Anonymous wrote:Relevant data point here:

I went to my base school my freshman year and was miserable there. Went to TJ the next three years and loved it. Would love for my kids to go there too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about people whose kids actually attend(ed) TJ answer this question. Haters can move on. Yes, it is worth it, as long as you/your student understand it is not a golden ticket to a lifetime of success. It is a great experience in and of itself. College admissions are at least as difficult from TJ as from other FCPS high schools, but the four years there offer an unparalleled experience.

Given the acceptance rates to certain schools, college admissions are clearly easier from there than from other schools, actually. Haters gonna hate.

You take the same kids and put them in any environment and they will get admitted to the top colleges. TJ students would be top 10% at any HS in the county. You have to compare the admission stats for TJ to the top 10% (maybe even 5%) in the county...you will not find an advantage for TJ -- instead, you will find that the top 400 kids not at TJ go to better colleges, on average, than the kids from TJ. It is because the schools to not was 50 kids from TJ.

This is an important point. I think parents/kids are so obsessed with getting into TJ, they don't think thru what happens after that. Middle of pack at TJ will not give you advantage in terms of college admission over the top tier kids at home school. If you go outside of NOVA, people/schools don't really care that much about TJ name - not as much as you think anyway.

It's ironic how there is so much discussion about how it is better to attend the base high school to increase the chance of admission to "better colleges" and yet there is a constant whining about how parents "game" to get into "better high school".

Is it ok to "game" the system to get into better colleges but but not for high schools? Many TJ kids choose to attend TJ not because TJ may offer some advantage in getting admitted to "better colleges" but for other reasons.

People are so obsessed about "better colleges" they are blind to everything else. Many TJ kids attend TJ to receive exceptional education from quality teachers and to take advantage of unique opportunities offered by TJ regardless of college admission chances. After all, receiving an excellent education in a suitable environment should be the general goal and not increasing the chance at "better colleges".

Sorry. I just don't believe that. I think a lot of parents/kids view TJ as their best shot at Ivy league schools.

Even though many posters on DCUM scream at every chance that TJ will hurt your chance, TJ is not a ticket to top schools blah, blah blah, "lot of" TJ kids are so dim and ignorant that they are still dying to attend TJ solely to improve their chances at top colleges? Does that sum up your view?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about people whose kids actually attend(ed) TJ answer this question. Haters can move on. Yes, it is worth it, as long as you/your student understand it is not a golden ticket to a lifetime of success. It is a great experience in and of itself. College admissions are at least as difficult from TJ as from other FCPS high schools, but the four years there offer an unparalleled experience.

Given the acceptance rates to certain schools, college admissions are clearly easier from there than from other schools, actually. Haters gonna hate.

You take the same kids and put them in any environment and they will get admitted to the top colleges. TJ students would be top 10% at any HS in the county. You have to compare the admission stats for TJ to the top 10% (maybe even 5%) in the county...you will not find an advantage for TJ -- instead, you will find that the top 400 kids not at TJ go to better colleges, on average, than the kids from TJ. It is because the schools to not was 50 kids from TJ.

This is an important point. I think parents/kids are so obsessed with getting into TJ, they don't think thru what happens after that. Middle of pack at TJ will not give you advantage in terms of college admission over the top tier kids at home school. If you go outside of NOVA, people/schools don't really care that much about TJ name - not as much as you think anyway.

It's ironic how there is so much discussion about how it is better to attend the base high school to increase the chance of admission to "better colleges" and yet there is a constant whining about how parents "game" to get into "better high school".

Is it ok to "game" the system to get into better colleges but but not for high schools? Many TJ kids choose to attend TJ not because TJ may offer some advantage in getting admitted to "better colleges" but for other reasons.

People are so obsessed about "better colleges" they are blind to everything else. Many TJ kids attend TJ to receive exceptional education from quality teachers and to take advantage of unique opportunities offered by TJ regardless of college admission chances. After all, receiving an excellent education in a suitable environment should be the general goal and not increasing the chance at "better colleges".

Sorry. I just don't believe that. I think a lot of parents/kids view TJ as their best shot at Ivy league schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about people whose kids actually attend(ed) TJ answer this question. Haters can move on. Yes, it is worth it, as long as you/your student understand it is not a golden ticket to a lifetime of success. It is a great experience in and of itself. College admissions are at least as difficult from TJ as from other FCPS high schools, but the four years there offer an unparalleled experience.

