Optional COVID essay-- to write, or not to write?

lookingforward
Sun, 15 Nov 2020 15:58:44 +0000

I think it goes without saying that every hs student is suffering from the current schooling issues and family strains. The point of the covid essay, imo, isn’t to throw your hat into this same ring, but to show you overcame. “Triumphed, despite.” And that’s more than the parent was furloughed, you couldn’t get test dates, it was oh-so-hard to keep at the work, but hey, my grades were stable. What do they learn from that? That you can tread water?

Granted, I’m talking highly competitive colleges. They want better than treading water. But the fact of covid and a covid-related prompt doesn’t mean they’re somehow shifting away from holistic and the particular strengths and traits they value and look for. There are very few “extenuating circumstances” (that undo performance issues) when it comes to the fierce competition. It’s not suddenly. “Oh, poor dear, we’ll forgive the non-A grades.”

Adcoms are remarkably savvy about what goes on with hs kids. They’re dealing with thousands of them, each year. If you’re targeting schools that give a hoot about who you are as a thinking, acting individual, show some thoughtful qualities. I do believe that includes expanding your thinking about this prompt.

And not all poorer kids have lots of siblings,a small living space, and overwhelming family responsibilities. Besides, that won’t get you into a top college, without other evidence of excellence, on all fronts.