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Thursday, April 30, 2020
Webinar: Planning for Fall Testing During COVID-19 (Class of 2021)
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Financial Aid Appeals During COVID-19 Webinar
We just received information on the following webinar, happening tomorrow, Wednesday April 29.
Learn the steps to appeal a college’s financial aid offer from a panel of college financial aid administrators, and find out how colleges are offering assistance during this time of COVID-19. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions in real time.
Register at: https://register.gotowebinar.
Learn the steps to appeal a college’s financial aid offer from a panel of college financial aid administrators, and find out how colleges are offering assistance during this time of COVID-19. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions in real time.
Register at: https://register.gotowebinar.
Monday, April 27, 2020
2020 Vermont Young Writers' Conference
There will be one VIRTUAL writing conference from Thursday, June 25, to Sunday, June 28. Going cyber will allow us to expand our workshop offerings, while maintaining our traditional schedule of events. It is our hope that you will emerge from three days of VYWC as enriched, interconnected, & invincible as if we had been circling the fire on Summer's Gale Farm.
As ever, expect to participate in over ten hours of intensive fiction, poetry, songwriting, creative non-fiction, script writing, and filmmaking workshops; exchange and critique manuscripts; attend interactive craft sessions; and meet one-on-one with your workshop leader. In addition to Moth storytelling, poetry slams, & open mic sessions, we will also offer agri-tutorials on beekeeping, soil building, & environmental stewardship.
Please note: Instead of offering chaperone-only writing workshops, VYWC's virtual platform will allow us to consider any adult applicant who would like to attend the conference. Whether you are a published author or a student of the arts, an intensive VYWC workshop will offer you the opportunity to plug in, dust off, and invigorate your work with other writerly teachers, parents, & students.
To accommodate this change, we have extended our APPLICATION DEADLINE to May 14. If you have already submitted your application, rest assured the review process will begin shortly. For more information, please visit our website: https://
Please note: Instead of offering chaperone-only writing workshops, VYWC's virtual platform will allow us to consider any adult applicant who would like to attend the conference. Whether you are a published author or a student of the arts, an intensive VYWC workshop will offer you the opportunity to plug in, dust off, and invigorate your work with other writerly teachers, parents, & students.
To accommodate this change, we have extended our APPLICATION DEADLINE to May 14. If you have already submitted your application, rest assured the review process will begin shortly. For more information, please visit our website: https://
Friday, April 24, 2020
Article: Dean of Admissions Offers Advice to High School Juniors
A college admissions dean writes open letter to panicked high school juniors
Published in The Washington Post By Valerie StraussThere probably isn’t a high school junior in the country, distance learning at home during the coronavirus pandemic, who isn’t worried to some degree about what their senior year — and life afterward — holds for them.
Of particular concern to many is how they will navigate the college admissions process. Juniors are facing canceled SAT and ACT test administrations; online Advanced Placement tests; grading systems that have changed, often to pass-fail; new family financial pressures and much more.
To be sure, many colleges and universities have waived the requirement that students apply with an ACT or SAT score for the 2020- 2021 school year, and the owners of both of those tests say they will ramp up testing opportunities in the fall. Still many students who would have visited campuses now can’t, and they worry about their grade-point average and lost opportunities for extracurricular activities and sports.
With that backdrop, here is an open letter to high school juniors from Andrew B. Palumbo, who is dean of admissions and financial aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass.
Dear Juniors,
Over the past several weeks, I have spent a great deal of time considering what you must be going through as covid-19 has spread across the globe. As if junior year isn’t already stressful enough, now you have to learn remotely, grapple with a pandemic and worry about your basic health and safety. Some of you may be dealing with food and housing insecurity, and mental health and wellness issues; others are impacted by the coronavirus directly as our country goes through a dangerous surge in cases. I hope you are managing and getting the support you need.
