How the Pandemic Has Reshaped College Admissions
The COVID-19 pandemic first hit college and university campuses in the middle of the spring 2020 semester, upending traditional academic and co-curricular experiences for the entire campus community. But even as campuses shut down and students, faculty, and staff were sent home, admissions officers released decisions just as they do every March. So, what happened from there on out?
1. An enrollment panic led to increased waitlist utilization
Colleges depend on the tuition dollars from enrollment to operate and so carefully track the incoming class as it takes shape. In the spring of 2020, a record number of gap year requests from admitted students rolled in, and returning students, too, elected to take time away from their studies at unusually high numbers. Additionally, both new and returning international students faced challenges getting visas to travel to the US to study. Institutions rushed to try to curb declines in the number of enrolled students by putting in place policies, programs, and incentives for enrollment. Many liberally turned to waitlists and admitted larger numbers of transfer students to address shortfalls and fill empty spots.
2. The Class of 2021’s application plans and processes were totally upended
At the same time, the high school class of 2021 watched and worried that every gap year request granted was one less spot available for them. Moreover, COVID began to impact all of the traditional components of students' college applications.
Standardized testing became widely unavailable.
Extracurricular activities were canceled and transformed.
Pass-fail grading methods meant students would not have letter grades to demonstrate their talents.
The virtual learning environment made it challenging for students to develop relationships with teachers, which impacted their learning and potential for strong teacher references.
The virtual environment also disrupted students’ access to and connection with their guidance counselors, an important source of application guidance and the required counselor letter.
Schools amended academic calendars, sometimes leaving a shorter timeline for guidance counselors to help students with required application components.
College visits were impossible, severely limiting students' ability to learn about schools and demonstrate interest.
“Throughout, students wondered what college would even be like in the fall of 2021.”
3. More applications meant lower admissions rates
Many applicants responded to the uncertainties by applying to a higher number of schools, including through early decision or early action plans. This response, in turn, drove up the number of applications and down admit rates.
4. New application requirement policies boosted access
On the admissions side, the impact of the pandemic presented new challenges and opportunities. Due to COVID testing cancellations, most institutions adopted test-optional or test-blind policies. At many schools, these policies opened the door for students to consider applying when they may not have otherwise, leading to a more diverse applicant pool.
“Due to COVID testing cancellations, most institutions adopted test-optional or test-blind policies.”
5. Admissions became more holistic, boosting diversity and inclusion
For years admissions officers exercised holistic admissions by evaluating the entire student, not just their numerical data such as grades and test scores. Now, in the absence of some of this data, practicing holistic admissions was even more possible, contributing to more diverse accepted classes.
6. Colleges launched virtual programming
Some institutions also consider "demonstrated interest" to decide who to admit because it may translate into enrollment. Historically, one powerful indicator of interest is campus visits, another casualty of the pandemic. Admissions officers responded with new ways to gauge a student’s interest through virtual programming. One advantage of virtual programming is that it is available to anyone, not just those with the means to make a trip to campus, which reinforces institutional priorities around access. Without the traditional heavy travel schedules of admissions offices, virtual programming also frees up money and human resources to be used otherwise. For these reasons, it is likely that virtual opportunities to connect with campuses are here to stay.
“…it is likely that virtual opportunities to connect with campuses are here to stay.”
Although there are hopeful signs of some return to normalcy on campus this fall, so much uncertainty remains. Graduating high school seniors still wonder what college will be like and, exhausted by pandemic learning, may consider a gap year. An entire year later, the high school class of 2021 faces some of the same questions and challenges that the high school class of 2020 did. College admissions and enrollment officers, driven by institutional priorities, hope that they will be eager to be on campus this fall.
What does this mean for your child?
What can high school students do to strengthen their applications? What can they do to make a college decision that will make them happy and fulfilled, even amidst so much uncertainty?
Remember, getting into college is not the end, it is a beginning. What a student experiences and accomplishes at their school is linked to life preparedness and success. There are so many great places at which a student can achieve these accomplishments, thrive, and meet their goals.
Relationships with teachers and school guidance counselors are important. Students learn and grow from their mentors. Such relationships may yield strong references, an increasingly important application component as the application review process becomes more holistic. Encourage your child to connect with their teachers and guidance counselor often.
Support your child to learn about colleges. As colleges ease restrictions to visitors and public health guidelines allow, make in-person campus visits. At the same time, your child should engage in the virtual opportunities that are available to learn about colleges.
Although it is expected that many schools will continue test-blind and test-optional policies, a strong set of standardized test scores may enhance your child’s options. If it is safe to take standardized tests, your child should consider doing so.
Encourage your child to continue rich engagement with extracurricular activities as is possible. For some students, the changes brought by the pandemic have opened up new and interesting avenues for engagement with their activities and communities.
Trust experts. Friends and family are not experts. Seek help from school guidance counselors and counselors who are members of professional organizations such as IECA, HECA, or NACAC, like those at Lantern College Counseling.
Be proactive and don’t procrastinate.
