In March, when the COVID-19 pandemic sent schools online and forced students into social isolation, counselors and educators knew college admissions metrics would have to change too. Traditionally, enrollment committees look at a student’s grades, test scores, extracurricular activities and personal statement to determine their readiness for higher education. But the pandemic halted many of those activities and presented unprecedented challenges even to the most high-achieving high schoolers.
The good news is, colleges are going to be far more flexible this year, says Todd Rinehart, president of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling. “If the pandemic had a genuine effect on your family circumstances and your ability to do well at school, that’s an important part of your story,” he adds. In fact, in June, more than 300 admissions deans released a statement in conjunction with Turning the Tide, a national effort spearheaded by the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Making Caring Common Project, which aims to increase admissions equity and access, among other goals. They encouraged applicants to talk honestly in their applications about the obstacles students faced and committed to carefully considering them. Things like caring for siblings,
shopping for elderly neighbors and writing thank-you notes to essential workers are all meaningful activities, says Making Caring Common Project faculty director Richard Weissbourd, Ed.D. The Common App now has an extra box where students can explain how the pandemic affected them, and the Coalition for College application, used by many colleges, includes a checklist to help contextualize aspects of students’ home lives.
Here are a few things experts suggest you keep in mind as you prepare.
Don’t sweat test scores.
Many schools have gone test-optional or test-blind (meaning they won’t look at ACT or SAT scores even if submitted) this year. And when colleges say test scores don’t matter, they mean it. “Even when test scores are part of the process, it is still just one factor of many,” explains Rinehart.
Attend virtual events.
Many colleges have pivoted to virtual events that offer an even better opportunity to learn about them. Those sessions let even shy attendees talk to current students, professors and counselors via a chat box.
Coalition for College also launched virtual college fairs designed to present students with panels of four very different schools, says Stacey Kostell, CEO of the coalition. You might
find a perfect fit with a school you’d never otherwise have considered.
Cast a wide net.
Mike Woodward, chief program officer at College Track, which helps first-generation students from low-income communities navigate the high-school-through-college graduation journey, encourages students to apply to at least six schools — including
safety schools, match schools and reach schools. That way, you can pivot if you don’t feel safe traveling far, your finances change or your dream school goes virtual.
Finally, don’t let price scare you off.
Once you factor in financial aid and scholarships as well as the likelihood of graduating within four to six years, a private school might end up being the cheapest option.
This story originally appeared in the December 2020 issue of Good Housekeeping. Subscribe to Good Housekeeping here.