Meanwhile, your friends in the senior class are making difficult decisions as they finish their college searches. I’ve seen first-hand how difficult this is for them. But starting your college search in the midst of a global pandemic while you’re practicing isolation and social distancing with no clear end in sight? You’re facing a whole different set of challenges; I feel for you.
So many of you are calling and writing to me and my colleagues in admissions and financial aid offices across the country.
“How will pass/fail grades affect my application?”
“Will I be able to visit schools?”
“Will I get credit for my AP courses?”
“My SAT/ACT testing date was canceled. Now I might have to take these test in the Fall as I’m catching up on school work and applying to schools? And they might be online?”
“I don’t know where to start…”
I am writing to you not because I believe I have all of the answers, but because I know that you have these questions.
The college admissions process has always brought with it a high level of uncertainty and anxiety for most students. Often, applicants and their families are puzzled by admissions decisions. Every college has its own requirements, values, and decision-making process. The process lacks a feedback loop, often leaving students disappointed and wondering “why?”
The covid-19 pandemic has added a level of uncertainty never experienced by students wondering how to navigate the college admissions process; that’s potentially the hardest aspect for you to wrap your head around.
Uncertainty marks today, tomorrow, and the foreseeable future. But I encourage you to accept what you can’t change and try to focus on the things that you can.
Take care of yourself. Do everything in your power to eat well, exercise, get the rest that you need and, of course, wash your hands and don’t touch your face. Keep up with the passions that make you who you are. While colleges need to see your transcript, your essay, and letters of recommendation, we’re not admitting a collection of credentials, we’re seeking out the people who we want to welcome into our community.
Look out for your friends and family. Nothing is more important than the people you care about. Support those who you are living with and be sure to reach out to friends and family who are remote. It’s easy to become isolated and focus on ourselves and our immediate surroundings. Don’t underestimate the positive impact that a phone call, a letter, or an email can have on the people you care most about.
Do your best to focus on your education. I mean what I say: do the best that you can given the circumstances. But don’t try to do more than that. Far too often, I speak with students in the midst of the college admissions process who are striving for perfection or who want to “please” me or my university. There is no “perfect;” your education should be driven by your passion and interests, not by what you think colleges want. It’s okay to struggle. This is especially true in a time where you are likely learning in a remote environment and may be lacking accommodations, services, and the individual face time with your teachers that you might normally have.
Finally, here are a few things you should not worry about:
Pass/Fail grades: There are countless ways that high schools assess students’ performance. Admissions professionals see a range of grading point scales (4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 12.0, 100, etc.), narrative transcripts and, yes, pass/fail. Our goal is not to set expectations for your school; instead, we’re responsible for understanding your school’s grading system.
SAT/ACT: They don’t matter as much as you probably think they do. High-stakes standardized test scores have always been a point of contention for many of us in admissions. These scores don’t provide as much value as your high school transcript, and they have a problematic correlation with family income, sex, and race and ethnicity. Admissions offices never “need” a test score to make a sound admission decision. Now more than ever, schools are stepping away from this antiquated metric. Well over 1,000 schools had test-optional admissions policies before the covid-19 pandemic. In the wake of canceled SAT and ACT test dates, dozens more are rapidly eliminating these test score requirements for you and your classmates. The College Board just announced a plan to squeeze in additional test dates during your senior year and possibly host an online SAT. ACT responded that it will be offering an online version of its test. But these plans ignore what’s most important to all of you. Save your energy and focus for more important pursuits.
The Admissions Committee: The faceless group that sits around a long table discussing your greatest achievements and tries to identify critical flaws in your character and academic record? That’s a caricature of the real process and the dedicated admissions professionals who are eagerly looking forward to supporting you through your college search process and advocating on your behalf. The past five weeks I have sat in daily on Zoom meetings with an incredible group of people who are spending their days thinking about how they can support you. They are dealing with remote working issues that include caring for children and families, sharing work spaces with partners and roommates, and dealing with annoying (but adorable) interruptions by pets and children. Their lives and work aren’t normal, and they know that yours aren’t either. As a result, our admissions team — and others as well — are coming up with innovative ways to connect with you and to provide you with the information that’s critical for your college search. This is playing out at universities across the country. We are here for you. Call, email, connect on social media. We are here.
