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College admissions boards across the nation are dropping standardized test scores as a requirement. Some notable campuses plan to drop them for good. Where does this leave the next class of applicants?
Since the pandemic broke, there has been an uptick in the number of students being homeschooled. For many, it’s a temporary move brought on by the pandemic, and has taken various forms: some (like myself) have opted to bring a tutor into the home; other families have banded together into “pandemic pods” to have their children taught together; and finally, in some cases, parents are teaching their children themselves.
Right about this time each year, college applicants begin brainstorming ideas as they prepare to write their college application essays. But this year, students find themselves in an unusual set of circumstances that differ from any other application year—they have just finished off their school year in the midst of a pandemic. In order to recognize the unusual circumstances that students are in, the Common App has decided to include a dedicated question to address the challenges and successes of students during COVID-19. We’ll walk you through it.
You find yourself faced with the question: to take or not to take? Is it even worth my time and effort if some colleges no longer require it? Can I juggle the work that I need to put in to prepare, as well as the added pressure of studying online? Let’s dive in, and answer all those questions and more.
Coronavirus is certainly creating havoc and it seems no sector is immune to its effects, college admissions included. With the interruptions it has created for standardized testing resulting in the cancellation of SAT and ACT test dates, some colleges have decided to make the upcoming admission cycle test-optional. Colleges have become mindful that students are already under intense pressure with the closure of school and that standardized testing has created unnecessary anxiety. The move to test-optional will add to the growing number of test-optional colleges already out there and the ongoing debate on the efficacy of standardized testing in college admissions.
It’s a strange time. Places of public gathering have emptied as people bunker down at home. There is a constant stream of advice on the social networks on how to stay busy at home that pops up on our screens, between the updates of new coronavirus cases and the latest memes circulating.
Top universities are canceling admitted students days left and right, including Harvard, Columbia, UCSB, Vanderbilt, U-Mich, CalTech and who knows how many more to follow. This is definitely an unideal situation, courtesy of COVID-19, but with a little ingenuity, we can get through this! Here’s our advice for how to not get stuck in a rut of disappointment, accept that this is our reality and still make an informed admissions decision.
With COVID-19 growing in our communities, Empowerly wants to help you with our plethora of online learning tools. We have been in the online learning space for years, our resources are built for digital use. Rest assured that when you work with Empowerly, you work with a team that understands online learning and knows how to personalize guidance for your specific pain points and needs.
Here are a few online learning tools and services that you should absolutely take advantage of in this ever-changing environment.
