. The discouragement maybe because some wants more chance for them.

For me, it is not about the destination (college) but the journey along the way and so far my freshmen kid very enjoy his first year journey at TJ.

I also learnt that in general, not speaking about TJ, college admissions this year is bloodbath. So many top students from top schools with very impressive stats is rejected left and right, with no clear reasons.

So, please take the advise here carefully.



This is true but so is the advice. Don't go to TJ for college prospects because only the top 10-20% actually improve their college prospects by attending TJ.

Go to TJ because it will prepare you for a rigorous college program better than your base school.


I had one child go to Langley and one went to TJ. The Langley child went to an Ivy, the TJ child is at UVA. Both STEM majors.

The child that went to Langley was overall better prepared than the child that went to TJ. (And had MUCH better college admissions.) The one exception is Math and Spanish - the TJ classes were much harder. The Senior lab was nice for the TJ child, but also was not life-changing. My Langley child was easily able to get research at the IVY while the TJ child had to fight to get research opportunities at UVA

Would choose Langley for both if I could go back in time. If Langley is your base school or you can pupil-place for Russian, I would seriously consider it.

Others advice and experience may vary.

Both schools have lots and lots of cheating.

I call BS


The cheating at Langley has likely gotten worse since the PPs child graduated. Many stories of cheating in the AP classes this year with no consequences.

Cheating at TJ has always been overblown.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2025 09:19     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The advise to stay at the base HS start popping up now. Maybe because the announcement is coming up.
Parents please be wise. The discouragement maybe because some wants more chance for them.

For me, it is not about the destination (college) but the journey along the way and so far my freshmen kid very enjoy his first year journey at TJ.

I also learnt that in general, not speaking about TJ, college admissions this year is bloodbath. So many top students from top schools with very impressive stats is rejected left and right, with no clear reasons.

So, please take the advise here carefully.



This is true but so is the advice. Don't go to TJ for college prospects because only the top 10-20% actually improve their college prospects by attending TJ.

Go to TJ because it will prepare you for a rigorous college program better than your base school.


I had one child go to Langley and one went to TJ. The Langley child went to an Ivy, the TJ child is at UVA. Both STEM majors.

The child that went to Langley was overall better prepared than the child that went to TJ. (And had MUCH better college admissions.) The one exception is Math and Spanish - the TJ classes were much harder. The Senior lab was nice for the TJ child, but also was not life-changing. My Langley child was easily able to get research at the IVY while the TJ child had to fight to get research opportunities at UVA

Would choose Langley for both if I could go back in time. If Langley is your base school or you can pupil-place for Russian, I would seriously consider it.

Others advice and experience may vary.

Both schools have lots and lots of cheating.

I call BS
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2025 09:14     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Most parents do not have Langley as an option.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2025 09:14     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
My kid dominated academics at his base school. He'll be solidly middle of the pack at TJ.

My biggest beef with TJ is teachers playing "gotcha" e.g. my son couldn't complete an assignment in a class due to a technical issue with the computers in class and the teacher said- tough break. It feels like they want them to fail so they don't have to give everyone As.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2025 09:05     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The advise to stay at the base HS start popping up now. Maybe because the announcement is coming up.
Parents please be wise. The discouragement maybe because some wants more chance for them.

For me, it is not about the destination (college) but the journey along the way and so far my freshmen kid very enjoy his first year journey at TJ.

I also learnt that in general, not speaking about TJ, college admissions this year is bloodbath. So many top students from top schools with very impressive stats is rejected left and right, with no clear reasons.

So, please take the advise here carefully.



This is true but so is the advice. Don't go to TJ for college prospects because only the top 10-20% actually improve their college prospects by attending TJ.

Go to TJ because it will prepare you for a rigorous college program better than your base school.


I had one child go to Langley and one went to TJ. The Langley child went to an Ivy, the TJ child is at UVA. Both STEM majors.

The child that went to Langley was overall better prepared than the child that went to TJ. (And had MUCH better college admissions.) The one exception is Math and Spanish - the TJ classes were much harder. The Senior lab was nice for the TJ child, but also was not life-changing. My Langley child was easily able to get research at the IVY while the TJ child had to fight to get research opportunities at UVA

Would choose Langley for both if I could go back in time. If Langley is your base school or you can pupil-place for Russian, I would seriously consider it.

Others advice and experience may vary.

Both schools have lots and lots of cheating.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 18:06     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Anonymous wrote:Curious, for students that are high stats (all As), but not geeks, into quantum physics, etc, would they be a good fit at TJ? My dc does have a very small cohort of friends at base school, because many others are preppy, less interested in academics. Dc will be doing Geometry at 8th grade.


My kid is at TJ. Most kids at TJ are serious students but do not study recreationally. Most of them are not doing independent research until their senior year when everyone does a research lab.

If your kids is athletic, the team sports opportunities are wide open. Individual sports tend to be more competitive.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 17:59     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Private HS this season has way better Ivies admissions than last year, some school doubled. Guess Ivies really need money, hence better chose families that have donation potentials.


This is a WAG but I think TJ is having a rough admission cycle and that is creating more room for admissions from other schools in the area.


Really, nobody know.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 15:13     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Curious, for students that are high stats (all As), but not geeks, into quantum physics, etc, would they be a good fit at TJ? My dc does have a very small cohort of friends at base school, because many others are preppy, less interested in academics. Dc will be doing Geometry at 8th grade.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 13:35     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The advise to stay at the base HS start popping up now. Maybe because the announcement is coming up.
Parents please be wise. The discouragement maybe because some wants more chance for them.

For me, it is not about the destination (college) but the journey along the way and so far my freshmen kid very enjoy his first year journey at TJ.

I also learnt that in general, not speaking about TJ, college admissions this year is bloodbath. So many top students from top schools with very impressive stats is rejected left and right, with no clear reasons.

So, please take the advise here carefully.



This is true but so is the advice. Don't go to TJ for college prospects because only the top 10-20% actually improve their college prospects by attending TJ.

Go to TJ because it will prepare you for a rigorous college program better than your base school.


+1 100% to the point. Completely agree.


And also go if your kid wants access to lab courses and teachers with expertise in science that doesn’t exist at base schools. And if they want to have a group of peers who have similar interests. It’s fun to watch kids who didn’t have a large peer group at their base school find a group of peers who also enjoy geeking out about rocketry, quantum physics, astronomy, biotech, etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 18:09     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Anonymous wrote:Private HS this season has way better Ivies admissions than last year, some school doubled. Guess Ivies really need money, hence better chose families that have donation potentials.


This is a WAG but I think TJ is having a rough admission cycle and that is creating more room for admissions from other schools in the area.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 14:16     Subject: How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Private HS this season has way better Ivies admissions than last year, some school doubled. Guess Ivies really need money, hence better chose families that have donation potentials.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 12:16     Subject: Re:How are TJ class 2025 Top 25 college admissions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Mclean has at least 16 committed to the following: Stanford, Oxford, Duke, Northwestern, UPenn, Cornell, Brown, Vanderbilt, WashU, and Emory. At least four committed to Cornell alone as of yesterday.

More than 20 committed to UVA, W&M, or Virginia Tech.

Interestingly, at least seven committed to Penn State.

This is out of around 100 sharing their commitments so far.

Then there are kids choosing among HYPSM, Berkeley, etc.

Am sure students at TJ also did well. But just goes to show other schools can do well too.

Big congratulations to all the students!


Rich, legacy, and athletes dominate from a wealthy area like McLean


It's still a public school dude.

The wealthy legacies in McLean go to Potomac.


You would be surprised how wealthy public school parents are.