Stress about Letters of Recommendation 100% virtual kid

[Anonymous]

My DC is a junior now, has top grades, a 1550 SAT, but they’ve been all virtual since March 2020. Teachers don’t know any of the kids, certainly not mine. What in the world do we do for letters of Recommendation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is a junior now, has top grades, a 1550 SAT, but they’ve been all virtual since March 2020. Teachers don’t know any of the kids, certainly not mine. What in the world do we do for letters of Recommendation?

Why wouldn't the teachers know the kids, just because they're virtual?

[Anonymous]

Everyone is in the same boat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is in the same boat.

I am sad for the kids of this is true, but it is nice to think we’re in good company.

[Anonymous]

Good question. But my kid is going to ask the teachers she likes best and did well in his/her class. That's the best we can do this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is a junior now, has top grades, a 1550 SAT, but they’ve been all virtual since March 2020. Teachers don’t know any of the kids, certainly not mine. What in the world do we do for letters of Recommendation?

Why wouldn't the teachers know the kids, just because they're virtual?

This. Unless it's a teacher that also overlaps in a club or activity that isn't meeting, they should still be able to speak to your child's work habits, potential, attitude, intellectual curiosity, etc.

[Anonymous]

It is what it is OP. Hopefully your kid didn’t turn the camera off, watch YouTube videos, miss a bunch of assignments and never go to office hours. My kid chose to return 4 days in person. But, even before that, felt like she had a good rapport with teachers. Like every junior year, you can’t sit in the back of the class and tune out. If your kid worked hard and participated, the teachers should know them pretty well.

It isn’t a surprise juniors need recommendations. So, hopefully, your kid made an effort. If they did, teachers will have something to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is in the same boat.

Not the thousands of kids who have been back in class all over the country since August.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is what it is OP. Hopefully your kid didn’t turn the camera off, watch YouTube videos, miss a bunch of assignments and never go to office hours. My kid chose to return 4 days in person. But, even before that, felt like she had a good rapport with teachers. Like every junior year, you can’t sit in the back of the class and tune out. If your kid worked hard and participated, the teachers should know them pretty well.

It isn’t a surprise juniors need recommendations. So, hopefully, your kid made an effort. If they did, teachers will have something to say.

I spent the year encouraging my child to:
-put on camera every class
-attend virtual office hours weekly.
-return to school in-person two days a week when it was allowed even though it seemed pointless at the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is in the same boat.

Not the thousands of kids who have been back in class all over the country since August.

This!!

I think we don’t really understand the disadvantage these kids from this area will experience. Many schools in other states have been open. Hell, even some private schools like Landon have remained open (safely I might add). So, when our kids and teachers have all been virtual, there is a huge disadvantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is in the same boat.

+1

It is what it is. Has your kid spoken up in their classes? "Met" with faculty outside of class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is in the same boat.

Not the thousands of kids who have been back in class all over the country since August.

This!!

I think we don’t really understand the disadvantage these kids from this area will experience. Many schools in other states have been open. Hell, even some private schools like Landon have remained open (safely I might add). So, when our kids and teachers have all been virtual, there is a huge disadvantage.

Landon is in Maryland. Other schools are in DC, which has and had, different rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is in the same boat.

Not the thousands of kids who have been back in class all over the country since August.

This!!

I think we don’t really understand the disadvantage these kids from this area will experience. Many schools in other states have been open. Hell, even some private schools like Landon have remained open (safely I might add). So, when our kids and teachers have all been virtual, there is a huge disadvantage.

Landon is in Maryland. Other schools are in DC, which has and had, different rules.

The DC privates have been open as well. NCS, STA, Sidwell have been 100% in-person for all kids since late March. 50% in-person since October.

[Anonymous]

HS Teacher. The fact that your student came back in person or not is irrelevant.

I have students in both groups for whom I would write glowing recs, and others who should know better than to ask me for a rec (I wouldn't agree to give them one). A few of the in-person ones are worse off in some respects, because the apathy and disinterest they show in person would have been better hidden behind a turned-off webcam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS Teacher. The fact that your student came back in person or not is irrelevant.

I have students in both groups for whom I would write glowing recs, and others who should know better than to ask me for a rec (I wouldn't agree to give them one). A few of the in-person ones are worse off in some respects, because the apathy and disinterest they show in person would have been better hidden behind a turned-off webcam.

OP here. Thank you for sharing your perspective! I feel like the lists above are just not helpful. I really had no energy to keep encouraging my kid to turn on cameras and go to office hours. Our situation during the pandemic has been just horrible and depressing. We’re at the end of our ropes. I feel incredibly fortunate my kid goes to classes and does well enough. I have zero idea if his camera is on or if he goes to office hours. He’s 16. I’m flat out of all energy. Signed, Barely Hanging On to My Job, My Health and My Sanity.