I understand that we are in a unique time in our history as we manage and attempt to defeat COVID-19. For seniors, this will be a different and sometimes frustrating year, but there is also opportunity. I know it is good to look back to the past and learn from what has happened. The purpose of this post however, is to help seniors understand the many factors in the college application process that are unique to this coming college application cycle and how to approach them to make sure you are in the best position to be accepted to the colleges you apply to. Below are the factors that I think can be overlooked, but may have a large impact on college admission decisions for 2020-2021.
- Demonstrated Interest– The idea of demonstrated interest is not new to college admissions. It means that colleges are paying attention in different ways and even tracking how much a student exhibits interest in their college by various communications, attending events, visiting the college or even by when they apply. There are many different ways to show interest in a college. Some are in your control and others may not be (where you live, parents income level, etc.). More colleges were gauging and tracking demonstrated interest way before this pandemic began but I think this pandemic and the hardships it has created or caused will make more colleges pay closer attention to demonstrated interest. So seniors (not your parents), should be making sure they attend a virtual tour and information session the college(s) offer that they have to register for. They should also be communicating with the college admissions counselor at each college they are applying to, who will be reading their application. As college budgets have tightened, admission offices should be paying a lot closer attention to accepting students who have shown they want to attend the their college. Do not have the only communication a college receives be your application alone.
- SAT/ACT Test Optional- There are over 1,450+ colleges that are test optional for the 20-21 application cycle. What this means is that if you are applying to a college and your test scores are at the low end or below their published mid-50% SAT or ACT range score, you SHOULD NOT submit your score(s). If your scores are at the middle of the mid-50% range or higher, then you SHOULD submit your score(s). There are two things though that I am pointing out to my seniors that are important to understand about test-optional.
- Typically (you will need to check with each college you are choosing to not submit scores to), colleges give you one chance to decide whether you are applying test optional or you are choosing to submit scores. They do not let you flip back and forth because you received a new score that is higher and you want to submit it now or the score you received is lower and you don’t. Make sure you know what each college’s test-optional policies are before you decide whether to pursue either option.
- A college may be test optional for admission purposes, but may still require you to submit a test score for scholarship consideration. Seniors, if you need to submit a test score for merit scholarship consideration at a college, you should have time to do this but pay attention to any deadlines a college needs your scores by to be considered. Some colleges have a tiered merit scholarship policy where if you have a certain GPA and test scores you get a certain amount of money. Don’t miss out on receiving a significant merit based scholarship because you decided not to take the SAT or ACT test. You can still take the test(s) for these tiered scholarships until the end of the school year. Keep in mind, some colleges who are test optional this year may not ask for test scores for merit scholarship consideration. Please check with each school you are applying for to find out their policy.
- Take You Time Making a Decision- For many reasons, this admissions cycle for almost every college will be a challenging one and they are making every effort to make sure they “recruit” and encourage students to apply to their school. It’s completely up to you seniors as far as when you commit to attend a college. There isn’t a wrong or bad time, but I would encourage seniors this year to be patient. If there is the chance to get more merit-based aid by being patient, going back to a college and making sure they know you are seriously considering attending their school but you have other colleges you were accepted at that you are considering, they may reach back out with some more scholarship money. I know they may have tighter budgets than in the past, but they only way they can get more money is to get more students so they will do what they can to get you to commit if they really want you to attend their school. If you have already committed to attend their school and sent in your deposit, there isn’t much leverage any more for you to ask or inquire for more merit based scholarship money.
- Apply to a few more schools– To piggyback on my last point in #3, I see. more colleges this year waiving application fees to try and get more students to apply. They know that this may lead to more students applying who may not be all that interested at first but if they can get your application, they can now do their due diligence to get you excited about their school. I typically do not encourage seniors to apply to more colleges, but this year, when I think colleges are paying even more attention to their yield and still trying to attract seniors to their school in the virtual world, applying to a few more colleges only gives seniors the opportunity to see what merit scholarship money they can get at another college. Also, you can possibly use it as leverage if that school doesn’t all of a sudden move up your list of colleges that you want to attend because you received a larger scholarship than you expected from them.
So take advantage of what you can moving forward seniors. Despite the unique circumstances we are in, this can be an exciting senior year that you can look back on and say that because you took advantage of what you could, you are now in a much better position for success in the future.