The rest of it?
We’ll figure it out together.
Be safe and be well.
Sincerely, Andrew B. Palumbo, Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Thursday, April 23, 2020
September SAT Administration Information
We're working to ensure that students will have opportunities to take the SAT® to make up for this spring’s lost administrations. Today we're sharing with you that we've added a new SAT administration for Saturday, September 26, 2020. This date will be for the SAT only, in the United States and internationally, with no SAT Subject Tests™ available. Sunday testing for religious reasons will be on September 27.
Registration for the 2020-21 SAT administrations will open the week of May 26. At that point, June registrants will be able to transfer their seat to a 2020-21 administration. All other students in the high school class of 2021 who don't have SAT scores will also have early access to register for the August, September, and October administrations. This includes students who had registered for March or May and had their registrations canceled and refunded. For each administration this year, we're also preparing to significantly expand our capacity.
Our top priorities are the health and safety of students and educators. Please note we'll only move forward with the administrations if it's safe to do so from a public health standpoint.
If you have questions, call Customer Service at 866-756-7346 (domestic) or +1-212-713-7789 (international). We'll also regularly update our webpage with information.
Registration for the 2020-21 SAT administrations will open the week of May 26. At that point, June registrants will be able to transfer their seat to a 2020-21 administration. All other students in the high school class of 2021 who don't have SAT scores will also have early access to register for the August, September, and October administrations. This includes students who had registered for March or May and had their registrations canceled and refunded. For each administration this year, we're also preparing to significantly expand our capacity.
Our top priorities are the health and safety of students and educators. Please note we'll only move forward with the administrations if it's safe to do so from a public health standpoint.
If you have questions, call Customer Service at 866-756-7346 (domestic) or +1-212-713-7789 (international). We'll also regularly update our webpage with information.
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Friday, April 17, 2020
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
CollegeBoard COVID-19 Update April 15, 2020
We hope you're doing well during this challenging time. As the College Board continues to respond to the impact of the coronavirus, our thoughts are with you.
In the face of school closures, we’re adapting to give students opportunities to show their strengths and continue on the path to college. Our top priorities are the health and safety of students and educators. Right now, public health officials have made it clear it's not safe to gather students in one place. Many U.S. states have closed schools for the rest of the academic year, and globally there are widespread school closures across 192 countries. As such, we won't be able to administer the SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™ as planned on June 6, 2020. We're working hard to make the SAT available in school and out of school as soon as the public health situation allows. Students will have opportunities to take the SAT to make up for this spring’s lost administrations. If it’s safe from a public health standpoint, we'll provide weekend SAT administrations every month through the end of the calendar year, beginning in August. This includes a new administration in September and the previously scheduled tests on August 29, October 3, November 7, and December 5. Students will be able to register for these administrations beginning in May. We’ll communicate directly with students when the exact date is available. Eligible students will be able to take the exam with a fee waiver. Students who were registered for June and those in the high school class of 2021 who don't have SAT scores will have early access to registration for the August, September, and October administrations. For each administration, we’re preparing to significantly expand our capacity for students to take the SAT when schools reopen. We’re calling on our member schools and colleges, as well as local communities, to open their doors and provide additional test center capacity so every student who wants to can take the SAT. In addition, almost all of our state and many of our district partners have expressed their interest in providing SAT School Day administrations in September or October. Specific information about state and district testing will be shared in the coming weeks. In the unlikely event that schools don't reopen this fall, the College Board will provide a digital SAT for home use, much as we’re delivering digital exams for three million Advanced Placement® students this spring. As we’re doing with at-home AP® Exams, we would ensure that at-home SAT testing is simple; secure and fair; accessible to all; and valid for use in college admissions. We're committed to giving students as many chances as we can to show their strengths to admissions officers. As we navigate this evolving situation, we'll continue to rely on your partnership to ensure students have what they need as they apply to college during the 2020-21 school year. We'll regularly update our webpage with information. Thank you for your partnership during this unprecedented time. Sincerely, College Board |
Monday, April 13, 2020
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Excellent Opportunity: Strive Virtual College Exploration Week
In light of recent college fair cancellations across our region and nationally, we have partnered with StriveScan and other associations around the country to provide a virtual alternative. This is an optional opportunity.
