Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very strong class this year and the college admissions were very difficult.

Why were they so difficult?

headwinds for Asians, let's be honest.

Anonymous wrote:Here is the thing about the Class of 2018. They had all the amazing stats, the SAT scores, the grades, the Science Olympiad national championships and the Intel winners. All the whiz bang stuff. But they were also nice people. Kind, accepting, caring people. People always say that TJ is not the beautiful new building or the whiz bang labs. And after watching the kids in action. It was a hard year for my kid. It took a lot out of all of us. But, a large part of the reason I want him to stay is that there probably isn’t a finer peer group in any high school anywhere.

+1

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Anonymous wrote:To OP - I noticed the 75 to UVA and 32+ to Virginia Tech. That is an increase, isn't it? Isn't it usually 60 to UVA? This was a tough year for admission to Virginia Tech, so am curious if the TJ number is up. And I assume most of those are for engineering?

Last year’s list was

UVA 62
VT. 42
WM. 39
VCU. 10
GMU. 7

Given that some kids are missing, it looks like UVA is up, WM is down and VT, VCU, GMU basically held steady

Berkley was the big one left off the list. Pitt was way up. GA Tech was way up. This year had 2-3 more kids go to several of the Ivy’s (Harvard, Yale, etc.), Plus, a few more Duke and Chicago. A few fewer to Michigan. A few more to UI-CU.


Here is the 2017 list:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/649621.page

And yes, kids who go to VT usually do engineering. Some do other specialized programs, like architecture or their environmental sciences program.

Thank you. I don't have anyone at VT but have been watching the statistics change. So I'm right about a jump in UVA students - that comports with what I'm seeing across the board with VA schools - just a general increase in applications and rise in required stats to get in because the SLACs, LACs and private universities have price themselves out of affordability for most families.

The TJ students attending GMU major in engineering or computer science, right? I have a DC who recently graduated from there. I understand the engineering, computer and econ departments are strong (DD was in another field).

Hard to tell. I don’t know any of this year’s kids personally. But usually it is CS. Sometimes kids do mentorships with GMU faculty and stay. My understanding is that every class also has a few kids who need a commuter college for personal, medical or family reasons.

GMU is not a commuter school. It's the largest research university in Virginia and all freshman are required to live on campus unless they get a waiver. It has three campuses, 37,000 students and a new campus in Seoul, Korea. Its engineering, computer science and econ departments are especially strong. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University

Oh FFS. Quit being so touchy. GMU is a great school. it is also a school kids can attend if they need to live at home for person, medical, family or financial reasons. Which was the context of the statement. If you are unable to leave NOVA for school for some option, then GMU is one of your few options logistically.

+1. And let’s face it, a lot of freshman get a waiver so they don’t have to live on campus. Not many other schools even offer a waiver. It is most definitely considered a commuter school around here.

Gosh, I guess i had better inform the international and OOS students in my DS's dorm at GMU. Please read before you insult the TJ students . . a lot has changed since you were in the 70s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University

For some reason you equate the words “commuter school” with inferiority? How is referring to it as that an insult? It simply means a lot of people who go there commute from home. Obviously, the out of state and internationals can’t commute, you f’ing moron.

And obviously 34,000 students are not commuting. GMU long ago stopped being a commuter school. You are insisting on smearing a fine university with a reputation that dates bakc to the 70s. All first year students are required to live on campus unless they meet certain criteria (student is parent of child; student is taking care of parents; student has other family obligations; student is special needs; or student lives in an area close to the school). https://housing.gmu.edu/apply/new-students. In fact, there is such a crunch for housing that seniors who wanted housing have been told to make other plans because the university needs the housing for first year students.

Yep, you are f’ing nuts and obviously didn’t comprehend my post properly. Lots of NOVA kids commute to GMU. I have not smeared the reputation of GMU by stating that fact. Go take your meds now.

Anonymous wrote:Why so few MIT admittances? In years past, that number was definitely pushing 20.

Nope. These are numbers attending. Per Naviance, number accepted/attending:

2015: 10/8
2016: 15/13
2017: 10/8

We don’t have admitted numbers for 2018, but 8 attending is dead average. Most years, there are also a couple kids who start with the class and go to MIT after junior year. These are not included in the numbers.

Also, most years, TJ has more acceptance at MIT than any other HS.

Here is the thing about the Class of 2018. They had all the amazing stats, the SAT scores, the grades, the Science Olympiad national championships and the Intel winners. All the whiz bang stuff. But they were also nice people. Kind, accepting, caring people. People always say that TJ is not the beautiful new building or the whiz bang labs. And after watching the kids in action. It was a hard year for my kid. It took a lot out of all of us. But, a large part of the reason I want him to stay is that there probably isn’t a finer peer group in any high school anywhere.

Why so few MIT admittances? In years past, that number was definitely pushing 20.

Anonymous wrote:actually, when students who are given a course load that rivals what adults get in college demand to be treated like adults.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:95 Theses:

https://imgur.com/a/hEwf1rS

AKA, when the privileged and entitled ask for even more privileges and entitlements, so they can feel even more like special snowflakes.

