College Admissions Update Regarding Covid-19
Dear Parents and Students “of” or “in” the college admissions process:
This national health emergency is impacting all aspects of our lives, including college decision-making for high school seniors, and college admissions preparation for juniors, and even some sophomores. All week, I’ve been glued to news of college admissions: standardized tests, decision notifications, deposit deadlines, summer programs, admissions requirements, college visits, etc., etc., etc. And frequently, I’ve paused to wonder: how will or could a global pandemic change college admissions for the better?
For a long time, we’ve all known and felt that access is not equal, that there is some kind of “insiders” manual. It’s the reason we saw backroom dealings like the college admissions scandal of earlier this year, which was a canary in the coal mine that something is deeply, deeply flawed in the system. As a general rule, I like to believe in the goodness of people. I like to believe that when we see a problem -- be it an inefficiency, an injustice, an opportunity for growth, or a misstep -- we will be called to action. The truth is that fear -- fear of change, fear of the unknown, fear of vulnerability -- is a powerful force and sometimes overrides the will to do good. But, I also believe the tides are changing. Right now, colleges and related industries are being forced to humanize the process, which is an ironic outcome for a virtual world -- how wonderful! It is possible that on a societal level, we will also start to see postsecondary education as something that serves engaged communities, public good, and public health, rather than as a gatekeeping system, a prize to be won, a deal to be negotiated.
In the college counseling world, we are being assured that colleges will be flexible with senior students, especially since many students across the country are no longer earning academic credit, nor practicing skills, nor learning content. The messaging colleges are sending to junior students is it’s all going to be okay. Colleges know that activities lists are changing, that students are unable to visit schools, that even taking classes is no longer an option at some high schools. Many colleges have made the decision to no longer consider the SAT Subject Tests as part of the admissions process starting with the 2020-21 admissions cycle. Each day, more colleges post re-vamped and enhanced virtual tours and information sessions for juniors beginning the college search process and for seniors making final decisions. (More on this below.)
The spring ACT and SAT test administrations have been canceled, and in the weeks ahead, testing organizations will reassess the viability of the June administrations. To be sure, colleges know and are discussing what this means for students applying for Fall 2021 admission. I think that, in the months to come, we will see schools making changes to their testing requirements. FairTest, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, is updating the test optional list daily -- here is the link to that page. Does this mean the end of all SAT and ACT testing requirements is on the horizon? Probably not. As Jonathan Burdick, vice provost for enrollment at Cornell University, writes in a new article by Brennan Barnard about access, equity, and the changes COVID-19 is creating in the college admissions field:
“If all colleges are test optional, what will they use instead to make good decisions? Among the devices are: better quality of application submissions, including an increased emphasis on the quality of a recommendation letter or six; evidence of co-curricular activity and leadership, competitions, etc.; ‘proven’ reputations for academic rigor in specific schools; grading practices designed to ‘show improvement’ and minimize the effects of small differences, etc. And, most basic of all, the likelihood of paying tuition.”
Burdick goes on to ask, “Do any of these sound like access options?” There are a lot of things to unpack, and there is no single answer that addresses the systemic and myriad problems with the college admissions process, but the good news is that much needed, intentional conversations about these issues are finally happening.
Our students at Stone continue to work hard, continue to amass artifacts of learning, continue to practice skills, continue to be connected to one another and to their teachers. We’re going to get through this, but we need to continue to do it together. In conversations I’ve had with school administrators and college counselors across the country, I’ve heard language and values talk that sounds a lot like what we do and value at Stone. So maybe the result at the end of this process is that the high school and college admissions experience gets a lot more humane, a lot healthier, and a lot more equitable for everyone. I don’t think we will “get back to normal,” because “normal” has changed. And maybe that’s a good thing.
For now, here are some recommendations for seniors and junior students:
SENIORS:
Pay close attention to communication from the colleges to which you’ve been admitted. College admission officers are still working even though many campuses are closed. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call or email the admissions office. They’ll be happy to hear from you.
The cancellation of admitted student events and campus visits is difficult, but most colleges are replacing those activities with online events like live chats, web panel discussions, and virtual live tours. Take advantage of these opportunities! See: Campus Visits below.