Given the acceptance rates to certain schools, college admissions are clearly easier from there than from other schools, actually. Haters gonna hate.

You take the same kids and put them in any environment and they will get admitted to the top colleges. TJ students would be top 10% at any HS in the county. You have to compare the admission stats for TJ to the top 10% (maybe even 5%) in the county...you will not find an advantage for TJ -- instead, you will find that the top 400 kids not at TJ go to better colleges, on average, than the kids from TJ. It is because the schools to not was 50 kids from TJ.

This is an important point. I think parents/kids are so obsessed with getting into TJ, they don't think thru what happens after that. Middle of pack at TJ will not give you advantage in terms of college admission over the top tier kids at home school. If you go outside of NOVA, people/schools don't really care that much about TJ name - not as much as you think anyway.

It's ironic how there is so much discussion about how it is better to attend the base high school to increase the chance of admission to "better colleges" and yet there is a constant whining about how parents "game" to get into "better high school".

Is it ok to "game" the system to get into better colleges but but not for high schools? Many TJ kids choose to attend TJ not because TJ may offer some advantage in getting admitted to "better colleges" but for other reasons.

People are so obsessed about "better colleges" they are blind to everything else. Many TJ kids attend TJ to receive exceptional education from quality teachers and to take advantage of unique opportunities offered by TJ regardless of college admission chances. After all, receiving an excellent education in a suitable environment should be the general goal and not increasing the chance at "better colleges".

Sorry. I just don't believe that. I think a lot of parents/kids view TJ as their best shot at Ivy league schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about people whose kids actually attend(ed) TJ answer this question. Haters can move on. Yes, it is worth it, as long as you/your student understand it is not a golden ticket to a lifetime of success. It is a great experience in and of itself. College admissions are at least as difficult from TJ as from other FCPS high schools, but the four years there offer an unparalleled experience.

Given the acceptance rates to certain schools, college admissions are clearly easier from there than from other schools, actually. Haters gonna hate.

You take the same kids and put them in any environment and they will get admitted to the top colleges. TJ students would be top 10% at any HS in the county. You have to compare the admission stats for TJ to the top 10% (maybe even 5%) in the county...you will not find an advantage for TJ -- instead, you will find that the top 400 kids not at TJ go to better colleges, on average, than the kids from TJ. It is because the schools to not was 50 kids from TJ.

This is an important point. I think parents/kids are so obsessed with getting into TJ, they don't think thru what happens after that. Middle of pack at TJ will not give you advantage in terms of college admission over the top tier kids at home school. If you go outside of NOVA, people/schools don't really care that much about TJ name - not as much as you think anyway.

It's ironic how there is so much discussion about how it is better to attend the base high school to increase the chance of admission to "better colleges" and yet there is a constant whining about how parents "game" to get into "better high school".

Is it ok to "game" the system to get into better colleges but but not for high schools? Many TJ kids choose to attend TJ not because TJ may offer some advantage in getting admitted to "better colleges" but for other reasons.

People are so obsessed about "better colleges" they are blind to everything else. Many TJ kids attend TJ to receive exceptional education from quality teachers and to take advantage of unique opportunities offered by TJ regardless of college admission chances. After all, receiving an excellent education in a suitable environment should be the general goal and not increasing the chance at "better colleges".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about people whose kids actually attend(ed) TJ answer this question. Haters can move on. Yes, it is worth it, as long as you/your student understand it is not a golden ticket to a lifetime of success. It is a great experience in and of itself. College admissions are at least as difficult from TJ as from other FCPS high schools, but the four years there offer an unparalleled experience.

Given the acceptance rates to certain schools, college admissions are clearly easier from there than from other schools, actually. Haters gonna hate.

You take the same kids and put them in any environment and they will get admitted to the top colleges. TJ students would be top 10% at any HS in the county. You have to compare the admission stats for TJ to the top 10% (maybe even 5%) in the county...you will not find an advantage for TJ -- instead, you will find that the top 400 kids not at TJ go to better colleges, on average, than the kids from TJ. It is because the schools to not was 50 kids from TJ.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about people whose kids actually attend(ed) TJ answer this question. Haters can move on. Yes, it is worth it, as long as you/your student understand it is not a golden ticket to a lifetime of success. It is a great experience in and of itself. College admissions are at least as difficult from TJ as from other FCPS high schools, but the four years there offer an unparalleled experience.

