How the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is Affecting Your College Admission

As we make our way through these days of fast-paced decisions both by and for us, I wanted to take a moment to bring together some of the immediate ways the virus is affecting college admissions. Thankfully, we have technology and tools to help us see virtually what we cannot visit in person, and college admissions is essentially human, with people on the other end to help and guide with your best interests at heart. So, use your resources and your tools for communication and we’ll all get through this!

Testing Delays 

April ACT moved to June 13th

May SAT cancelled (includes Subject Tests)

            Students should register for their new test dates as soon as they are available. I expect test sites to be fuller than normal in the next few administrations. Stay tuned for how this might also affect the availability of ACT’s new computer-based testing sites as they roll out in July and September.

            Because of the cancellations, we may see more flexibility in testing policies as we get closer to fall. Nothing is being said, yet, but I do think that in extraordinary circumstances, colleges find ways to help, not hinder student enrollment.

College Fairs

            I sent registration information for the SDUSD and NACAC college fairs this spring. They have been cancelled. Instead, for colleges where Demonstrated Interest is important, students should email college admission counselors regretting the missed opportunity and asking a question or two about programs and opportunities. 

Enrollment Deposits

            Most are still May 1st for seniors, but some colleges are extending that to June 1st. Don’t be fooled! They still want early deposits and do not want to push this date back to lock in known enrollment, so continue to count on May 1st unless you’ve heard directly from your admitted school(s) and really need the time for your decision.

Waitlists

            These will be used to their full effect. Colleges are going to be less able to predict their enrollment numbers and will therefore, not want to take chances filling their class. If a student is waitlisted, many schools will accept new information and grades to make your case at your first choice. If they are not interested in this information (hello, Cal Poly and UCSB), it will not be considered.

Late Recruitment

            Because of the Justice Department’s forced removal of the National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC’s) Statement of Ethics, any college may now throw more incentives, like generous merit aid, toward students even after they’ve committed to another school. This could intensify if enrollment decreases this fall due to the Coronavirus.

College Admission Events

            If you are a senior, you’re likely going to have to make a final decision without visiting one last time. Colleges are already gearing up for this and moving to online options. Admission counselors will be available for online information sessions, the interns are making videos and doing student interviews for schools’ webpages and social media sites, and you can get on their admitted student Facebook pages to connect with other students and their communities.

            If you’re a younger student, your spring break trips have been cancelled or postponed, and you’ll hopefully reschedule for this summer or next year.

Self-Care

            It’s very important to take care of yourself (parents AND students) during this anxious time. Here’s a website I found with a toolkit of ways to identify and manage anxiety, articles with personal strategies and ways to ask questions and connect to help.  https://www.virusanxiety.com

How Does this Affect our Work Together?

            If you’re a senior, I just want to hear from you! These are the big weeks for decisions, and you are going to have ups and downs. Please share, and I’ll do what I can to be there for you.

            If you’re a junior, our regular meetings are continuing pretty normally, just online. I intend to use Zoom for all meetings until at least April 6th. You’ve already been hearing from me.

            Underclassmen and hourly students, we will also meet online. If you’d like to postpone a meeting for which you’re already scheduled, please let me know. I’ll do my best to accommodate, but expect we can still do well in this new format.