COVID-19 & College Admissions
Simply Admissions hopes that everyone is staying safe during these crazy times! Now that everyone has had some time to regroup, I wanted to answer a few questions about how COVID-19 is impacting college admissions.
First, it’s important to point out that this is a rapidly changing situation I'm sure everyone has many questions, but those questions may not have an answer for the next month, or they may have several answers before the month is out. The answers I’m providing below may soon be outdated, but will hopefully be helpful for the time being. Second, while I understand how frustrating this situation can be for current seniors and juniors, it’s important to try and keep in mind that this will all work out! Every student is dealing with the same situation and the colleges are overall trying to be as adaptive as possible.
Exam FAQs:
With AP exams moving to an online 45-minute format & IB exams being canceled this year, will this impact how colleges view these credits?
This is still unclear. As of now, I have not heard of any colleges that are changing how they’re assessing AP exam scores when it comes to awarding college credit. For IB students attending colleges that awarded college credit based on IB exam scores in the past, they most likely will feel more of an effect.
As a junior, I’m concerned that the ACT & SAT spring exam dates have been canceled. How will I be ready to apply to colleges in the fall now?
There is no need to worry! Tons of students are in the same exact situation and colleges are adjusting accordingly. Within the past week, Case Western Reserve University, Tufts University, Scripps College, and others have announced either temporary or permanent test-optional policies starting next fall. I expect many more colleges to adopt the same policy, at least temporarily.
If you’re interested in taking the June SAT or ACT, I would encourage you to register now, to ensure that you have a spot. Since the students that were originally signed up for the spring dates are being encouraged to sit for the June dates instead, they will be popular. If the June dates are later canceled, you should be able to receive a refund or sit for another test date without an additional fee, which means there is no harm in registering now.
The 2020-2021 school year exam dates for the ACT & SAT have already been released. Students will be able to register for those dates beginning around June. While it is a possibility that there will be additional ACT and/or SAT exams added, I would not currently plan on that for now and simply go by the exam dates that have been released.
In the end, what this all means for most juniors is to create an adjusted test schedule and continue your test prep (while keeping an eye out for additional test-optional policy updates).
Senior FAQs:
I’m a senior that was accepted to multiple schools but all of the admitted student days were canceled. How can I make a decision now?
On the bright side, congratulations on your acceptances! I wouldn’t want all of your hard work and achievements to be forgotten in the chaos. At the same time, I can only imagine how disappointing it is to no longer be able to thoroughly research your options before making a final decision.
Many colleges quickly put together virtual admitted student events after the in-person options were canceled. Within the next few weeks, I expect most colleges to begin offering virtual events. Keep an eye on your email and the colleges’ websites for more information!
Additionally, don’t hesitate to reach out to your admission counselor if you had any specific questions about academic life, student experience, campus culture, or anything else that you were hoping would be answered during the admitted student event. If you feel like it would be helpful for you to speak directly with a member of the faculty or current student, that is appropriate for you to request when speaking with the admission counselor as well (understanding, of course, that it may not be possible for every college to fulfill that request for various reasons). If you would prefer, feel free to let me know that you’re interested in speaking with a current student at a specific college you are considering. I can see who I may be able to connect you with through my networks.
Lastly, as of today, over 250 colleges have already agreed to push their enrollment deposit deadline from May 1st to June 1st. This will give you more time to make a decision without losing your spot in the freshman class at these schools. To find out if a college you’re considering has moved their deposit deadline you can look at their website or check your email. You can also use the newly formed NACAC database.
My family’s financial situation has changed since COVID-19. Should I tell the colleges I was accepted to?
Yes! You should reach out to your admission counselor at each school as soon as possible and ask for a financial aid appeal due to the change in circumstances. While there are no guarantees, it’s important to still communicate that these changes occurred and may impact your ability to attend their school with your current financial aid package.
Junior FAQs:
I was planning to visit colleges during my spring break. How else can I find out of those schools are a good fit for me without visiting?
Although you may not be able to visit in person, plenty of colleges are already offering virtual info sessions & tours and other colleges are not far behind. I would definitely recommend still spending your spring break researching colleges; the only difference is that you’ll be “visiting” virtually rather than in person. If the college does not have an official virtual tour listed on their website you can use YouVisit and CampusReel.
Besides the virtual prospective student events and tours, your best resource is the college’s website. Look through what majors, programs, student organizations, and clubs are offered, along with the college’s mission statement. Are you interested in what you see?
It’s important not to forget about demonstrated interest as well. Colleges will not hold the fact that you were not able to visit against you, but it’s still in your best interest to work through the tips mentioned in this blog post that are still applicable. The additional benefit is that by following the school on social media, signing up for their mailing list, or using the other DI suggestions you’re also learning about the school’s culture and community.
General FAQs
I’m concerned that my summer programs will be canceled during COVID-19. How should I spend my time then?
I think this is an excellent opportunity to be productive but truly explore your interests! Depending on your interests, this may mean reading classic novels, take an online course, or start a woodworking project. My only advice would be to write down which novels you read, the courses you take, and/or the projects you work on. This way you can incorporate them into your extracurricular resume and your college applications.
I’m a sophomore. Will this negatively impact me?
Probably not. The only piece that may impact you is the increased number of colleges offering test-optional admissions, which is a good thing!