Wow….so life has drastically changed and we’ve made an adjustment to a “new normal,” so to speak. And, of course, this is happening at a time when high school juniors should be ramping up so as to prepare for the coming college application and admission process. Whether you’re confident in your academic situation, prepared, unprepared, flabbergasted, confused, or otherwise, here’s a list of things to be on the lookout for in the ever-changing world of college admissions that we’re seeing as we approach the summer:
SAT and/or ACT
By now, many of you have had an opportunity to take at least one of these exams in recent months. Others of you have likely seen your Spring testing (and even Summer dates) be cancelled because of the pandemic. Here’s my advice: DON’T FRET, and DON’T PANIC. Here’s why:
Colleges understand the magnitude and impact the pandemic has on everyday Americans, not just college applicants. Schools are closed, businesses have been shut down, kids are homeschooled, parents are working from home, etc.
Their campuses have been largely shut down, so their numbers are obviously impacted as well, so expect to see many flexible measures in the coming months from most every college/university.
They know that the SAT/ACT exam dates have been cancelled/postponed, so expect colleges to see one of two things:
They’ll allow for SAT/ACT to be submitted later in the application process
They’ll move towards a test-optional and completely holistic review process, at least for the time being. I’ll have more detail about this below.
SAT and ACT will add more testing dates by mid-summer and in the Fall
Expect to see a September date added
Though there have been discussions, do not expect the SAT to be administered online, unlike AP exams.
Many SAT and ACT prep courses are available online, especially through KHAN ACADEMY and the like.
I recommend REVOLUTION PREP if you’re still interested in having one-on-one meetings with an SAT/ACT tutor in an online and virtual format. You might also contact TUTORING 101 in Allen, for example, to see if they can provide a flexible schedule or service (this would also help the local economy). They might also provide one-on-one tutoring, so it’s worth a look.
Addressing the SAT/ACT Test-Optional Discussion
Quite a lot of discussion has been and still is taking place around making the SAT/ACT optional for admission. This had been a hot topic before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the circumstances forced the issue. Over the course of the next few weeks and coming months, many colleges will announce admission requirements with an updated SAT/ACT policy that will possibly include a test-optional format. Here’s what that means for you:
You’ll most likely still have the option to submit any SAT or ACT scores that you have previously taken. If you scored well, then you’ll definitely want to submit.
If you exercise the test-optional approach, then you’ll definitely want to highlight the holistic value of your total academic and personal portfolio.
As pertaining to holistic review without an objective SAT/ACT score, the emphasis will be placed upon the following:
GPA -- your grades and grade TRENDS will be heavily scrutinized
Rigor -- the level of courses you’ve taken, especially when compared to what your school offers (and what your school peers are taking) will be heavily scrutinized
Extracurricular activities -- the depth of your involvement, leadership, passion, motivation, or anything truly extraordinary (including adverse circumstances) will need to be highlighted and placed front-and-center. What have you done to make a difference or lasting impact on our community and the greater good as a whole?
Recommendation letters -- this is the time of year that you should be requesting rec letters from junior year teachers. I typically recommend that students request a letter face-to-face with their designated teacher(s) and follow up with an email, but in the current situation, contacting a teacher in whichever available method will suffice.
When in doubt, ask for recommendations from core subject teachers: English, Math, Science, Social Studies
It’s also suggested that students request recs from teachers in relevant subjects as related to the intended major. For example, if a student lists “Journalism” as their intended first-choice major on their application, then it’s perfectly acceptable to submit a rec from a journalism teacher.
If your designated applicant schools require a counselor recommendation, then move on the process before the end of this school year.
Virtual Tours — With the uncertainty of our current situation, it may not be physically possible to visit a college campus. Take the time to register for virtual tours for schools that interest you. It’s likely that colleges will still be able to track “demonstrated interest” if you register via an official process. You can at least get some sort of sense for what it’s like to be a student on their campus.
Bottom line, folks, is that this year’s situation is as fluid, flexible, open, confusing, and strange for obvious reasons. You’ll want to work with someone who can help navigate the even trickier waters as the application process approaches. I’m available to meet with you virtually via FaceTime, Zoom, etc, so contact me if you have any questions, and I’ll have more information over the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, please take care, stay safe, and know that we’re all in this together!
With love,
Randy Trevino