College Admissions News During the COVID-19 Pandemic

We are carefully following the news and want to keep you updated on relevant changes in the college admissions world. And while we may be stuck at home, we’ve been busy participating in webinars and Zoom calls this week with other counselors and with experts including Jeff Schiffman (Director of Admission,Tulane University), Larry Alterman (Manager of East Coast Recruitment, Michigan State University), and Meredith Lombardi (Associate Director, Outreach and Education at The Common Application).

Highlights:

• The May SAT and April ACT have been canceled. If you plan to register for June, do so ASAP. 
  
• AP tests may be given at home - we'll know more soon. 
  
• Many schools are hosting virtual tours and online admissions events. Whether you are still building your college list or are a senior trying to decide where to go, these are a good way to learn about the school. And for juniors, they’re a way to demonstrate interest. (Jeff Schiffman made it clear that colleges like Tulane will be tracking participation in virtual events.) 
  
• Seniors -- Some colleges are extending enrollment deposit deadlines from May 1 to June 1 (or later).  
  

In the News: 

• SAT and ACT college tests canceled because of virus fears (PBS News Hour)
• The COVID College Choice: How To Pick A College During A Global Pandemic (Forbes)
• College in the Coronavirus Era: Wistful Goodbyes and a Sense of Loss (NY Times)
• 54 free online courses from the best colleges in the US (Business Insider)
• How will students take AP tests with schools closed? At home, College Board proposes (LA Times)
• Update from Case Western Reserve University - "We understand students’ concerns about completing Case Western Reserve’s standardized testing requirements for admission. In response, the university has approved a test-optional policy for students applying for the fall 2021 semester. In light of the unprecedented circumstances the COVID-19 pandemic has created, Case Western Reserve believes students’ best interests are served by an approach that assures them of our flexibility as they progress through the college search process."
• Update from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) -  NACAC is providing this online tool as a central resource for information about changes in college admission events, deposit dates, and more as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.  
• Update from the University of Chicago Dean of Admissions - “We encourage students to continue to engage with whatever method of learning your school is able to offer, and to do so to the best of your ability. If your school moves to an alternative grading system or method of credit notation (pass/fail, credit/no credit, etc.), we will fully understand why the change has been made and it will not, in any way, be an issue for an admissions office.”​

Future Updates:

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