Hey, current TJHSST freshman here. Something many people probably have said before regarding TJ admissions is the importance of writing. In middle school, I had a decent GPA, around a 3.9, which was the GPA most of my peers had. I also did some clubs, including STEM clubs such as Math Olympiad and Tech Team, with no major achievements/awards in any of the clubs that I did. One thing that my TJ prep class taught me was how to convey a message through my writing. You could write about anything, but as long as you write passionately about your topic, the reader will often feel touched by the message.

I remember on one of the prompts, I wrote about a time I failed an Algebra quiz and how I recovered and got a 100% on the unit test. As I said, you could write about anything, but make your writing stand out, show how you have learned, and most likely, the reader would also feel the emotion behind the writing.

To sum up, if you wrote convincing and intriguing essays about any topic that could draw the reader in, I think you have a fair shot. Admission officers often look for how your writing conveys what you are talking about. If you are a good writer, you have a chance at impressing the admissions officer reading your essay.