Through unprecedented collaboration, we are excited to announce the Strive Virtual College Exploration Week, which will provide a unique and diverse program for the students as they begin to navigate their postsecondary options:
Strive Virtual College Exploration Week
Monday, April 20 - Thursday, April 23, 2020
- 300+ colleges from 44 states and 10 countries
- 96 sessions over 4 days
- Day and evening options
- Panel presentations on a range of topics for juniors and underclassmen including finding the best fit and essay writing
- Free and open to students nationwide
Registration for students and parents is now live:
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Summer Opportunity: The Experiment in International Living has gone Digital!
Over the course of 85+ years, we have solidified our reputation as the most experienced provider of high school summer abroad programs.
We have transitioned our summer 2020 programming to The Experiment Digital.
With COVID-19, cultural exchange is important, now more than ever. Designed to connect youth living in every corner of the world, The Experiment Digital is a fully funded (free!) exchange program conducted entirely online. It prepares them to be more civically engaged by teaching them how to design and implement a service project for their local communities. Apply online by April 15th.
For eight weeks (four hours per week), students log on to an interactive platform to learn about leadership, civic engagement, and interact with their peers through videos, chats, webinars, and games. Students come away from the program with:
We have transitioned our summer 2020 programming to The Experiment Digital.
With COVID-19, cultural exchange is important, now more than ever. Designed to connect youth living in every corner of the world, The Experiment Digital is a fully funded (free!) exchange program conducted entirely online. It prepares them to be more civically engaged by teaching them how to design and implement a service project for their local communities. Apply online by April 15th.
For eight weeks (four hours per week), students log on to an interactive platform to learn about leadership, civic engagement, and interact with their peers through videos, chats, webinars, and games. Students come away from the program with:
- an enhanced understanding and practice of leadership.
- increased involvement in civil society and volunteering.
- mutual understanding between youth from different countries
The Experiment anticipates again offering our traditional, in-person exchange programs in summer 2021. Browse our programs.
Example: Admissions Update from a College for 2020-2021 Application Cycle
Here is just one example of the messages we are receiving from colleges across the country on a daily basis. In the last week alone, we have heard that Tufts, BU, Northeastern and the entire University of California system will be test optional next year. The Counseling Department is working on a presentation to bring students and parents/guardians up to date on the latest trends in college admissions. Stay tuned!"
Excerpt from Williams College email:
Test Optional for the 2020-2021 Application Cycle
Students applying to Williams as first-years or transfers during the 2020-2021 admission cycle have the option of applying under a test-optional policy. This change has been instituted for next year only, in response to the extraordinary challenges facing all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic. For students who choose to submit standardized test results, those results will be considered as part of our holistic admission process that strives to center students and their unique lived experiences.
Additional Flexibility in the Admission Process
We understand that the pandemic has led to school closings, shifts to remote learning and pass/fail grading policies, cancellations of co-curricular activities, and a host of other disruptions that dramatically impact students’ experiences. You can be certain that we’ll be flexible in working with students and families no matter what challenges or limitations they’ve faced. None of us know what the next few months will hold, but our commitment to getting to know students and their stories will remain at the core of everything we do.
Helping Families Navigate Changing Financial Circumstances
Moments of economic uncertainty are when Williams reasserts its longstanding commitment to access and affordability. We understand that families’ financial outlook may look very different today than it did a month ago or what it will look like six months from now. Our Quick Cost Estimator is a simple way for families to monitor how their financial aid might change in turn. Williams is one of more than 60 colleges to use this tool so it’s a great way for families to compare across institutions.
