Today’s San Diego Union Tribune had an article about families protesting the Vista Unified School district’s decision to use a credit/no credit grading system for this semester. The sentiment is that this will put the junior class at a disadvantage with college admissions. Parents and students in other local school districts have had the same mistrust with a system that does not allow for letter grades. They worry because other school districts have implemented different policies. A Vista High School mother was quoted as saying that colleges they have talked to “prefer data to no data.”
I empathize with these students and their parents. The college application season is stressful under normal circumstances, but the Class of 2021 has been saddled with so many additional, legitimate concerns. They can’t visit campuses or attend college fairs. Every time they sign up and prepare for ACT or SAT, they get canceled. What will the the at-home AP tests really be like and will the scores be universally accepted? Is test-optional really optional? What does an holistic approach to admissions mean? The list goes on and on. Being cooped up at home with more questions about college applications than answers is creating a pressure cooker. Families feel insecure and are looking for something they can control.