Or when kids (and families) sacrifice a lot for a school, and work harder than you can imagine, and care about it deeply and want it to be the best it can be. This was written by Seniors, not underclassmen. Who got together and did this as a class after exams were done and the day before graduation. You know, when they could have been sleeping in or hanging out. They care enough about TJ that they spent their first day of freedom from TJ pushing back a principal who is making changes that a good portion of the school is unhappy with. They want the school to continue to be amazing for the underclassmen. That is the exact opposite of entitlement. If these changes come to pass, these Seniors won’t be the ones who see the benefit.

Cheers to the class of 2018. The first one I really got to know well at TJ. You guys are amazing.

actually, when students who are given a course load that rivals what adults get in college demand to be treated like adults.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:95 Theses:

https://imgur.com/a/hEwf1rS

AKA, when the privileged and entitled ask for even more privileges and entitlements, so they can feel even more like special snowflakes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very strong class this year and the college admissions were very difficult.

Why were they so difficult?

Some data to back up the assertion that the chances of gaining admission to elite colleges were the toughest EVER:

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2018/4/9/admissions-rates-record-lows-across-ivies-stanford-mit/

Most of this is attributable to students applying to more and more colleges. The actual number of high school graduates has been going down. I guess you could argue for the Lake Wobegon effect and just argue that the kids are just getting better and better. The data shows there is grade inflation in high school, which is more prevalent at better schools in more affluent areas. The number of reported valedictorians and salutatorians in the U.S. has skyrocketed as they now include ties. At top colleges, only about 30% of students or so come from schools that even report class rank. This may just serve to increase the importance of standardized tests at top colleges.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/us-colleges-are-facing-a-demographic-and-existential_us_59511619e4b0326c0a8d09e9

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To OP - I noticed the 75 to UVA and 32+ to Virginia Tech. That is an increase, isn't it? Isn't it usually 60 to UVA? This was a tough year for admission to Virginia Tech, so am curious if the TJ number is up. And I assume most of those are for engineering?

Last year’s list was

UVA 62
VT. 42
WM. 39
VCU. 10
GMU. 7

Given that some kids are missing, it looks like UVA is up, WM is down and VT, VCU, GMU basically held steady

Berkley was the big one left off the list. Pitt was way up. GA Tech was way up. This year had 2-3 more kids go to several of the Ivy’s (Harvard, Yale, etc.), Plus, a few more Duke and Chicago. A few fewer to Michigan. A few more to UI-CU.


Here is the 2017 list:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/649621.page

And yes, kids who go to VT usually do engineering. Some do other specialized programs, like architecture or their environmental sciences program.

Thank you. I don't have anyone at VT but have been watching the statistics change. So I'm right about a jump in UVA students - that comports with what I'm seeing across the board with VA schools - just a general increase in applications and rise in required stats to get in because the SLACs, LACs and private universities have price themselves out of affordability for most families.

The TJ students attending GMU major in engineering or computer science, right? I have a DC who recently graduated from there. I understand the engineering, computer and econ departments are strong (DD was in another field).

Hard to tell. I don’t know any of this year’s kids personally. But usually it is CS. Sometimes kids do mentorships with GMU faculty and stay. My understanding is that every class also has a few kids who need a commuter college for personal, medical or family reasons.

GMU is not a commuter school. It's the largest research university in Virginia and all freshman are required to live on campus unless they get a waiver. It has three campuses, 37,000 students and a new campus in Seoul, Korea. Its engineering, computer science and econ departments are especially strong. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University

Oh FFS. Quit being so touchy. GMU is a great school. it is also a school kids can attend if they need to live at home for person, medical, family or financial reasons. Which was the context of the statement. If you are unable to leave NOVA for school for some option, then GMU is one of your few options logistically.

+1. And let’s face it, a lot of freshman get a waiver so they don’t have to live on campus. Not many other schools even offer a waiver. It is most definitely considered a commuter school around here.

Gosh, I guess i had better inform the international and OOS students in my DS's dorm at GMU. Please read before you insult the TJ students . . a lot has changed since you were in the 70s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University

For some reason you equate the words “commuter school” with inferiority? How is referring to it as that an insult? It simply means a lot of people who go there commute from home. Obviously, the out of state and internationals can’t commute, you f’ing moron.

And obviously 34,000 students are not commuting. GMU long ago stopped being a commuter school. You are insisting on smearing a fine university with a reputation that dates bakc to the 70s. All first year students are required to live on campus unless they meet certain criteria (student is parent of child; student is taking care of parents; student has other family obligations; student is special needs; or student lives in an area close to the school). https://housing.gmu.edu/apply/new-students. In fact, there is such a crunch for housing that seniors who wanted housing have been told to make other plans because the university needs the housing for first year students.

You seem weirdly fixated on proving something about GMU on a thread about TJ admissions. We get it your kid is at GMU. Congrats. It it is getting harder to get into. That does not change the fact that some kids in NOVA choose it because they live in an area close to the school (one of the reasons for a waiver) and need to live at home and commute. That says nothing about the quality of a GMU education. It says that me they have have family, financial, medical, etc. issues and need to live at home and commute to college.