Exploring Campus
Campus will be closed to the public until at least May 4, but we’ve developed a number of ways to explore Williams from where you are, including virtual tours and information sessions, and opportunities to connect with current students and admission and financial aid staff. If you’re interested in arranging a virtual group session, we can do that, too. All of the details can be found here. Please know that demonstrated interest is not used in the admission process at Williams. So while we hope these virtual resources will help students learn about the college, the number of these options they pursue will have no impact on their admission decision.
Excerpt from Williams College email:
Test Optional for the 2020-2021 Application Cycle
Students applying to Williams as first-years or transfers during the 2020-2021 admission cycle have the option of applying under a test-optional policy. This change has been instituted for next year only, in response to the extraordinary challenges facing all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic. For students who choose to submit standardized test results, those results will be considered as part of our holistic admission process that strives to center students and their unique lived experiences.
Additional Flexibility in the Admission Process
We understand that the pandemic has led to school closings, shifts to remote learning and pass/fail grading policies, cancellations of co-curricular activities, and a host of other disruptions that dramatically impact students’ experiences. You can be certain that we’ll be flexible in working with students and families no matter what challenges or limitations they’ve faced. None of us know what the next few months will hold, but our commitment to getting to know students and their stories will remain at the core of everything we do.
Helping Families Navigate Changing Financial Circumstances
Moments of economic uncertainty are when Williams reasserts its longstanding commitment to access and affordability. We understand that families’ financial outlook may look very different today than it did a month ago or what it will look like six months from now. Our Quick Cost Estimator is a simple way for families to monitor how their financial aid might change in turn. Williams is one of more than 60 colleges to use this tool so it’s a great way for families to compare across institutions.
Exploring Campus
Campus will be closed to the public until at least May 4, but we’ve developed a number of ways to explore Williams from where you are, including virtual tours and information sessions, and opportunities to connect with current students and admission and financial aid staff. If you’re interested in arranging a virtual group session, we can do that, too. All of the details can be found here. Please know that demonstrated interest is not used in the admission process at Williams. So while we hope these virtual resources will help students learn about the college, the number of these options they pursue will have no impact on their admission decision.
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Free Girls with Impact Program at Syracuse University
Girls With Impact is offering its 'mini MBA' spring program for FREE (valued at $2K) to girls 12-18 across the USA.
Since extra curriculars are on hold at this time, our spring course would be a great addition to keep girls learning and getting ahead through our 10 week live, online academy. Watch her launch her own venture, business or community project while gaining confidence and leadership skills.
Deadline for FREE Registration April 4th
Orientation Starts w/o April 6th
Online Live Course Starts w/o April 13th |
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Article from Forbes: Virtually Possible: Locking Down The College Search In A Global Pandemic
by Brennan Barnard
“This is virtually impossible!” my daughter blurts out from the next room, adding, “who thought geometry was important anyway?” “Actually,” I respond with my under-appreciated dad irony, ”it is virtually possible.” Deciding to spare her the lecture on how Euclid and Descartes thought geometry was pretty important, instead, I urge her to set up a virtual meeting with her teacher to work through her confusion with the theorem. This is the new normal for students throughout the country as they settle into pandemic-enforced distance learning. Young people are adapting to online classrooms and virtual meetings while also confronting the disappointment of missed opportunities at school and out in their world.
