College Applications: How Will COVID-19 Affect My Application?
With the resurgence of coronavirus cases in the United States, many high school students are anxious about how the pandemic will affect their college admissions process.
Although the process itself is already complicated, the lack of access to standardized testing, campus tours, and extracurricular activities are making it even more stressful for high school students. I’m here to provide some clarity and demystify the new updates and changes, and hopefully, help you navigate the college admissions journey more smoothly.
The Test-Optional Policy
Following the cancelations of the March, May, and the June SAT due to the coronavirus pandemic, many colleges have adopted the test-optional system.
Here is a list of colleges going test-optional in 2021: https://theolivebook.com/list-of-colleges-going-test-optional-in-2021/
On April 1st, The University of California system announced that they will be relaxing admissions requirements for students, including going test-optional for fall 2021 admission. Additionally, on May 22nd, the University of California system has voted to fully eliminate the test requirement for all students by 2025, phasing out the use of the SAT and ACT in the admissions process.
What does the test-optional policy mean to you?
If you are a rising senior or a rising junior, most colleges you apply to will be “test-optional,” which means that it’s up to you whether you want to submit your test scores or not.
However, if you have the resources to do so, I recommend you still take the test because a high test score can only benefit your application, and can help you stand out. But if you don’t have the resources to take the test, don’t worry about it! That’s what this test-optional policy is for.
If you’re a rising sophomore or a rising freshman, you will be in the category for “test blind.” This means that the University of California will not look at your scores at all.
I believe this decision is revolutionary for the college admissions industry since the SAT has been used for over 90 years and has been an integral component of the college application system. I personally don’t think the SAT or ACT is the best indicator of a student’s success. Because of the size of the University of California system, this decision will be highly influential in reshaping the entire college application process.
Additional Common App Question
On the 2020–2021 application, the Common App is including an optional 250-word section where students can elaborate on the impact of the pandemic, both personally and academically. The prompt will look like this:
Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces.
- Do you wish to share anything on this topic? Y/N
- Please use this space to describe how these events have impacted you.
This question will give you an opportunity to describe the challenges or triumphs you have endured during the pandemic. If you’re wondering if you should utilize this prompt, answer these questions:
- Has your life drastically changed? If you just transitioned to online classes, but that’s pretty much it, there’s no need to answer it.
- Has the pandemic impacted you in any way, positively or negatively? (For example, some negative impacts could be illnesses, housing or employment disruptions, and shifting family obligations.) If it has, utilize the space to elaborate on your experience.
I wouldn’t recommend writing about the coronavirus pandemic in other parts of your application since many rising seniors are experiencing the same pandemic, and if you chose to write it in your personal statement, it’s likely that it wouldn’t be as unique. The Common App has specifically provided a space for you to write about the pandemic so that rising seniors applying this fall won’t be telling the same story.
Online Extracurriculars
Now that there is less emphasis on SATs and ACTs, colleges will be looking more at your extracurriculars. Even if your summer program or internship got canceled, you can still be involved in what you’re passionate about. Here are some ideas that you can work on:
- Take an online course on edX (free online courses from Harvard, MIT, and other top schools) or Coursera (free and paid online courses offered by more than 190 universities including Stanford, and UPenn)
- Build a resume, work on your LinkedIn profile
- Start an online tutoring service
- Learn a new language (popular language learning apps are Duolingo, Memrise, and Babbel)
- Start a youtube channel
- Sell products on Etsy
- Create a podcast
- Start a blog on something you are passionate about
- Create a fundraising campaign
There are plenty of virtual opportunities that you can join from the comfort of your home. Linens N Love is an international non-profit organization established in 2014 dedicating to donating linens to shelters in need, leading the environmental sustainability movement. Through Linens N Love’s Virtual volunteering program, you can volunteer as Linens N Love’s Ambassador, Project Leader, or Research Blogger.
Sources
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Edited by: Ira Gupta, Director of Research Bloggers