No one is saying that the fact some kids commute makes the school bad. But the fact is, some kids choose it because they need to commute from home and still want to attend college. I know a couple of these kids.

So chill. Relax. No one is throwing shade on GMU.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To OP - I noticed the 75 to UVA and 32+ to Virginia Tech. That is an increase, isn't it? Isn't it usually 60 to UVA? This was a tough year for admission to Virginia Tech, so am curious if the TJ number is up. And I assume most of those are for engineering?

Last year’s list was

UVA 62
VT. 42
WM. 39
VCU. 10
GMU. 7

Given that some kids are missing, it looks like UVA is up, WM is down and VT, VCU, GMU basically held steady

Berkley was the big one left off the list. Pitt was way up. GA Tech was way up. This year had 2-3 more kids go to several of the Ivy’s (Harvard, Yale, etc.), Plus, a few more Duke and Chicago. A few fewer to Michigan. A few more to UI-CU.


Here is the 2017 list:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/649621.page

And yes, kids who go to VT usually do engineering. Some do other specialized programs, like architecture or their environmental sciences program.

Thank you. I don't have anyone at VT but have been watching the statistics change. So I'm right about a jump in UVA students - that comports with what I'm seeing across the board with VA schools - just a general increase in applications and rise in required stats to get in because the SLACs, LACs and private universities have price themselves out of affordability for most families.

The TJ students attending GMU major in engineering or computer science, right? I have a DC who recently graduated from there. I understand the engineering, computer and econ departments are strong (DD was in another field).

Hard to tell. I don’t know any of this year’s kids personally. But usually it is CS. Sometimes kids do mentorships with GMU faculty and stay. My understanding is that every class also has a few kids who need a commuter college for personal, medical or family reasons.

GMU is not a commuter school. It's the largest research university in Virginia and all freshman are required to live on campus unless they get a waiver. It has three campuses, 37,000 students and a new campus in Seoul, Korea. Its engineering, computer science and econ departments are especially strong. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University

Oh FFS. Quit being so touchy. GMU is a great school. it is also a school kids can attend if they need to live at home for person, medical, family or financial reasons. Which was the context of the statement. If you are unable to leave NOVA for school for some option, then GMU is one of your few options logistically.

+1. And let’s face it, a lot of freshman get a waiver so they don’t have to live on campus. Not many other schools even offer a waiver. It is most definitely considered a commuter school around here.

Gosh, I guess i had better inform the international and OOS students in my DS's dorm at GMU. Please read before you insult the TJ students . . a lot has changed since you were in the 70s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University

For some reason you equate the words “commuter school” with inferiority? How is referring to it as that an insult? It simply means a lot of people who go there commute from home. Obviously, the out of state and internationals can’t commute, you f’ing moron.

And obviously 34,000 students are not commuting. GMU long ago stopped being a commuter school. You are insisting on smearing a fine university with a reputation that dates bakc to the 70s. All first year students are required to live on campus unless they meet certain criteria (student is parent of child; student is taking care of parents; student has other family obligations; student is special needs; or student lives in an area close to the school). https://housing.gmu.edu/apply/new-students. In fact, there is such a crunch for housing that seniors who wanted housing have been told to make other plans because the university needs the housing for first year students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very strong class this year and the college admissions were very difficult.

Why were they so difficult?

Some data to back up the assertion that the chances of gaining admission to elite colleges were the toughest EVER:

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2018/4/9/admissions-rates-record-lows-across-ivies-stanford-mit/

Because overall applications up 5 to 20% at the most desirable schools because of population boom and concentrated outreach to first gen and diverse applicants, plus allocation of about 3-5% more slots to first gen/diverse applicants at most schools.

Anonymous wrote:Very strong class this year and the college admissions were very difficult.

Why were they so difficult?

Anonymous wrote:I count 73 going to Ivys, Stanford, MIT, CalTech, UChicago and Duke (incl 1 Robertson Scholar) out of 366 kids reporting. Dang that's an impressive 20% going to elite schools (with 8% or lower admission rates) in the toughest ever admissions cycle.

Throw in 73 to UVA and the kids going to schools like Carnegie Mellon, Hopkins, West Point, Amherst, Michigan, Georgetown and you have 50% of reporting 2018 TJ grads going to top colleges. Either this was an extremely strong class at TJ or the much discussed TJ penalty in college admissions is overblown.

You also want to add in the kids going to top 10 Engineering schools not named above— because these are first choices for TJ kids: GA Tech, Purdue, UI- CU and UT Austin are all top 10. That’s another 30 kids. Plus VT Engineering and WM, and you are looking at a total of 87 more. That gets you to 2/3 of the reports.

And schools like Pomona, UCLA, UMD-CP Engineering, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Emory, Vanderbilt, Wash U, Oberlin, Carleton and NYU are not exactly slacker schools. The top 75% of the class did very well.

This is considered a relatively strong class. But still. It’s an impressive showing.