Savvy high schoolers called “fake news” on the April Fool’s Day joke that K-12 students would be required to repeat their current grade in school, but the real news resulting from Covid-19 is no laughing matter.
This pandemic and its trickledown implications are creating a stark new reality for high school seniors and their younger peers across the nation and the globe. Thirty days away from what in normal years is the universal deadline among college-going seniors to declare their intention to enroll at their chosen university is now a date that presents far more uncertainty than celebration. Colleges, high schools and testing agencies are grappling with policy decisions that must be made in days rather than months or years to accommodate virtual learning and uncertain futures.
While colleges aim to meet the needs of the students they serve, they are also tasked with meeting enrollment goals. With predictions of more students choosing a gap year or selecting colleges that are less expensive or closer to home, filling a freshman class may never have been more challenging or less predictable. The potential tuition loss from out of state and international students poses a further threat to colleges who have already taken budget hits from vacated dorms, dining plans, athletics and other auxiliary sources of revenue. In spite of these challenges, colleges and their higher education counterparts are making adjustments not just out of necessity but in effort to relieve some of the burden on students.
Last night from their respective homes, 4 respected leaders in college admissions reflected on some of the issues students and colleges are facing and answered questions in a live format. College admissions author and influencer Jeff Selingo moderated the panel of UCLA Director of Admission Gary Clark, Davidson College Dean of Admission Chris Gruber, and ACT Chief Operating Officer Janet Godwin. Below are some of the key questions and answers discussed. The entire session is available to view here. Visit the Midwest College Consulting Blog for earlier posts about these and other changes.
Q: I’m a junior. Should I write about COVID in my essay since everyone else will be writing about it?
A: if you choose to write about the pandemic, make certain you write about and reflect upon yourself, not just about the circumstances you and your family and community dealt with. This is time to self-evaluate. Can you demonstrate your personal resiliency or appreciation for your community? Give examples of what’s important to you. What did you encounter and what did you learn from it?
Q: What is the ACT doing about canceled tests? What if the test centers are full? What about cheating?
A: The April 4 test date was recently rescheduled for June 13. ACT will be notifying all students and is considering additional test dates in the summer and fall. Even online testing is a consideration since digital delivery with remote proctoring is already on the horizon. Test security is a high area of focus and ACT says they are committed to ensuring scores are valid. ACT is still planning on single section retesting as of now. This is an evolving situation, visit the ACT website periodically and check the notifications bell on the top right for announcements.
Q: What should I be doing with my time since I’m not in school and all my activities are canceled?
A: Now is the time to focus on your own health and family. Engage in whatever way you can – breath, keep up with school. Enjoy being with your family and care for your own sense of well-being. Colleges will not be grading you on your sheltering resume. Your application can include things often overlooked: cooking, caring for younger siblings, maintaining or cleaning the house and yard. Help your neighbors. Colleges are communities and looking for students who are going to add to those communities.
Q: How do I choose a college when my visit was canceled?
A: Make a list: What things are most important to me? Who are the faculty in my major? Reach out to those people. Get a feel for what student life is like by emailing various departments of the college. This could be especially effective for smaller colleges but more difficult with large schools. Refer to our earlier post My College Visits are Canceled, Now What? for ideas to explore colleges virtually. To learn which colleges are extending the May 1 candidate reply deadline, click here.
Q: Will AP credit still be issued with the plan for online condensed AP exams? The College Board announced recently that 2020 AP Exams will consist of condensed 45-minute online tests. Read the updates for AP students.
A: Seniors - communicate with the colleges on your short list. Call the registrar to find out their policies for issuing or not issuing credit for the condensed format exams. Credit granting is being discussed by colleges now and we may not know how some colleges will handle AP credits until after the May tests. From an admission standpoint, students will not be penalized for opting out of AP exams since circumstances are very different this year.
Q: Will my orientation be canceled?
A: Colleges are planning for both in-person and virtual orientation programs this summer because of the uncertainty.
For help navigating your college search, reach out to us at info@midwestcollegeconsulting.com