Deciding between two local high schools and Troy Tech

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’ve taken the test to secure a position at the technology program at Troy High School, in Fullerton, California, and am considering their International Baccalaureate program. I’ve been accepted, and it is now up to me to pursue an interdistrict transfer into their school, coming from the Chaffey Joint Union High School District.

I’m looking for an opinion from Troy alumni or current students into what the school environment was like, and from college admissions experts into whether or not the school itself, combined with membership in their magnet programs, would provide a better chance of getting into an Ivy League college–or if this is mostly up to the student to provide a capable profile.
I’d prefer more recent opinions and accounts than older since a much older forum post was dedicated to this same topic.

I have an interest in the sciences, but not one that would totally motivate me to pursue a career in medicine or work, at least for the time being. I believe I can easily grow that interest over time, however.

My issue is that, from what I have been able to gather, the school may be too competitive for my liking, lacks the governmental leadership required to establish your strength as an Ivy League applicant, and has classes which are too difficult and rigorous for my work ethic at the time being, which is maybe true (all claims).
I also feel that it would be difficult to reach higher positions in student government within a matter of four years. I have many relationships I’ve established with my peers that I treasure for the ability to lead.
Coming from another district, and from a residence forty minutes away from the school, I believe this would dramatically reduce my chances to secure social relationships similar to those I’ve only just recently made after transferring between schools after the fifth grade. I also don’t want to leave my friends, nor do I totally wish to move that far in pursuit of Troy’s programs.

If I don’t attend Troy, there is a slight risk the schools that I would attend would be too easy, but this is just a thought from a college counselor I’ve spoken to yesterday. I feel that if I may regret staying or leaving my city in the future if I don’t place careful thought into the decision, since Troy is such a prestigious public high school (lots of interesting clubs and programs!)

Attendance at the meeting for Troy transfer students on March 7th will determine my ability to attend the school.

If I don’t choose to pursue a position at Troy High School, I am also looking into moving to an area closer by to enter a school with a debatable edge on the school of residence I’m wishing to attend (definitely in music, which I have a decent passion for).

My school of residence is Rancho Cucamonga High School, in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The school I’d transfer to if I don’t go to Troy (if I get my request is accepted) is Los Osos High School. What should I do?

Much thanks to anyone that responds. I’d appreciate any opinion on my position.

2

You don’t sound like you want to go to Troy. You think you are supposed to want to…but you don’t.
You want to do well, but not go crazy. You want to keep your friends. You like science, but you are not passionate about it right now.
But you say you want to go to an Ivy League school…what you are saying you want is incompatible with that.
If Troy is too competitive, so will the Ivies be.

You must choose your goal: Trying for top colleges or trying for many very very good colleges that exist (esp in CA).

So to me the question is, what is the gap between your home HSes and Troy?
Do they offer AP classes in English, Math and Science? Do they have the Music opportunities you want?

Are you in the GATE program at RCHS?

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What would be the reason to change from Rancho Cucamonga to Los Osos if you do not change to Troy?

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I have more friends going to Los Osos that I have great relationships with than in Rancho.

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https://www.schooldigger.com/go/CA/schools/1476001816/school.aspx
(Troy)
https://www.schooldigger.com/go/CA/schools/0816001122/school.aspx
(Rancho)

@bopper
Not sure which school you’re referring to. Would it be Troy?
If so, I believe they have music and AP classes for the subjects you mentioned, including my school of residence.

6

my brother-in-law went to Troy, many moons ago. It’s a major pressure cooker, but they do get a lot of kids into good schools. And even those who don’t get into good schools get into good schools (see Kim, Azia) lol.

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@bopper whoops, I also forgot to say that yes, I am in the RCHS Gate program

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@ProfessorPlum168
Does Troy get kids into good schools?

Or do good kids self select for Troy and would get into good schools anyway?

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@bopper Exactly. That’s essentially what I was asking for, preferably from a current student or a student that has recently graduated from the school.

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https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/admissions-source-school suggests that all three high schools have students capable of being admitted to UCs (including UCB and UCLA).

There is also the unsurprising apparent inverse correlation between admission rates and free/reduced school lunch student percentage (Troy has the lowest free/reduced school lunch student percentage, while Rancho Cucamonga has the highest). But at the high level, it looks like any of the three is at least a decent choice. You may want to dig deeper into specific curriculum aspects to see which matches your interests better (particularly if IB is involved), as well as consider the commuting and social aspects.

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I would think Troy and Los Osos would be higher ranked than Rancho. Troy gets a lot into USC, as well as UCB and UCLA as well.

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@ucbalumnus For me, an IB isn’t necessary. My economic background prevents me from using it, and I have no interest in moving outside of the United States.

13

I used to go to Troy a couple years back, but I transferred to a less competitive high school after the first semester even though I did really well in my classes (A’s in two AP classes, one honors class, and two college prep classes, and a B in another honors class) - I find that it is much easier to maintain a high GPA with the same AP/IB/honors classes and still have enough time for extracurricular activities at my current school than it is at Troy, but if you feel that going to Troy will make a significant difference in college admissions, give it a shot. Personally I don’t think going to Troy was the right decision for me because it caused a lot of issues with stress and anxiety, but I know a few people who are students there who thrive from the competitive environment.

14

@nerdymelon Thanks for the input. That was exactly what I needed to hear. I’ll make a decision soon.

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@nerdymelon Do you think you could talk about the people you know at Troy, and what their attitude towards academics is like?

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Did you decide to go to Troy? What were your reasons?

I am considering taking the Troy Tech entrance exam this year. I’ll be in the eighth grade. What was the exam like? I’ll be taking geometry this year, so I think it covers geometry? The English part is essay and multiple choice?

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I chose not to go to Troy. Originally, I just took it for fun to see if I was as qualified as other students going into such a highly regarded school. I came to understand that if your priority is to make it to a prestigious college, it is okay not to go there. Talked to multiple private college counselors who had students of their own going to Troy, who said that the cost of wasted time that could have been dedicated towards highly coveted extracurriculars as a result of the excessive academic focus there outweighed the benefits. For me, because my school offers many AP classes, a great deal of relevant and important clubs important to prestigious colleges, many opportunities for college admissions, and is, most importantly, less competitive than Troy, I made the decision to avoid Troy. When you take the exam this year, keep in mind that the people who go into Troy know fully well that it is a demanding and rigorous school.

The exam is easy as long as you pace yourself, especially in mathematics. I think I remember it touching on geometry, but it is not a major component of the math part. More focus is placed on algebra. Keep in mind that Troy gives you an exam based on your 8th-grade year of math (that you submitted to them before the exam), so it is not difficult at all.

The English part does have an essay and a multiple-choice section. I created a 4 paragraph essay that examined The multiple-choice section focuses on analogies that you should work on extremely quickly (do not waste time contemplating each question if you are unsure of the answer). I missed at least 15+ multiple-choice questions because of how slow I was on the section.

So long as you have been paying attention to your coursework in the 8th grade, and you apply it well on the exam, you are pretty much guaranteed a spot at Troy. There are a lot of spots open at that school. I didn’t take the exam seriously and was still offered a spot there⁠—hopefully, that should make you less stressed about the exam if you are. Take a look at this before you take the exam.

https://www.fjuhsd.org/cms/lib/CA02000098/Centricity/Domain/235/Application%20Instructions%20and%20FAQ%20January%202020.pdf

18

Thanks for the update!

19

Thank you for the update and how the actual test went. I was actually stressing and planning to see how the test goes, to decide between my home high school or Troy.

20

Thank you for your insight.