The admissions cycle for the Class of 2021has been like none other. While some of the early admission pools were off to such a slow start that several colleges extended their early application deadlines, the pace quickly picked up many are reporting record numbers of applicants. Villanova’s applications are up 10% overall, UCLA has seen a 28% increase, and Colgate University saw an unbelievable 102% increase in applications this year.
The list of colleges that offer test optional admissions policies grew considerably and a few colleges have decided to extend their policies for next year, and sometimes beyond that. The University of Pennsylvania joins its Ivy League peers Columbia and Cornell universities in this movement. The full list of schools that are currently test optional can be found here and this list is updated frequently.
While it’s too soon to know anything from certain (and one thing we’ve learned from this past year is that nothing is certain) it is likely that the pandemic will continue to impact college admissions, in some ways for the better. So, what might students do now to start to build their strongest applications they can?
First, maintain your grades. Turn in your homework, participate in class discussions, and look for opportunities to help your classmates. If you are able to, dig deeper into a topic on your own, take enriching classes online, or even form a cluster of friends to talk about what is being covered in class.
Second, decide if you should take the SATs or the ACTs. For those whose test scores will be a strong component of their application, it makes sense to prepare for and sit for these tests. For others, time spent studying might be more productively channeled in other directions. This is a very personal, case-by-case decision that needs to take into account a number of factors. Please talk to your college counselor about what is best for you.
Third, find ways to be involved in your school, church, local, neighborhood, family communities. There are so many ways to get involved, some of which don’t necessitate leaving your house. I’ve listed several opportunities here on my website that range from working for the Red Cross to reading for the blind to doing scientific research. There is something for everyone.
Last fall I started asking my student the question I ask you now: Who do you want to be in a time of global crisis? No doubt the pandemic, world events, the political landscape, and the economy are weighing on all of us in different ways and to different extents. We miss our friends, we miss our routines, and we miss “normalcy.” Your first priority is to take care of yourself – wear your mask, social distance, eat well and exercise. You know the routine. If you are able to do that and still have bandwidth leftover, consider how you can be of help to others. Can you offer to make dinner to relieve a parent of that duty? Can you walk a busy neighbor’s dog? Can you tutor a younger student? Volunteer at a food pantry? Do web design for a non-profit? Ask yourself what can you do to make your corner of the world a little better. You might find that the best way to help yourself is to help others. And, an ancillary benefit is that you’ll have something else to tell colleges about yourself.