Highschool juniors could also be questioning how the pandemic will have an effect on their faculty plans. Your scholar could also be asking:
- How is that this virus going to have an effect on my future faculty utility?
- Are these abridged AP exams going to rely?
- I labored so exhausting this 12 months, took a rigorous curriculum, however now how can this go/fail grading spotlight my improved grades?
- My prestigious summer season program was simply canceled—what can I do for the subsequent a number of months?
- With all of the seniors at the moment asking for hole years, will this imply there might be fewer areas in future years?”
These are all legitimate considerations. Most of those questions don’t have black/white solutions but and as every day passes, schools are making selections that can more than likely reply your entire questions. Your scholar can take consolation, nonetheless, realizing that each junior is dealing with the identical challenges and considerations. They aren’t alone of their uncertainty.
We will’t know the long run, however we are able to take care of what we all know now. As time progresses, the choices will change, however for now, right here is a few useful info:
Standardized Testing
The June SAT and SAT Topic Checks have been cancelled. You possibly can click on right here to see the up-to-date info. Because it seems to be now, they’re planning assessments for August 29, September 26, October 3, November 7 and December 5. If faculties don’t reopen within the fall, the Faculty Board will present a digital at-home model.
The ACT take a look at that was scheduled for April 4 was cancelled. You possibly can reschedule your take a look at date right here for June 13, July 18 or schedule a future take a look at date.
To account for all of the disruption, schools will more than likely lower the load that standardized take a look at scores carry within the admissions course of. That being mentioned, if you’ll be able to obtain a excessive rating regardless of disruptions, you’ll have a bonus amongst different candidates.
For the 2020-21 utility cycle, many schools, together with selective ones, could select to maneuver to test-optional admissions. Because of this candidates should not required to submit any standardized take a look at scores.
Yow will discover an inventory of colleges who’re at the moment going test-optional right here.
Lecturers
The vast majority of college students at the moment are engaged in on-line studying. Due to this and the choice by most colleges to make use of go/fail grading, grades from the second semester of junior 12 months won’t rely for very a lot within the admissions course of. In case your scholar has an choice to take a grade for the present semester, I’d advise them to take action. If not, schools seeking to see development in a scholar’s profile will give attention to grades from the primary semester of senior 12 months as a substitute. In case your scholar is making use of early, schools gained’t have first semester grades accessible.
Extracurricular Actions
Extracurricular actions, particularly ones supplied by way of faculties and those that require head to head interplay, have screeched to a halt. Schools are conscious of those challenges. Nevertheless, college students who discover methods to stay engaged regardless of the pandemic will stand out.
Simply because you’ll be able to’t take part within the regular actions, be inventive. Right here’s an inventory of the way you’ll be able to nonetheless volunteer regionally:
- Challenge LiveNotes – ship a “musical telegram” to somebody in want.
- Playing cards for hospitalized youngsters—make playing cards for hospitalized youngsters.
- Be My Eyes – use a free app to assist blind and low-vision people.
- Studying Ally: Narrate audiobooks
- Make a Free Web site –create a free web site/weblog. A number of of our college students have performed this to advertise their enterprise.
- Smithsonian Digital Volunteer: Learn to transcribe
Faculty Visits
Regardless that you haven’t had the possibility to go to this spring, you’ll be able to nonetheless go to just about. Join by way of social media with present and previous college students and ask questions on their faculty expertise. Yow will discover them on the school web sites, instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Contemplating all of your choices
For the reason that affect of the virus has actually modified everybody’s outlook on the long run and presumably affected your loved ones financially, your scholar would possibly wish to take into account some alternate options to the standard path to varsity. Speak to your scholar about taking a spot 12 months and dealing at an internship or job, going to neighborhood faculty for the primary two years and transferring, attending courses on-line, and even wanting on the army as an choice.
Different issues to think about
Schools could select to just accept a better proportion of subsequent 12 months’s candidates early in an effort to lock in additional college students. Or schools can also be taking a look at their checklist of deferred college students and maintain areas open for them within the upcoming class. Monetary help can also be affected due to much less alumni contributions with much less cash to unfold round. Schools may even be feeling the monetary affect of the virus and have much less cash to offer as benefit help.