Given the acceptance rates to certain schools, college admissions are clearly easier from there than from other schools, actually. Haters gonna hate.

You take the same kids and put them in any environment and they will get admitted to the top colleges. TJ students would be top 10% at any HS in the county. You have to compare the admission stats for TJ to the top 10% (maybe even 5%) in the county...you will not find an advantage for TJ -- instead, you will find that the top 400 kids not at TJ go to better colleges, on average, than the kids from TJ. It is because the schools to not was 50 kids from TJ.

This is an important point. I think parents/kids are so obsessed with getting into TJ, they don't think thru what happens after that. Middle of pack at TJ will not give you advantage in terms of college admission over the top tier kids at home school. If you go outside of NOVA, people/schools don't really care that much about TJ name - not as much as you think anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about people whose kids actually attend(ed) TJ answer this question. Haters can move on. Yes, it is worth it, as long as you/your student understand it is not a golden ticket to a lifetime of success. It is a great experience in and of itself. College admissions are at least as difficult from TJ as from other FCPS high schools, but the four years there offer an unparalleled experience.

Given the acceptance rates to certain schools, college admissions are clearly easier from there than from other schools, actually. Haters gonna hate.

You take the same kids and put them in any environment and they will get admitted to the top colleges. TJ students would be top 10% at any HS in the county. You have to compare the admission stats for TJ to the top 10% (maybe even 5%) in the county...you will not find an advantage for TJ -- instead, you will find that the top 400 kids not at TJ go to better colleges, on average, than the kids from TJ. It is because the schools to not was 50 kids from TJ.

Anonymous wrote:My son is a rising Sophomore at TJHSST. Here's the facts: he works his tail off and is up very late at night doing homework. The administration is EXTREMELY disorganized which makes me crazy. So for those two reasons, I hate the school and cringe when I hear my other kids say they want to apply. However, it is the perfect place for my son. He is not Albert Einstein junior, he's just a smart kid with a real passion for tech (particularly computer science) and is loving all of the class options he can't get elsewhere (without doing dual enrollment). He got in because he got lucky -- which is the case for every student there. There are a lot of equally smart kids at schools other than TJ. Would he be happy and do well at our local HS, absolutely! Oh, and does he or do we care about the number of Asians there -- truth be told I think it's benefitting him a lot to be in the minority (we're caucasian) for once.

Anonymous wrote:My son is a rising Sophomore at TJHSST. Here's the facts: he works his tail off and is up very late at night doing homework. The administration is EXTREMELY disorganized which makes me crazy. So for those two reasons, I hate the school and cringe when I hear my other kids say they want to apply. However, it is the perfect place for my son. He is not Albert Einstein junior, he's just a smart kid with a real passion for tech (particularly computer science) and is loving all of the class options he can't get elsewhere (without doing dual enrollment). He got in because he got lucky -- which is the case for every student there. There are a lot of equally smart kids at schools other than TJ. Would he be happy and do well at our local HS, absolutely! Oh, and does he or do we care about the number of Asians there -- truth be told I think it's benefitting him a lot to be in the minority (we're caucasian) for once.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about people whose kids actually attend(ed) TJ answer this question. Haters can move on. Yes, it is worth it, as long as you/your student understand it is not a golden ticket to a lifetime of success. It is a great experience in and of itself. College admissions are at least as difficult from TJ as from other FCPS high schools, but the four years there offer an unparalleled experience.

Given the acceptance rates to certain schools, college admissions are clearly easier from there than from other schools, actually. Haters gonna hate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about people whose kids actually attend(ed) TJ answer this question. Haters can move on. Yes, it is worth it, as long as you/your student understand it is not a golden ticket to a lifetime of success. It is a great experience in and of itself. College admissions are at least as difficult from TJ as from other FCPS high schools, but the four years there offer an unparalleled experience.

Given the acceptance rates to certain schools, college admissions are clearly easier from there than from other schools, actually. Haters gonna hate.