Article: 5 tips to make the most of your admissions decisions despite COVID-19

By Barbara Connolly For MediaNews Group

This month, the wait is over for countless high school students and their parents, as long-awaited college acceptance and rejection emails will arrive. Although this year college basketball’s big March tournament will not happen, the futures of students will still be determined by what their dream schools decide — a whole different kind of March Madness.

These responses are the result of a high-stakes, year-long process. Many students will be happy with where they have been accepted, but may also be denied admission to some colleges. These decisions will bring about a variety of emotions, and here are some tips on how to manage the madness of this critical stage of the admissions process.

Accentuate the Positive

It’s important to never lose sight of the positives in your situation. Nearly all students will be admitted to some of the colleges they applied to — and some students will be admitted to many schools. Don’t dwell on the ones that denied you admission; focus on the colleges that want you. This is the beginning of an exciting new adventure!

Explore Your Options

Choosing a college is a huge commitment, so you must carefully consider your selection. It’s more important than ever to look at the finer points of each school on your list.

Location, campus culture and student lifestyle will be some of the most salient aspects of your experience in the coming years. This year, due to COVID-19, you will not be able to visit campuses in person, so explore campuses online. Most schools will connect admitted students to Facebook groups of current students, which are well worth joining, even though those students are not currently on the campus due to early closures.

When comparing colleges, also note the cost of attending. This involves considering the sticker price, including tuition and housing, as well as any financial aid offers. And don’t be bashful about asking a school to match the financial aid you have been offered by other colleges.

Manage the Waitlist

Not all admissions decisions that arrive this month will be final. Some students will be placed on waitlists, meaning that you may not know whether you’re admitted to a college for several more months. This can be nerve-wracking news, but don’t panic. If you’d really like to attend a school that has placed you on the waitlist, write to the admissions committee expressing your intention to attend. In the meantime, don’t count on being admitted from a waitlist. Make sure to commit to one of the colleges that has accepted you by making a deposit.

Don’t Compare, Be Self-Aware

For many students, one of the most difficult parts of this moment in their college admissions journey has to do with being self-conscious and worried about “keeping up” with friends.

After receiving admissions decisions, some students may brag, and post the news on social media. Particularly for students still dealing with disappointing news, comparing themselves negatively to their classmates can take a serious toll on their confidence.

It’s important to remember that almost every applicant has both good and bad news. And, as is typical of social media, students will only show the good, not the bad.

It may feel like your own college decisions are suddenly everyone’s business. But really, these choices and the experiences that follow will be yours alone. So, rather than worrying about others, try to focus on how exciting YOUR future will be. And finally …

Appreciate Your Progress

In the world of college admissions, March can be an overwhelming month. You may experience heartbreak, joy and worry, all in the span of a couple of weeks. And soon, you’ll be faced with an important final decision that students and parents alike find daunting.

Between all of these intense emotional experiences, it can be hard to find time to simply appreciate that you have come a long way, and found the college that is right for you.

So amid all the madness, take some time to savor your accomplishment. And be happy there is a future to look forward to beyond COVID-19.

Barbara Connolly, JD, is the founder and director of Birmingham-based College Choice Counseling, and a Certified Educational Planner. She can be reached at barbara@collegecc.com.