Anonymous wrote:I would agree to most of what is being said about over prepping and 'spreading the opportunity'. DC is wait listed. She had decent scores high 70s in English, high 80s in quant and high 90s in science. Never been a part of any robotics or similar challenges in ES and MS. She's more artistic and wants to explore stem in traditionally non stem fields. And that's what her sis was all about. she does have super strong grades and I think the recs we're pretty strong as well. Her friends with scores in the 90s got straight up denials. I guess tj is trying to be more diverse?!

I don’t think it’s about forcefitting diversity - your child got in on her own terms without needing that. TJ is looking for kids who are passionate about what they do, and if that happens to be art, so be it. Better her than some kid who’s doing (or being made to do) STEM activities soullessly simply because it’ll look good for the SIS. Loving what they do is the most important thing -- for both STEM and non-STEM kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year seems to have weeded out the over prepped kids. Kids who’ve been going to prep classes for years are the ones who haven’t got in, and the ones who didn’t prep are the ones who’re getting in. It was more like an iq test this year apparently, the math especially couldn’t be prepped for. So the prepped kids were at a disadvantage because they were ‘too prepped’ if that’s a thing.

I am not a fan of preparing for such test. But how can they tell?

Btw those preparing classes are way overrated.

You can’t prep for an iq test. I mean you can, but the improvement is not going to be substantial. Plus, I think the essay prep mills churn out a particular type of essay which is easy to recognise.

Anonymous wrote:This year seems to have weeded out the over prepped kids. Kids who’ve been going to prep classes for years are the ones who haven’t got in, and the ones who didn’t prep are the ones who’re getting in. It was more like an iq test this year apparently, the math especially couldn’t be prepped for. So the prepped kids were at a disadvantage because they were ‘too prepped’ if that’s a thing.

I am not a fan of preparing for such test. But how can they tell?

Btw those preparing classes are way overrated.

I would agree to most of what is being said about over prepping and 'spreading the opportunity'. DC is wait listed. She had decent scores high 70s in English, high 80s in quant and high 90s in science. Never been a part of any robotics or similar challenges in ES and MS. She's more artistic and wants to explore stem in traditionally non stem fields. And that's what her sis was all about. she does have super strong grades and I think the recs we're pretty strong as well. Her friends with scores in the 90s got straight up denials. I guess tj is trying to be more diverse?!

This year seems to have weeded out the over prepped kids. Kids who’ve been going to prep classes for years are the ones who haven’t got in, and the ones who didn’t prep are the ones who’re getting in. It was more like an iq test this year apparently, the math especially couldn’t be prepped for. So the prepped kids were at a disadvantage because they were ‘too prepped’ if that’s a thing.

FYI DC got in with high eighties and high nineties and no EC of SO, Robotic or any math contests. DC wrote about non STEM passions and several national awards and showed strong interest in an interdisciplinary area.

Anonymous wrote:It's time to stop calling TJ a STEM school if these prior posts are true

Seems like a strategy could be to talk about non-STEM stuff in essays at this point as a "hook" to set yourself out from the crowd

You missed the point. The “strategy” is to not coach your kid too much or have a narrow strategy. And you can take advantage of and contribute to a STEM environment in lots of different ways.

TJ is obviously admits a lot traditionally STEM brilliant students. But STEM is a large field, and not every kid who is admitted in STEM is interested in CS or robotics or engineering. I know a kid who was admitted who really wanted to be a neuropsychologist. A kid who real wanted to be an architect. And TJ is adding a social sciences and humanities senior lab offering. TJ uses as an example somewhere having a graduate become a journalist who really understands and can write about STEM areas. And they had the National student journalist of the year last year. The DMV Cappies lead female vocalist. 8 or 9 kids in all state band. A half dozen D1 recruited athletes.


Your kid needs a reason for wanting the advanced STEM offerings. But they should not lhide what makes them tick, even if it’s not STEM. If kids aren’t excited and aren’t being authentic, it shows in timed writing.

Anonymous wrote:If grades are awesome and the scores are brilliant, then the only reason has to be the SIS or the recs. Perhaps the recommendations aren’t as excellent as you think, or the child didn’t actually want to go and that was reflected in the SIS

I posted this, and just thought - it’s also entirely possible that they made a mistake. There was this case one year when some Virginia math champion got rejected, and when they appealed they found that there was a clerical error. Why don’t you appeal?

If grades are awesome and the scores are brilliant, then the only reason has to be the SIS or the recs. Perhaps the recommendations aren’t as excellent as you think, or the child didn’t actually want to go and that was reflected in the SIS

When will they publish the demographics of the admitted students?

It's time to stop calling TJ a STEM school if these prior posts are true

Seems like a strategy could be to talk about non-STEM stuff in essays at this point as a "hook" to set yourself out from the crowd

We need one for international studies/languages like Maggie Walker and another magnet for creative and performing arts. Other states have the Commonwealth beat on these specialized schools.

We need a few more TJ's.

Anonymous wrote:Got a denial from TJ today - Can anyone pls. provide any thoughts on what could have gone wrong to get a straight denial?

TJ Test - Reading/Quant/Science : 100/99/98
7th Grade GPA in core subjects: 4.00 (A)
Summer Geometry: A
8th Grade Algebra II (1st and 2nd Qtr ) : A and A-

Did well on SIS/Essays (unknown factor)
Excellent Teacher recommendations

That is really some great scores and it must be so disappointing! I am sorry your child didn’t make it. I am sure they will do well in life
Saw to the other PP’s child. My kid had high 80s and 90s as test scores and was denied. Feeling sad but it is not the end of the world. There are obviously other smart kids and they can’t take everyone. Congrats to all accepted and fingers crossed to those on the wait pool!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Got a denial from TJ today - Can anyone pls. provide any thoughts on what could have gone wrong to get a straight denial?

TJ Test - Reading/Quant/Science : 100/99/98
7th Grade GPA in core subjects: 4.00 (A)
Summer Geometry: A
8th Grade Algebra II (1st and 2nd Qtr ) : A and A-

Did well on SIS/Essays (unknown factor)
Excellent Teacher recommendations

It's very hard to believe this denial based on the grades. Something not quite right.

I am pretty sure no one gets a 100. Scores are percentiles. This is a troll.

I posted what I saw under the test scores section of the portal. No trolls here, just a disappointed parent

It said "ACT Aspire -Reading 100" under the "percentile rank" column