The global Covid-19 pandemic has changed so many factors in our lives, and the game of college admissions is no exception. With the seismic impact of the pandemic ongoing and ever-changing, we’ll cover some critical effects on the college planning admissions process you’ll want to know to best prepare for this year’s college admissions cycle.
Test Scores May be More Important Now More Than Ever!
Many of the most selective colleges and universities have made standardized tests optional for this year’s admission cycle in response to the cancellation of the March, April, and May ACT and SAT exams.
This is very positive because many low-income students already face a barrier to entry regarding standardized testing, which the pandemic’s added instability has only exacerbated.
But another counterintuitive effect is that test scores will be more important than any other admissions cycle. According to the nation’s top admissions counselors, GPA and standardized test score (SAT or ACT) are the two most accurate factors in determining college admissions to selective colleges. But this year, GPAs are not nearly as accurate as in other years because many high schools switched to a pass/fail grading system for various semesters because of the extra stress and extenuating circumstances the pandemic has put on students across the country. Because of this, GPAs will lose some of their typical accuracy and relevance in the admissions process. Therefore, a greater emphasis will be placed on standardized test scores.
Not only that, but a recent report from the California State University system shows that “test scores are currently better predictors of first-year (college) GPA than high school grade point average.” This is mainly due to inconsistent grade inflation throughout high schools.
If Test Scores are Optional, Why Should I Take Them?
With so many top schools making test scores optional, what’s the point in still taking them? There are a couple of factors to consider. First of all, more applicants will apply because of the loosened requirements. This means a lower percent admittance is inevitable. While some students who don’t test may get in, you give yourself a much greater chance to stand out on your application if you choose to test and do well. Also, it just shows a fuller picture of the entire applicant. Why leave any stone unturned in this life-changing opportunity to get into the best school possible?
If you are applying for scholarships, colleges and scholarship funds will likely require standardized tests. They do this to gain the fullest picture of you – both qualitatively and quantitatively. In 2019, students who took the SAT and opted-in (for free) to the student search service for scholarships were connected to over $33 million in scholarship money. Why miss out on all this potential aid?
Financial Aid / Other Financial Impact
Many families are struggling to make ends meet during this incredibly challenging pandemic. College is already a vast financial challenge, and now it is only more difficult. One effect of this is that some colleges are seeing declining enrollment in their incoming freshman classes. Lower attendance means lower revenues for them, so they may be more willing to give favorable financial aid packages to students who might not otherwise be able to attend due to significant financial barriers. Balancing this dip in enrollment with added aid is a mutually beneficial situation for both the colleges and the student, so keep this in mind when you’re negotiating your financial aid package with the universities you are interested in going to once you’ve been accepted!
Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is one of the main tools used by the schools to determine the amount of need you require. Usually, FAFSA calculates this number with old tax forms that may not paint the most accurate picture of your family’s current economic situation because of the pandemic. If this is the case for your family, be sure to communicate this to the financial aid office and present any more recent and accurate documents you might have.
Once you get accepted to a college and you are in the negotiation phase, it’s imperative to be bold with your ask! College is expensive, and the schools know this, especially during the covid-19 pandemic. Don’t skimp on what you ask for, especially if you are negotiating with a prestigious school with a large endowment. A little persistence and a simple and straightforward ask for precisely what you need financially can often lead to additional aid and scholarships for you to make your college dream a reality!
Getting Professional Guidance from College Assurity Can Make all the Difference
Whether we like it or not, this college admissions game is competitive and constantly changing. Whether you put in a lot of time, money, and effort, you can be sure other kids will be. Especially in a confusing, changing, and challenging time as now during this pandemic, working with an expert college admissions advisor from College Assurity can make the difference between getting into your dream school or not.
Luckily, you can have a FREE consultation where you’ll get a complimentary analysis and blueprint for success! There you can see if working with one of our knowledgeable counselors is right for you. They take their students through a comprehensive program that includes AchieveWorks and Birkman assessments, goal setting, and exploration. College Assurity works with your student on the “4 pillars” to make sure you’re equipped to put forth the best possible college application and find the college that is the best fit for you. This process includes exploring various academic fits depending on the ideal level of rigor, social fit where we’ll explore the unique culture of each school, the environment fit – how the geography of the school would impact you, and lastly, the financial fit – i.e., the cost vs. the value of the education.
Having this expert guidance is always a good idea to best navigate the complicated and intense college admissions process, but now more than ever may be the most crucial time as we continue to navigate through the unexpected consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the game of college admissions.