COVID-19’s Impact on Education

In the crisis climate we are in, it appears that the testing and admissions information is continually evolving and changing. The process is challenging enough, and now with this seemingly uncontrollable infection running rampant throughout the world, this uncertainty is rightfully exacerbated.

In this week’s newsletter, I will be sharing the most up to date information to provide some much needed clarity.

What about grades from this semester of high school?

At this point Montgomery County, MD has closed schools until April 24; Virginia schools are closed for the year. (Don’t be surprised if MD follows suit.) Montgomery County just began online instruction on Monday, March 30. Laptops that enable the learning were begun to be distributed on March 26. 

Decisions will need to be made whether teachers will be able to grade as usual, emphasize first semester grades more than second semester, or even move to a pass/fail system. If you live in Montgomery, click here to sign up to get the latest school information.

Since grades are the major factor in the college admission process, it appears that at this point, colleges will use first semester grades as the major indicator for second semester grades.

How important will SAT, ACT, Subject test, and AP tests be for colleges?

SAT: As you know, the school day SAT in March and May were cancelled. At this point, there is only one administration left this school year: June 6, SAT. Please note that this test date could be cancelled as well. The College Board has said they will announce in early or mid-April if the June 6 test will need to be cancelled. They also said they may add an additional summer test date. An interesting comment was that they may modify future SAT questions, reflective of students missing so much school. They are also considering adding additional test administrations over the summer.

Subject Tests: Fewer than 2% of schools are requiring the subject tests. (Their rationale is students are already taking enough tests.) Some other schools have announced dropping them because of what’s going on, i.e., MIT. (More schools have also announced going SAT/ACT test optional.)

ACT: The April ACT was cancelled. The June 13 administration is still on. Those who were registered to take the April test should have received instructions from ACT on how to register for a future test date at no charge.No announcement has been received about the possibility of adding an additional test date or when a decision would be made about the need to cancel the June 13 test.

AP Tests: The format of the AP test will be changed to accommodate students since they cannot attend school because of the crisis. The tests will be testing general understanding of course concepts instead of ‘simple factual recall’. The exams will be open book/open note. They will be administered in an at-home 45 minute free response format instead of the three-hour exam as it was. The College Board will be providing free AP review course information and materials. AP credit will be awarded on a case by-case basis at each college. Since each school has its own system for awarding AP credit, some will accept this year’s scores and others will not. More information to come on April 3.

What about college summer programs?

Presently, most summer programs are tentative at best. Some will clearly be cancelled, while others will be switched to a virtual program – probably at a discounted rate. (Remember, these programs are a huge source of additional revenue for colleges and universities.)

Students can still have a ‘productive summer’ by exploring interests through reading, writing a blog on a topic of interest, or finding a safe way to contribute to your community’s response to the coronavirus crisis.

Will the admissions process change?

Admissions officers know the stress students are under as they share the same stresses, particularly working from home and social distancing. Know that they will take into account that for all intents and purposes, school has stopped as well as all extracurricular activities.

With more schools going test optional for this admissions cycle, students should expect that the admissions process to go more holistic – perhaps weighing the other factors more heavily, i.e., recommendation letters and college essays reflective of informed interest which could replace college visits. Of course, everything is fluid and subject to change.

What can juniors do now?

Stay involved: Make sure to stay as involved as possible in your studies. The online program for Montgomery County began today, but if you want to really broaden your knowledge – a great idea when you put it in the context of a college essay – using other online resources. Try taking a class on Coursera or edX – tons of course options which provide a great opportunity to explore a passion.

Continue Test Prep: It’s a given that most schools will not go test optional. This is my recommendation:

1. Start preparing now by going to the College Board site and complete a reading passage and a writing passage from a test every other day for the next month.

2. A month before the test, start completing a full test in one sitting – at least one test a week.

3. If you have any questions, go to this link to schedule a free Q & A session. (When registering, indicate whether you have questions about reading, grammar, math, and/or science.)

4. Check out SAT and/or ACT Self Study Guide for further information including our proprietary strategies and a list of additional resource material.

5. Go to the Khan Academy practice on the College Board site.

6. Learn more about our virtual instruction. Schedule a complimentary Test Prep Strategy Session  to learn how to find out your teen’s better test, optimum time to take, potential score goal, as well as tuition and scheduling options. 

Take advantage of virtual college sessions and visits: Many schools are offering virtual information and college tours. You have the option of also finding out more information about the school from from a ‘live’ admissions officer. Demonstrated interest is highly appreciated by them.

Sharpen your list of schools: Since you clearly have the time you would not ordinarily have, fine tune your list based on current goals and any challenges you might have applying to a particular school. 

Challenge yourself creatively: Since there are no longer any sports or extracurricular activities, take advantage of this time and stay involved in activities that interest you! Colleges will certainly be noticing those students who took creative ways to expand their horizons and interests during this time: catching up on reading, (Check out our Recommended Reading List. ‘Readers’ typically score higher on standardized test and get better grades!) Take an online cooking, art, photography class. The list is endless with options.

Get familiar with the Common App: It may be a bit premature to start the application process, but becoming familiar with the Common App platform will give you a heads up for sure.

Check out RoundPier: This hub for students and teachers provides a wonderful platform for them to exchange information about leadership development opportunities now and over the summer. Students are sharing words of encouragement as well as remote based opportunities. 

With the college admission timeline totally up in the air because of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) has launched a college admissions status database. They have developed a useful tool for colleges and universities to post updates about how they are adapting to the effects of the coronavirus. Also included is information about which colleges are still allowing school visits, which are extending deadlines for responding to admissions offers, and which have particular coronavirus-related policy updates. They also continue to maintain a list of traditional national college fairs.

We’re here for you. So don’t hesitate to reach out if you have further questions.

Resource: https://www.ivywise.com/ivywise-knowledgebase/newsletter/article/coronavirus-and-college-admissions/