We are living in uncertain times, and as a high school educator, I am watching students (from my appropriate social distance) start to come to terms with the feelings of loss that the novel coronavirus has introduced into their lives. As the reality sets in of the short and long term changes this pandemic is bringing, they are experiencing a range of emotions. Time in class, in the halls, competing in sport, on stage, at prom and other hallmarks of spring in high school are quickly disappearing. While we must acknowledge the visceral feelings of loss young people are experiencing and support them, we must also encourage them to look for new opportunities and approaches to the milestones in their schooling and lives. One of these, for many high school juniors, is the search for a college. Despite the inevitable virus-induced challenges, it is virtually possible. Consider these tips for beginning your stay-at-home college search:
Mindset
In any year, the college search and application experience is a marathon, not a sprint. This year, it will especially require patience, stamina, and longevity and it is useful to remember that though challenging, we are (hopefully) living through a finite period. There are many miles to go before juniors apply to college and fortunately new opportunities are evolving to learn about schools. If students can stay nimble and open to the idea that their college search will look different than an elder sibling or older friend’s might have been, it will be less frustrating and more rewarding.
Groundwork
The reality of the current challenges does not change the foundation upon which students will want to build their college search. This global crisis provides an opportunity to slow down, step back, and to consider some key questions. Whether you have been ordered to stay at home or you are just doing so for the social good, here are two short videos that you should not miss. The first is a TED talk by Simon Sinek, author of “Start With Why”. Watch this inspiring speech and then ask yourself a series of “why” questions:
- Why have you made the academic choices you made in high school?
- Why are you involved in the activities you are?
- Why do you surround yourself with the friends you do?
- Why do you want to go to college?
- Why is earning a degree important for you?
The second video is from Jaime Casap, Google’s chief education evangelist, who encourages us all to ask: “what problem do you want to solve?” You might not have all the answers, or maybe not any of them, but the process of considering the questions and discussing them with those close to you will help frame your understanding of the experience you want to have in college and the criteria around which you will conduct your search. Amy Cembor is a senior associate dean of admission at Providence College. She says “one of my favorite things during this time of year in admission is talking to students and families who are just starting the college process and helping them think about where to begin. I usually encourage them to start by making a list of what is important to them and what they love—what is it that they think they will need in a college community to be their best selves.” She adds, “being stuck at home like this allows you to think about that…what do you miss most? What kinds of things can you simply not wait to get back to? I’d add those to my list without a doubt!”
Ground Rules
Even for the most harmonious family, being together 24/7 can test relationships. As the father of two teenagers, I know this intimately as we enter what seems like day one thousand of our state’s stay-at-home order. In a normal year, college admission can make people do funny things and react in unexpected ways. As parents, we can be a little overbearing and students can act out or push away. With a few ground rules set early on, you can establish a healthy foundation for your college search, which keeps you on speaking terms with your—not so virtual—housemates. Communication is key and identifying roles and parameters will maintain an open dialogue. Pick one day a week (or maybe every two weeks to start) for an hour when you will discuss college admission and any hopes or concerns parents and students might have. This prevents every interaction from becoming another opportunity to discuss the college search. Talk openly and honestly about expectations, limitations, and finances. Waiting to have these conversations until senior year will only build resentment and discord.
“Visit” Schools
Many college-bound juniors were hoping to visit colleges and universities over school vacations and throughout this spring. This is disappointing, but all is not lost. As you are researching schools virtually, the following sites will help you learn more about schools in which you are interested:
Individual colleges are also ramping up their virtual campus visit experiences, including virtual “open house” programs for prospective students. This list, complied by Rebecca Chabrow, MA, links to virtual tours, admission programs and webinars, and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) also has a searchable tool on its website. Individual schools will be pushing out their events directly to students, so be sure to take a closer look to see what the schools on your list are offering, sign up for their notifications, and check back later in the spring to see if additional programming has been added.
Lisa Keegan, assistant vice president and dean of undergraduate admission at Elon University tells students that “this is a perfect time to begin following social media posts by schools you are considering.” She adds, “you can tell a lot about the values of an institution by paying attention to what kind of messages they are sharing right now. Are they showcasing innovative virtual-teaching by faculty? Are they finding ways to celebrate the campus community?” Keegan explains that “while you may not be able to go on a traditional college visit this spring, you have a lot of resources at your fingertips. By accessing those, you might just find you have a more carefully curated college list by summer.” While you are “on campus” look for online copies of their student newspaper or alumni magazine to get a more unfiltered perspective.
