how will colleges decided between kids when missing a year of grades and SATs?

[Anonymous]

Our large public and many more are essentially doing enough rounding up/inflating etc for quarters 3 and 4 that anyone who had a C or better in the fall will end up with an A in every class (anyone doing any work in quarter 4 will get an A and all 3rd quarter work is extra credit). 90% of the juniors will end up with straight As. The way fall is looking school will also likely be at home so we can scratch those grades as well. The entire cohort will have the same grades.

Then the STAs/SATs are also optional.

So will college admissions be based entirely on 9th and 10th grade grades? at this rate there is nothing to distinguish academic performance across entire districts aside from grades 9 and 10.

[Anonymous]

A) No one knows the answer to your question, since this is an unprecedented situation

B) Every kid is in the same boat, so they will take that into consideration when comparing

C) If they take this year's grades into account at all, they will undoubtedly ask schools to be transparent about how grades were handled during COVID

D) Chill. I am sorry you are having to factor this era into what is already a stressful phase of parenting...but you are not helping yourself by projecting into the future and worrying about things that CANNOT be answered. I suggest (seriously, not snarkily) that you look into mindfulness. This is a time to focus on the present.

[Anonymous]

OP here.
Just wondering and musing about what people will think will happen. No need to calm me down. I'm just curious.
I get that schools compare kids against others from the same school. Which is why I think it's an issue when you give an entire grade straight As for a year (or close to it) while also eliminating the SAT.

This really puts a TON of weight (really all the weight) on 9th and 10th grade. I guess we have to hope that our kids rocked 9th grade (traditionally not even looked at by some colleges).

[Anonymous]

I don’t think they are eliminating SAT/ACT. Huge difference between eliminating and making it optional. My juniors took it early and have scores they will submit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A) No one knows the answer to your question, since this is an unprecedented situation

B) Every kid is in the same boat, so they will take that into consideration when comparing

C) If they take this year's grades into account at all, they will undoubtedly ask schools to be transparent about how grades were handled during COVID

D) Chill. I am sorry you are having to factor this era into what is already a stressful phase of parenting...but you are not helping yourself by projecting into the future and worrying about things that CANNOT be answered. I suggest (seriously, not snarkily) that you look into mindfulness. This is a time to focus on the present.

Not everyone will be in the same boat. It’s business as usual at my son’s private school. I’m sure colleges will expect some explanation of their grading policy to be sent along with transcripts.

[Anonymous]

do you think kids from publics where everyone gets an A for this year will be at a disadvantage? I can see this happening. I know private schools are grading normally.

(I have kids in both).

[Anonymous]

Essays!

Describe how you spent your pandemic quarantine.... Did you volunteer for your community? Put out a video tutorial on how to sew masks? Did you help tutor your neighbors elementary schoolers? build your own ventilator?

Did you learn a new language? Hold down the fort for your siblings while your essential worker single dad had to work double shifts?

[Anonymous]

Kids are only missing 4th quarter grades. SAT will start back up in September and be held more frequently to make up for missed spring sessions.

My junior already took it once and will be ready again on September. Not sure of the issue.

[Anonymous]

I'm only kind of joking about the essays.

For kids in 11th grade, you better believe that "how I spent my COVID-19 quarantine" is going to be a very important part of your college application.

Start thinking about it now, if you haven't been. What do you have to show for this time?

[Anonymous]

They’re going to use everything else in the application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids are only missing 4th quarter grades. SAT will start back up in September and be held more frequently to make up for missed spring sessions.

My junior already took it once and will be ready again on September. Not sure of the issue.

many districts are giving As to everyone for 4th quarter and many rounded up 3rd quarter as well because all distance work counted as extra credit. So all students are getting two quarters of As.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are only missing 4th quarter grades. SAT will start back up in September and be held more frequently to make up for missed spring sessions.

My junior already took it once and will be ready again on September. Not sure of the issue.

many districts are giving As to everyone for 4th quarter and many rounded up 3rd quarter as well because all distance work counted as extra credit. So all students are getting two quarters of As.

Our school system had the bright idea of not having grades at all for the entire second half of the year. They want to ignore third quarter grades. Count yourself lucky you got any grades.

[Anonymous]

Public schools may be handing out undeserved As, but most top private schools are not. My son's private has a full day of classes everyday and he is being graded normally on all homework, quizzes, tests, essays, and projects. Colleges will hopefully be aware of these discrepancies.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been wondering the same thing. My oldest is a senior in HS this year. Junior year was incredibly stressful. It seemed like the year that separated the students into different academic cohorts - high flyers with multiple AP courses, high grades, high SATs; middle of the road kids; low-stress kids, etc. They all found their path in college but not sure how it will work next year. Also, AP scores this year won’t count for much. And teacher recs? Kids will have missed several months of close interaction with teachers so junior year teachers won’t know kids as well. It’s a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public schools may be handing out undeserved As, but most top private schools are not. My son's private has a full day of classes everyday and he is being graded normally on all homework, quizzes, tests, essays, and projects. Colleges will hopefully be aware of these discrepancies.

yes, they absolutely will. Your child will be at a major advantage. i have one kid at private who is still receiving grades. the one at public is getting the same As as almost the entire grade of 400 kids. colleges aren't going to know that to do with kids when every kid from the school has the same grades--especially if this continues into next year.