TJ Sophomore
Each year, TJ admits a small group of rising sophomores. The application looks a little different from the 8th grade process: no exam, no Problem-Solving Essay — just a chance to show who you are, how you think, and why you belong at TJ.
Here’s what the application includes:
Student Portrait Sheet – pre-released short essay prompts
Three teacher recommendations
Transcripts
PSAT and/or SAT scores (optional but highly encouraged)
We offer dedicated essay coaching to help students build compelling, authentic responses — the kind that sound like them, but sharper and more strategic. Through weekly writing sessions, we help students develop a strong narrative, reflect on their experiences, and write with confidence.
The Timeline
The application typically opens around the beginning of April in 9th grade, when students can submit test scores and transcripts to confirm eligibility, which are due nearer the end of April. Once eligibility is confirmed, students gain access to the portal, where they can add their recommenders’ information and access the writing prompts. The full application is due mid-May. Check for this year's dates and deadlines on the TJ Sophomore Admissions page.
Requirements
Residency
All applicants must reside in one of the following counties: Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church City, Loudoun, or Prince William. Read more about the official residency requirements here. It doesn’t hurt to give the admissions office a call to confirm if they have spots available for your county before applying.
Testing
If you scored well on the PSAT, you can submit a copy of those results. If you didn’t score as well as you’d hoped, or didn’t have the opportunity to take it, you can also take the SAT (latest being the March test) and submit those scores. Read more about our SAT prep program—we can help! Note that you do not send TJ any official score reports from the College Board—you’ll simply use a PDF of the score report in your application.
Coursework
To apply, applicants must have completed English, Algebra 1, Biology, Geometry, Health/PE, World Languages, and an elective. If your student’s school doesn’t offer these exact courses, have no fear! You can submit further documentation from your school that details their particular coursework.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should we get started?
We can start as soon as your student decides they want to apply for the sophomore round. Tip: Check to ensure eligibility first!
Do we really need to submit test scores since they're optional?
Yes! Test scores are "optional but highly encouraged," which means it's not really optional! They use test scores to evaluate each candidate in their holistic review. If PSAT scores didn't come out as high as hoped, we can help your student get ready, ideally for the December test of 9th grade at the latest, so there's time for a retake in March if needed. Read more about our SAT Prep program here (LINK).
How do we know if our students' PSAT/SAT score is good enough?
A good rule of thumb is over 90th percentile, but we can help evaluate based on our previous results for sophomore admissions. Book a consultation and let us help!