Connect
You have no doubt heard about “social-distancing” during this health crisis, but I prefer what some have suggested as an alternative: “physical-distancing”. After all, while we want to avoid direct contact, we need each other socially now more than ever. Take advantage of this time at home to tap into the human resources that abound on social media, email and virtual platforms. Here are a few connections to cultivate:
- Teachers: As learning shifts online, clearly your interactions with teachers will also take on new dynamics. Be intentional about reaching out to them, attend virtual office hours and use them as a resource. You will also be asking some of your teachers to write letters of recommendation on your behalf for admission. Start to think about who you might ask (ideally teachers from junior or senior year, and at least one from a writing-intensive subject like English or history). Make sure these teachers get to know you and can speak to your academic engagement, even in a virtual learning environment.
- School Counselors: This person will be one of your greatest advocates in the admission experience, so make sure you get to know them. At some schools, counselors have huge numbers of students that they are responsible for, so you might have to be persistent about connecting with them, but make sure you are communicating often and asking for the help you need. If you do not have good access to a counselor, find a trusted adult or mentor at your school or in your community to support you as you search for and apply to college. Set up a virtual meeting to put a plan in place and get suggestions.
- Peers: You are inevitably connected to your classmates and friends through text, social media, etc. Share your ideas and tips for the college search. What helpful resources have you found or approaches you have taken to learn about schools? Ask for your peers’ strategies and talk about the hidden gems you discovered, which might be colleges and universities others had not thought of either. Resist the hype around college admission being stressful and instead share the joy around imagining the opportunities.
- Alumni: An often overlooked resource in the college search are students who have graduated from your school and gone onto the colleges that you are considering. Ask your counselor to connect you with former students so that you can reach out to them to learn about their experiences on college campuses. They will be able to talk about their transition, specifically from your high school. Keep in mind, every student has unique circumstances, so don’t take their input as absolutes, but rather more information to round out your search. LinkedIn is an amazing tool for facilitating these connections, so create an account and start to explore.
- College Admission Officers: Mary Wagner is the assistant vice president for enrollment management and executive director of undergraduate admission at the University of South Carolina. She advises that “students aren't the only ones who cannot travel and visit schools. We're in the same boat, and we are just as interested in talking to students as they are in talking to us. Take advantage of our undivided attention while we aren't on the road all the time.” Search on the college’s admission website or ask your counselor to find the name and contact information for the admission officer for your area. Email them to introduce yourself and ask thoughtful questions about their school.
Explore a Major
All of this time at home presents a good opportunity to enroll in a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) to explore a subject that you might be interested in studying in college or that you are curious about. Yale University has opened up free access to its most popular course “The Science of Well-Being”, so you might consider enrolling in this class to learn how “to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits.” Do you have your heart set on becoming a doctor? Maybe you can find an Organic Chemistry or Anatomy and Physiology class to take. Interested in a future as a programmer? Sign-up to learn a new computer language.
Extracurriculars
I have good news and bad news. The bad news first: It looks highly unlikely that sports, clubs, and other activities will meet in person this spring and that is disappointing for many students who were looking forward to these opportunities. Now the good news: Colleges and universities are not looking at one moment of your high school experience to see how you are involved, nor are they looking for the student with the most activities.
Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines extracurricular as: "not falling within the scope of a regular curriculum.” The good news is there's nothing regular this spring so everything's on the table. Your extracurricular activity could be picking up trash along the side of the road near your house. It could also be continuing to coordinate a club or organization online. For many students, it will be taking care of a younger sibling or elderly relative while parents work at home or in an “essential” job. Providence College’s Cembor advises students to “use this as an opportunity. Your time is not scheduled for you and you have flexibility—something we don’t usually have during the school year. Use it to think about what drives you—what you want to spend your time doing, and what you are excited about getting back to when life returns to normal.” Still not convinced? Consider these words from Yale University’s admission update:
Testing
The ACT and SAT have canceled their test dates for April and May. If you were planning to take tests during these administrations, you should switch to the June/July test dates as soon as possible, as test centers are filling up fast. Stay tuned, as depending on the impact and duration of the crisis, future dates could be canceled as well. Please remember, all students are in the same situation and colleges and universities are adapting accordingly. You can always use some of this time at home to review and prepare for testing so that when tests are available, you will be ready.
