Test Preparation Testimonials

Here's the news so far on the 2010 first cut for TJ. If you haven't told us yet how you did drop us a note.

I just wanted to let you know that I made the first cut for the TJ Admission! Thank you all so very much for your help and support, because without it, I would have most definitely been lost while taking the test.

On to phase 2!

Thanks again,
CC

I just got a letter from TJ that I passed the first cut for my TJ test! Thank you so much for all of your help! I will let you know the results of the second stage of screening, which I know is very hard.

Sincerely,
SC

Hello Mr. & Mrs. Dalby,

We just wanted you all to be the first to know that our son, JC, is a TJ semifinalist!! He received his letter today!
Thank you so much for your tutoring, preparation and guidance through this process! Now he's off to begin the second phase of the TJ Admissions process (i.e seeking teacher recommendations, completing student information sheet, etc.) Any helpful tips regarding this second phase is most welcome:)
Thank you again for teaching and preparing him!

Sincerely,

FC

FYI. J. passed the first round to TJ. So, I have the following questions for you:
1) What will be expected next?
2) What does J. need to do to prepare for the next round?

Thx,
>>TN

CM

Yay! Im a semifinalist!!!now i just have to fill out another application :(thanks for all your help!
NB

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Dear Kate,

Thank you very much for your feedback on the essays, and also for the personalized service and care I could perceive all the times C. had lessons with you. She has felt so comfortable in your classes and I see she feels much more confident!

Yesterday C. didn't go to school, and stayed home revising and studying for the test. We went through all the scrambled paragraphs so far, plus the new ones you provided her with. She did very well! Thanks a lot!!!

C K

Dec 1, 2009 8:22 PM

Hello Kate,

Just wanted to thank you and Mr. Dalby for your wonderful tutoring to A. He found your classes very helpful in helping him understand the exam material better and in essence that translated into better scores on every practice exam. Adding a touch of humor and warmth to every class made it very interesting to A.!

I will be in touch and let you know how A. did on the TJ exam once the scores get in.

Thanks so much once again for all your hard work,

Have a wonderful holiday season,

Best Regards,

G(A S's mom)

Mrs. Dalby,

Good news, I got accepted to TJ! I got in the 92 percentile for math, and 80 percentile for verbal reasoning. Taking your class helped a lot! Thank you for teaching the summer class to help me prepare for the test.

About the admissions committee, I've heard that once you get in the first pool, they don't really look at your test scores that much anymore, instead they look at the sheet we all had to fill out along with our personal statements.

Thanks Again,

AG

Dear Kate and Rick,

I'm happy to tell you that I was accepted into Thomas Jefferson. My scores were about even on both, a 40/50 on the verbal, and a 38/50 on the math section (I was hoping to do better on the math section). Fortunately for me, getting into TJ is more than the test, since I was one of only a few students accepted from my middle school,[some had better scores and didn't get in.]

The essay questions included an ethics question and a "Why do you want to go to TJ and what do you want to be when you grow up?" type of question. I answered the ethics question like everyone else: my answer was doing the right thing, in that type of situation. Yet, I think my risk paid off when I said I was hoping to find my niche in TJ and that I didn't know yet what I wanted to do for a profession, when everyone else put things like being a doctor, or other science/math/technology-related professions.

My grades were a 4.0. I had many after-school activities relating to all of the fields needed to get into TJ, I am a Boy Scout (actually can separate you from many kids that applied, since not many are in scouts), and I am versatile in sports. I had many accomplishments in school also, and I am in the band. I also believe I had very nice recommendations written by the three teachers I chose, another factor in deciding the kids.

So, ultimately, in the end, I think the judges found I was an all-around student, who seemed to have no boundaries, and that's what they were looking for, in my opinion. It may not matter to them if you get a perfect score (although it could be a huge factor), if you built your own computer, or if all of your grades are perfect, you need to excel in every area they were looking for, and that's how it worked out for me.

Thank you for your lessons, and I appreciate everything you helped me work on so I could accomplish this goal, and I am proud to say I will be attending Thomas Jefferson.

Unfortunately, X didn't get in. She had 75% on the math and 71% on the verbal, which is higher than one of your girls who got in (very strange). X heard from someone that they were accepting fewer students from Arlington this year than the previous years - I don't know if it's true.

Anyway, we think she did pretty well and she doesn't seem to be too upset.

Best regards,XX

-Kate's note: I think that students don't realize that once you've made the first cut the scores matter less (math score is still considered but not verbal is my understanding) because the admissions committee realizes you are academically qualified. At that point other considerations come into play. No doubt they are looking to have a class made up of a lot of different people with a lot of different talents. It can be frustrating trying to anticipate what they are looking for. My advice is to do what you enjoy doing -that is what you will do best - and let the chips fall where they may.

Unfortunately many qualified students won't make the second cut; don't let it get you down for long. If you work hard at what you love doing you will succeed in life.

Subject: TJHSST results!

Date: Apr 5, 2009 4:24 PM

Dear Dalbys,

Thank you so much for tutoring me for TJ last summer! I'm REALLY excited to tell you that TJ gave me admission for freshman year. I received scores of 39/50 for Math and 37/50 for Verbal. They also said that I have a percentile of 75% for Math and 47% for Verbal (meaning I did as well as or better than that percentage of kids who took the test).

Again, thank you! You guys really helped me improve on my math and english.

HL (name withheld for privacy)

To: katedalby@earthlink.net

Subject: tj

Dear Ms. Kate,

I just got my TJ letter and I got in!!! Thank you so much for all your work and helping me prepare for the test. I really appreciate all your work!!

Sincerely,

Saniya Suri

Apr 3, 2009 3:24 PM

Dear Dalbys,

I want you to know that the investment I made in one-on-one tutoring with your company was the best investment I ever made!

My daughter's scores went up so high that she received a $10,000 a year (for four years) merit scholarship to college. The personal attention she got from Dalby zeroed in on the exact areas where she needed help,and she had fun in the process.

Ironically, my total cost was significantly less than the cost of those corporate testing services classes being offered at our local high school because after a few sessions you told me she was ready and didn't need any more help.

I cant wait to send her brother to you so you can work your Dalby magic on him!

Many thanks,

Sarah Flanagan

Falls Church, Virginia

Kate & Rick,

We wanted to let you know that Lolly (Visitation 2009) received three college acceptance letters to:

Penn State, University Park

University of Pittsburgh

VA Tech

She hasn't made up her mind yet...such a tough choice! We wanted to thank you for helping her RECEIVE these acceptances. We firmly believe your SAT prep courses gave her not only the added instruction necessary to score well, but the confidence to compete for these coveted slots at all three schools.

Thanks again for helping both our kids over the years. Matthew is very happy at UVA in his second year. Although the Systems Engineering curricula is quite challenging, he continues to persevere.

We'll never forget you and all that you have done for our kids!

JoAnn & Bob Vilhauer