COVID-19: Testing And The College Process
THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED ON 5/6/2020
The June SAT has been cancelled. The June 13 ACT hasn’t. Colleges are finding new ways to reach students in lieu of live visits. So many things about the college process for the high school class of 2021 are up in the air. But remember, you are not alone. Every high school student in the country – actually the world – is being impacted in some way, and colleges are making adjustments accordingly.
AP/IB Update
AP Exams: See our separate AP EXAM post here. Many colleges, are considering AP exams for the HS class of 2021 optional. Speak to your guidance counselor about what that means for you.
IB Exams: Spring 2020 IB exams have been canceled. Updates can be found at the IB Governing Board here.
Regents Exams: The June 2020 exams have been canceled. Updates can be found here.
ACT/SAT/SAT II Update
Remember, while Test Optional sounds appealing (for some students it is a great thing), it does not mean that the college doesn’t look at students’ test scores, and it does’t mean that it’s easier to get in. For many test optional colleges, flexibility is a way to attract a wider pool of applicants = more applicants = lower acceptance rates = better U.S. News ranking. (I’m not telling you this just because I’m a tutor!) Check with your guidance counselor, read about it on our blog, or contact me and I’ll be happy to discuss your child’s specific situation.
Note: Cornell is the only ivy league school, as of May 2020, that has deemed the SAT1/ACT optional for the HS class of 2021.
SAT: The May and June SAT’s have been canceled. The College Board’s current plan is to offer extra capacity for its August 29, September 26 (new), October 3, November 7, and December 5 tests. Remember, even for EA/ED, many colleges accept testing November testing with priority registration going to 1) students who had registered for the canceled June test and 2) class of 2021 (seniors) who do not yet have any test score. The College Board is also exploring potential at-home, online administration of the SAT.
ACT: The April 4, 2020 ACT was rescheduled to June 13th and they have not, as of yet, cancelled. The ACT company is better prepared to go online as they already administer the ACT that way for some school-day tests. And for their new individual section retake policy, the ACT was only offering digital retakes. The remaining 2020 ACT Dates are: June 13 (makeup for April) July 18, Sept. 12, Oct. 24, Dec. 12. You must take a full ACT test in order to avail yourself of the individual section retest option.
SAT Subject Tests: Here’s where things become a little murky. Subject tests are no longer “required” for any college, but they are often “recommended.” And for some colleges (Georgetown, as one example) and for some programs (engineering at certain colleges) SAT Subject Tests are “strongly recommended.”
Of course the June SAT Subject Tests have been canceled. And normally, you want to take your subject test right after you complete an AP level course (not months later). If you are completing a course such as AP Chem/Physics/Bio, or APUSH right now, it may be difficult for you to wait until late summer/fall to test; you will likely have to restudy. For math, however, you really need similar content and skills as you do for the the SAT1 and ACT. And you’ll need your core math skills for whatever level of math you are going to take in the fall. So studying for the Math II Subject Test over the summer can help you on several levels. Again, check with the individual colleges and with your counselor.
UPSHOT: Things change weekly. The best thing you can do is check directly with the College Board, the ACT, and individual college’s admissions websites.
College Admissions Update For HS Class Of 2021
Live Colleges Tours & Info Sessions: we don’t know when college tours and information sessions will resume. but you can attend virtual events and explore online. See our blog post for a few tips on alternatives for researching schools.
Standardized Testing Requirements Have Changed - Sort Of. Many schools are going test optional for the 2020-21 application year - some beyond 2021 (Tufts trying three years). Please read our post about what Test Optional does (and doesn’t) mean. It doesn’t necessarily mean that taking the ACT/SAT is optional for your child. As of today, the Ivies except Cornell, Stanford, et. al. still require the ACT or SAT1.
The Pandemic Has Negatively Impacted Colleges’ Financial Health. In building your college list, you will want to check a college’s financial health. While higher education institutions are receiving stimulus funds, they are still implementing hiring and construction freezes, furloughs for some staff, program cuts due to shrinking values of their endowments.
U.S. Students Who Don’t Need Financial Aid Will Gain (Even More) Advantages in 2020-21. International student enrollment in U.S. had declined generally, and will likely decline substantially due to the pandemic and ongoing immigration/visa issues.
Spots For Your Class May Go Down if many in the class of 2020 defer or take a gap year. Read what Dartmouth College has said about that, as one example.
For The HS Class of 2020 (Accepted Students)
As the chancellor of Syracuse university said in a recent NYT article “no one has a crystal ball.” If you currently have a HS senior who has been accepted to college and trying to decide what to do…..
Think through whether or not you will be okay with beginning your first year of college online, or in with some live/online hybrid model. You may want to have a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C.
Some colleges may not allow you to defer, or may not guarantee your a spot upon return (Princeton) even if the fall semester goes online. Check with your college.
Some colleges will likely offer incentives (e.g. reduced tuition) for you to enroll.
Many, many colleges are going to take a financial hit. Do your homework before you plunk down a deposit.
This Covid wrinkle really drives home the importance of thinking about what’s truly important to you about going to college in the first place — what you hope to reap from your education academically, socially, and professionally. For example, before the 2008 recession, “many colleges had not yet focused on the path from college to career. That gap was exposed as hiring dried up following the market collapse. Suddenly, a degree’s return on investment and an institution’s connections to employers became hugely important to students and parents — and a source of resentment for graduates who felt their alma mater hadn’t helped them launch.”
Want some advice understanding how all of this applies to you? If you’d like to schedule a free call about anything you’ve read above — even if you just want to talk about the best way to approach studying or test scheduling — don’t hesitate to reach out. Vickie and I are always here to help.