The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified college application anxiety. Many colleges are well prepared for the changes and challenges. All colleges have started virtual tours college visit process with real time Q&A sessions, and also conduct interview virtually. Students and their families should also accept the realities and knowledge the disruptions. Pandemic gave the students an opportunity to devote full attention, time and energy to start college application process as early as possible.
Common Application Covid-19 story
Both the Common App and Coalition app will provide an section in the 2020-21 application for students to share their COVID-19 personal experience. Common Application system has an optional question that gives students 250 words to describe their pandemic experiences. We suggest to only share your significant experience there.
Standard Test is less important than the past
Almost 400 colleges have stated to pay less or no intention to test scores this year. SAT and ACT canceled test dates in Spring. UC system became test-blind. Colleges also signed an agreement that states the absence of AP or IB results will not put applicants at a disadvantage.
College will view students heavily in the context of the curriculum, academic resources and supports available to them.
Covid-19 Interrupted Extracurricular Activities
Covid-19 caused many extracurricular activities have been canceled, pre-college onsite programs are cancelled, tournaments are cancelled, competitions are cancelled, club is over, projects are on hold, on-site volunteer are stopped, summer camp are online.
Over 300 colleges and universities in the US stated that any activities or summer experiences cut short or canceled will not be held against students.
Grades are incomplete, pass/fail has less impact
Some schools were not prepared for online learning and didn’t grade properly. College review your transcript along with your teacher’s review and recommendation letter.
Teacher from online camp, internship or extra-curriculum can write a letter of recommendation
Admissions officers rely on teacher’s recommendation letter for better insight about student’s personality, character, learning weakness and strengths. Since COVID-19, college recognized virtual learning reality and interested to see the cyber-relationships.
Students demonstrate a new capability as a result of the pandemic.
College admissions counselors will place more weight on transcripts, grades and recommendations this year. They will also want to know how students handled the limitations imposed on them by the pandemic and what they learned from the experience. Students should explore some more virtual programs, online courses, or learning some new skills to have a productive summer. Some students are volunteering during the election or tutoring online. Write about what you did, either in your personal essay or in the “additional information” section on the Common App. School wants to see how Covid-19 affected you, how you can derive meaning from it, how your handle your limitation.
Personality Matters
Pandemic has halted many extracurricular activities. Colleges are now considering student character in their admissions process. Even before the pandemic, college admissions officers to begin to consider factors such as empathy and persistence. Some have followed specific recommendations for new ways to admit students and it signals that admissions officers value students’ unique qualities beyond their academics and extracurricular activities.
Canceled College Visits
Pandemic caused massive cancellation of college visits and information sessions. It caused the challenges to students to build their college list without sufficient information.
Students should still gather the information, do your own research about schools, and take some virtual tours to demonstrate their interest.
The COVID-19 caused financial implications
