Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that MIT, as wonderful as it is, is just not an aspirational choice for many DC area private school students. The perception, though not entirely valid, seems to be that MIT’s offerings and opportunities will not be as broad based as those to which they’ve become accustomed.

Or maybe they just don’t want to do the fire curriculum, which includes 2x calculus, 2x physics, chemistry and biology for all students. It’s grueling.

If the STEM at Potomac is as good as people on here are claiming, then the students will be able to bypass almost all of this.

Question confused admitted and attending - kids get in to MIT but may not choose it given other options. And that is not a knock on MIT, just a question of preference

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public schools are where the truly high-performing math and science students are. Their parents work at NASA and NIH and can’t afford Potomac.

+1 this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confused why going to Potomac would enhance gaining admissions to MIT, or any other T10 for that matter. Rich kids with more homework doesn’t mean more capable students.

OP here. Because I read here that Potomac is very strong in STEM, and im trying to figure out what that means. i thought when people were saying the school is strong in STEM, they meant there would be more students from that school admitted to the most prestigious engineering/math/CS colleges, because of their passion and qualification. Like TJ here or Harker in the bay area.

But maybe I’m wrong.

Anonymous wrote:MIT double degree here with a CalTech double degree sibling.

Kids who absolutely love math and science and do things on their own - outside of school - well will get in.

Don't think so much about what your kid does in school...what do they do outside of school?

Do they earn volunteer hours by having a side gig codding for a non-profit?
Are they taking apart every electronic in the house and putting it back together?
Have they started their own business?
Do they use their tech savvy abilities in some special way? For example - entering hack-a-thons for the public good? (and winning); winning an X-prize?


This is how kids get into MIT.

FWIW: My kids go to public school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that MIT, as wonderful as it is, is just not an aspirational choice for many DC area private school students. The perception, though not entirely valid, seems to be that MIT’s offerings and opportunities will not be as broad based as those to which they’ve become accustomed.

Or maybe they just don’t want to do the fire curriculum, which includes 2x calculus, 2x physics, chemistry and biology for all students. It’s grueling.

If the STEM at Potomac is as good as people on here are claiming, then the students will be able to bypass almost all of this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About 10-15 kids from TJ get into MIT every year, and almost all of them fall into one of 2 categories: athletes or female students who excel in traditionally male-dominated subjects like computer science and math. Don't get me wrong, they are top students with great credentials, but they still almost always need an extra hook to get in. My TJ grad had a 4.0UW/1590 SAT, and it was suggested that if they applied as a lightweight rower then they'd get in. But DC didnt want to row in college, so it didn't work out.

you're wrong. they send between 25-30 every year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that MIT, as wonderful as it is, is just not an aspirational choice for many DC area private school students. The perception, though not entirely valid, seems to be that MIT’s offerings and opportunities will not be as broad based as those to which they’ve become accustomed.

Or maybe they just don’t want to do the fire curriculum, which includes 2x calculus, 2x physics, chemistry and biology for all students. It’s grueling.

Anonymous wrote:About 10-15 kids from TJ get into MIT every year, and almost all of them fall into one of 2 categories: athletes or female students who excel in traditionally male-dominated subjects like computer science and math. Don't get me wrong, they are top students with great credentials, but they still almost always need an extra hook to get in. My TJ grad had a 4.0UW/1590 SAT, and it was suggested that if they applied as a lightweight rower then they'd get in. But DC didnt want to row in college, so it didn't work out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confused why going to Potomac would enhance gaining admissions to MIT, or any other T10 for that matter. Rich kids with more homework doesn’t mean more capable students.

OP here. Because I read here that Potomac is very strong in STEM, and im trying to figure out what that means. i thought when people were saying the school is strong in STEM, they meant there would be more students from that school admitted to the most prestigious engineering/math/CS colleges, because of their passion and qualification. Like TJ here or Harker in the bay area.

But maybe I’m wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac is not Harker by a long shot. I’ve interviewed seniors and Harker is more like a blend of TJ and big 3. Seniors are doing AI research at Stanford, debate champions, competitive skiing — and world champion robotics is like a distant additional activity. It’s a whole other level in the Bay Area

this. Harker is a beast, there's no comparison

Anonymous wrote:About 10-15 kids from TJ get into MIT every year, and almost all of them fall into one of 2 categories: athletes or female students who excel in traditionally male-dominated subjects like computer science and math. Don't get me wrong, they are top students with great credentials, but they still almost always need an extra hook to get in. My TJ grad had a 4.0UW/1590 SAT, and it was suggested that if they applied as a lightweight rower then they'd get in. But DC didnt want to row in college, so it didn't work out.