The many uncertainties and challenges produced from the coronavirus pandemic have resulted in many new and unprecedented changes for educational institutions. Specifically, many colleges and universities have adapted their policies for a more flexible admissions process.

Manheim Township is aiding students in the process by providing virtual college visits, which had been in-person in previous years. Students can sign up for these visits through the digital platform Naviance. Information is also being provided for seniors on the digital platform Schoology in the Class of 2021 course. There, students can find information regarding post-secondary planning, ROTC, financial aid, scholarships and more.

Many colleges and universities have implemented new policies for the 2020-21 school year. Even the most highly competitive schools that have required standardized test scores such as the SAT or the ACT in the past are now switching to a test-optional policy due to the lack of access to testing, which includes the cancellation and postponement of many standardized test dates. 

Some in-state schools that have switched to a test-optional policy include Millersville University, Mansfield University and Westminster College. In fact, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) released a statement declaring that students can not be penalized with the absence of a standardized test score; it has more than 400 university and college signatories and can be found here. 

Cutting admission fees is another change that some schools have decided to make. Institutions such as Drexel University have decided to waive application fees altogether for in-state applicants. Some schools have also implemented a grace period in which students have more time to apply to the school and for scholarships. Among the list of schools with deadline extensions is Kent State University and the University of Akron, which are both located in Ohio. 

The Common Application and multiple schools have also added a new section to their applications in which students can discuss the impacts that coronavirus has had on their high school progress and experience, if necessary. The question of financial aid is one that is still not completely decided yet, though the FAFSA and CSS Profile opens on October 1, which is the same date that they have opened in previous years. 

With a lack of standardized testing, schools will have to emphasize a holistic approach in the college admissions process. Extracurricular activities, college essays, and recommendations will hold greater significance in a student’s application while numbers will not necessarily be as emphasized. 

Although the college admissions process has changed this year, many schools are still offering information sessions, campus tours, interviews, and more virtual opportunities. Students can also reach out to a specific school’s admissions counselor for one-on-one help on the application process. While immense uncertainty lays ahead for college admissions, more resources are being provided to students in order to aid them as much as possible.