By LINDSAY LANDSBERG and JENNA WISELTIER
Due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the annual process by which high school seniors struggle to combine their transcript, recommendations, extracurricular activities, test scores, and essays into exceptional college applications can be characterized by one word: tumult.
Many colleges have eliminated their requirement for standardized test scores for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle. Yet, students are still worried that without rigorous entrance exam scores, their applications will not be seen as competitive or strong enough when compared to other applicants in the admissions pool.
Senior Ellie K. has felt the stressful toll of standardized testing throughout the pandemic–or the lack thereof. She said, “A lot of my scheduled testing dates were canceled, and there was a 7-month gap between my first and second test, so I lost a lot of my previous knowledge.”
However, according to JHS guidance counselor Mr. Wu, while grades and strength of curriculum will still be the primary factors, the personal statement essay and any supplemental essays, along with recommendations, will likely take on additional weight if an applicant does not have an SAT/ACT as a part of their application.
Visiting prospective college campuses and attending in-person information sessions are typically a critical aspect of a student’s research when creating a list of schools to apply to. These events also allow prospective applicants to demonstrate their interest in each school, which many colleges take into account to gauge how likely a student is to accept an admissions offer. As a result of the widespread pandemic, restrictions on social gatherings and mandated social distancing have resulted in the cancellation of these in-person events.
Universities have been compensating by organizing online immersive campus tours and informational webinars. Students’ newfound ability to access these events from the comfort of their own homes is allowing more students to demonstrate their interest in more colleges.
Senior Chloe S. feels that while touring schools in person has become more difficult, the free time she has had while attending online school has actually benefited her throughout the college process. She said, “I now have more time to research colleges I would never have considered. The virtual tours and information sessions have helped me gain a better understanding of student life at each school, rather than just the statistics required for admission.”
SUNY Old Westbury Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions Counselor Andrea Klaff said, “We have found that we have been able to assist students using these new ways of communication just as well as if they were to have come into the office.”
Naviance, an online app that allows high school students to explore various college options, now provides Jericho juniors and seniors the opportunity to attend live virtual college visits with admissions officers.
Some students may chose to apply to schools closer to home or decided against applying Restrictive Early Action or Early Decision to a specific university.
Senior Ellie K. feels that applying early decision is too large of a commitment for this application cycle. She said, “I am applying early action to as many schools as I can since it’s not a binding commitment. I would consider ED-ing somewhere if I had the ability to tour schools in person.”
Both the Common Application and the Coalition Application have added an additional space for students to describe their experience of living through a worldwide pandemic. Students can use this section to explain the long-lasting impacts of the pandemic on their health and well-being, including family circumstances and access to reliable technology.
The implications that COVID-19 will have on the admissions process this fall will be completely unprecedented for both applying students as well as admissions counselors.