How to Explain Covid Year Grades

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some true haters on this thread. Those of you gloating about your private admissions membership. Guess what? I am in charge of reviewing applications at my university, and you better believe if I see a kid with all As during the COVID year I will assume you were over-privileged and will want to have a vested interest in understanding those kids who did not do "as well".

Yeah, whatever. You're full of shit. The vast majority of admissions offers to the highly selective universities go to highly privileged students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you explain it? He was lazy and did not do the work.

Nasty. Going to school by video was very difficult for some kids and not compatible with their learning styles.

"Learning style" is a myth that was debunked years ago.

[Anonymous]

Woah. I think the parents with B students/Covid slackers are out in force.

I had a kid who came out of public last year and it was ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE not to get As last year. There were limitless retakes and the lowest possible grade in DCPS (for example) was a B. Teachers gave As for turning in ANYTHING.

Kids who got Bs literally did not do anything.

Why should a selective private school take a kid who elected to do nothing last year over a kid who played by the rules and turned in assignments?
When there are 10 kids for one spot at these schools, why should it go to a kid who didn't do anything when the other 9 did?
There is zero chance an admissions committee would select this kid over the others unless he/she has some crazy talent.
It's a major liability for the school the next time this kid hits a bump in in the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I participate in interviews for my alma mater. I know your situation is different in that you're talking about a younger kid, but as a general rule, we've not been impressed with any sort of "explanations" (i.e. excuses) for "Covid year grades." All our other applicants maintained their 'A' records throughout the year, so I really don't care that you're such a social person you just couldn't deal with remote learning.

Wish you'd say what your alma mater is so that I can steer my kids away.

[Anonymous]

OP, explain what the circumstances were. Perhaps your child plunged into a funk or full-blown depression (many did) or just didn't perform well without the structure of school and surrounded by the distractions of home life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you explain it? He was lazy and did not do the work.

Nasty. Going to school by video was very difficult for some kids and not compatible with their learning styles.

"Learning style" is a myth that was debunked years ago.

LOL. Everyone loves talking on Zoom and can learn by listening over a video screen. Right. All the developmental psychologists say this.

[Anonymous]

A message board isn't going to be able to tell you how to do this. You were there with your kid and you (presumably) know what happened. Just tell the truth!

[Anonymous]

5th and 6th grades are meaningless. You'll look a bit silly trying to argue academic prowess based on that. Entrance exams should also help your kid if 7th grade was a fluke?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you explain it? He was lazy and did not do the work.

Nasty. Going to school by video was very difficult for some kids and not compatible with their learning styles.

"Learning style" is a myth that was debunked years ago.

LOL. Everyone loves talking on Zoom and can learn by listening over a video screen. Right. All the developmental psychologists say this.

GMAFB. The kids who didn't do well turned off the video so the could play games or otherwise eff around and not pay attention. You know that perfectlyl well, stop playing (being?) dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I participate in interviews for my alma mater. I know your situation is different in that you're talking about a younger kid, but as a general rule, we've not been impressed with any sort of "explanations" (i.e. excuses) for "Covid year grades." All our other applicants maintained their 'A' records throughout the year, so I really don't care that you're such a social person you just couldn't deal with remote learning.

Wish you'd say what your alma mater is so that I can steer my kids away.

Especially since all the selective colleges I know about (4 different ivies) don't tell alumni interviewers anything about the applicants' grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you explain it? He was lazy and did not do the work.

Nasty. Going to school by video was very difficult for some kids and not compatible with their learning styles.

"Learning style" is a myth that was debunked years ago.

LOL. Everyone loves talking on Zoom and can learn by listening over a video screen. Right. All the developmental psychologists say this.

GMAFB. The kids who didn't do well turned off the video so the could play games or otherwise eff around and not pay attention. You know that perfectlyl well, stop playing (being?) dumb.

You have no idea what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

I would just be honest and explain how you think the particular school will be a good match and help bring out the best in your child. I have a bright middle school student who struggled tremendously with virtual learning, which actually prompted us to move to a private school setting. It was just really hard for her to motivate for virtual school. I’m sorry some are being so harsh about how a 12 year old child responded to an unprecedented pandemic. Glad your kid seems to be doing better this year and good luck!

[Anonymous]

Dear lord OP, the a-holes are out in full force. Be honest, that's all you can control. Good luck to your DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear lord OP, the a-holes are out in full force. Be honest, that's all you can control. Good luck to your DC.

+1

Also, private/independent schools will need to come to terms with their public school applicants' records not necessarily reflecting what sort of student they might be in a private school setting post-distance learning. Public schools did not meet all students' needs during Covid. Admissions offices will see a wider range of success or failure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear lord OP, the a-holes are out in full force. Be honest, that's all you can control. Good luck to your DC.

+1

Also, private/independent schools will need to come to terms with their public school applicants' records not necessarily reflecting what sort of student they might be in a private school setting post-distance learning. Public schools did not meet all students' needs during Covid. Admissions offices will see a wider range of success or failure.

I actually predict that they will pass on many public school applicants this year.

My kid entered from public this year for 9th (Big3) and it's been rough. Turns out that taking 18 months off from in-person school was not good for learning. The new admit public school kids in his/her class are almost all struggling (I have talked to other parents at sports games, events and this has been an almost universal refrain). The school is helping but I'm not sure they were prepared to deal with how significant the learning loss was. I get a sense that they are not thrilled.