It remains to be seen what role standardized testing will play in this admission cycle but what we do know is that a growing number of schools are implementing test-optional policies. In fact, as of March 31st, more than 17 schools had adopted new policies, including Tufts University, Boston University, Davidson College, Scripps College and the whole public university system in Oregon. This is evolving every day and you can visit www.fairtest.org for a current list of schools that have test-optional admission.
Essays
Do you know what has not changed this year? The Common App essay prompts. The same membership organization that brought us joy in applying to college now brings us consistency amidst the uncertainty of a global pandemic. But, do yourself a favor and do not begin by reading the essay prompts. Trust me on this, you can read them later and whatever you write will fit (spoiler alert: one of the prompts is “topic of your choice”), but if you read the prompts it is tempting to overthink your response and anticipate what you imagine the admission office wants to hear. Instead, write the story that needs to be told about you and who you are.
Given the fact that testing, spring grades and many other aspects of the application are in flux, this opportunity to share more about yourself just became all that much more important. It is going to be tempting for this fall’s applicants to write about COVID-19 as it has had such a profound impact on each of us and our society. While it is not taboo as an essay topic, put yourself in the place of an application reviewer and consider whether you would want to read hundreds of coronavirus stories. Talk about post-traumatic stress! Take advantage of your home confinement to do some free writing and initial essay drafts. Your future self will thank you. Wagner at the University of South Carolina says, “this is a great time to take up the practice of journaling, or at least jotting down periodic thoughts.”
Dig. Learn. Explore.
For a recent piece on “Redesigning College Admission,” Angel Pérez, vice president for enrollment and student success at Trinity College said, “I believe we should never let a crisis go to waste. While we are taking care of immediate needs, we should also be asking ourselves—what are the opportunities for the long term?” This is as true for applicants as it is for institutions. As students settle into new routines and adapt to having more unscheduled time, you might ask yourselves, “What is something I have always wanted to do more of?” For some that might be learning or practicing a musical instrument. Others might want to do more creative writing or research a topic of interest. Maybe you have something you want to build or a new skill you want to learn. Take advantage of this opportunity to pursue these areas. You might even want to explore the Crown Education Challenge, a contest organized by students at Harvard and Stanford in response to coronavirus related school closures. Their mission is to “sustain global learning, no matter the circumstances, encourage students to take a stake in global challenges, and offer hope in challenging times.”
Virtual Reality
As with all of the other news streaming at us about the health crisis, it is often hard to know what is real and what is misinformation. Go directly to the source and check each college’s website to learn about any potential changes to their admission process or requirements. Rely on your school counselor to help you filter out the noise. You also might find some comfort and wisdom in these pieces from college admission leaders:
- Jeff Schiffman is the director of admission at Tulane University. His latest blog post is “Coping in the Time of Corona.”
- Rick Clark is the director of undergraduate admission at Georgia Tech. His latest blog post is “Change is the Only Constant.”
- James Nondorf is the dean of admission and financial aid and vice president for enrollment and student advancement at The University of Chicago. His letter to prospective students gives a sense of how most colleges and universities are approaching this challenging time.
Finally, some advice from Emily Roper-Doten, dean of admission and financial aid at Olin College of Engineering:
You see, it is virtually possible to search for a college and to do so in a thoughtful and meaningful way. Ideally, the summer sun will find us all emerging from our homes and college campuses once again open for visits. In the meantime, make the most of this moment by being creative, open, intentional and curious. Support, and lean on, those around you in this unprecedented time. As you engage in your college search, don’t focus on the barriers, take advantage of the possibilities.
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