Many universities have already extended their reply deadline from May 1 to June 1, in order to give students more time to make their college decisions. Watch for emails from the colleges or contact each school for updates. The National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) has also created a list for colleges to report any changes to deposit deadlines and visit opportunities, as well as how to connect with each admissions office. That resource is here. The list is updated frequently, so continue to check back.
Please use this time to collect your acceptance and scholarship notifications. Send photos or screenshots of these documents to me. We want to make sure that you are honored for your accomplishments in the weeks ahead! Of course, I never share specific information that is personal to you with anyone else. No one will know where specific students were accepted or not -- I am just compiling a list of overall acceptances and general scholarship monies in five-year spans.
As you are notified of college acceptances and financial aid, it’s common for questions to arise. If you have questions about a financial aid package, don’t hesitate to contact the college. I am also happy to assist. Here are some other resources that may help: Accepting Financial Aid, How to Break Down Financial Aid Award Letters, and Award Comparison Worksheet.
I am available via email, phone, Slack, and Google Meet! Please let me know if you have questions or concerns and we will connect.
Decision Time
How should you decide where you’ll spend the next four years? Start with a family conversation about what factors are the most important. The answers could range from academic programs, to size/location, and the availability of certain kinds of social activities.
Academic Programs: Dive more deeply into an academic program of interest to consider what four years of classes would look like. The information is almost certainly on the college website, but it may be easier to find on some websites versus others.
Campus Visits: See the link to the NACAC website above and also here. While visiting a school is not an option, the next best thing is virtually being on campus. Many schools have their own virtual tours. You can often find them on the “Visit” section of the website or through third party websites such as YouVisit and CampusReel. Recently, a college counselor whose school is closed made use of her extra hours at home by creating this fantastic resource for virtual campus visits: https://tinyurl.com/u768vby
Social Life: This is one of the hardest variables to measure. You can start in the “Student Life” section of a college’s website to see what clubs, activities and opportunities are available. If current student opinions are helpful, I would recommend looking at the college section of Niche.com. Niche surveys current students at thousands of colleges and creates “grades” for a variety of categories ranging from Academics to Diversity to Campus. While I believe there are inherent problems to this kind of ranking and sorting system, I know many students who have found the information helpful.
JUNIORS:
Counselor Meetings: Luckily, we were able to conduct all of our Junior Family Meetings in person before we went virtual, but I would love to continue to meet with students and parents as-needed via Google Meet. Send me an invite and we will make it happen!
Standardized testing: Please continue to practice and prepare for standardized testing. We hope that the SAT and ACT will become available again in June, and that the College Board and ACT will offer additional test administrations during the summer, so be prepared! There are a lot of free, online resources for test prep, like Khan Academy and Kaplan.
Teacher recommendations: Please make sure to reach out to teachers (politely) to ask for letters of recommendation. Please fill out the “teacher letter of recommendation form” and send it to your teachers after they have agreed to write a letter for you.
Junior Year Grades: Stay focused on your posted assignments, but be mindful of overload by letting your teachers know if your workload is not manageable. Remember this environment is new to all of us, so conversations are happening on a daily basis about how to find success.
What can you do now?
Work on your college list: Begin researching schools and programs by using the resources that are currently available. Create a spreadsheet with components that are important to you, such as size, cost, major, etc. There are also interactive online search tools like this Fiske Guide that could be helpful.
Start a Common Application account: remember that a PDF draft of this is due to me by 9/1/2020.
Finish your Self Evaluation Form (by 6/1/2020);
Write a draft of your College Essay: One of the best resources with great advice that exists is The College Essay Guy.
Most importantly, breathe: Every junior in the country is in the same boat, and colleges know that. I and admissions counselors from all over the country will be advocating for fairness. Right now, not many people have answers, but everyone knows that this will require the college admissions landscape to change for the Class of 2021. How it will change remains to be seen, but students will come first.
PARENTS:
As you try to find balance between working at home or dealing with the stress of not working, “normalizing” life, and caring for a family, remember to care for yourself too. Get rest, walk outside, play games, simplify life. There are some wonderful free courses online like this one from Yale, called The Science of Well-being. As you need, please reach out to us--we’re here to help.
Abby Kirchner, Assistant Head of School