We have written at length about creating college lists. It’s a long process that requires an honest look at your grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities – and a healthy dose of introspection about what you’re really looking for in a college experience. And in the age of the Coronavirus, a lot of new information is circulating. Cornell went test optional, the SAT is on hold for the next few months, and it’s safe to say that the college admissions process is going to look slightly different this year. However, when it comes to creating your final college list, conventional wisdom still applies. What does that mean? It means that you shouldn’t necessarily tier yourself up a notch and create an unrealistic list of schools to apply to just because you’re a junior during Covid-19. If you didn’t have the grades and scores to apply to Harvard in January, you’re not suddenly viable because of a global pandemic. We realize this may sound harsh. But we tell you this so that you can apply to suitable schools and not waste your time on applications that won’t result in an acceptance letter.
Our TKG team took the liberty of embarking on a research project. While the circumstances are not the same, the last time we’ve seen anything slightly similar to the Coronavirus was the 2008 recession. Now that the financial fallout of Covid-19 is upon us, we wanted to see how the application numbers looked in the years before and after 2008.
We did this because there is a lot of talk circulating that it is going to be easier to get into top tier colleges this year because less students will be applying. However, the data from 2008 did not support that train of thought. In fact, aside from Yale and Penn, application numbers between 2007, 2008, and 2009 increased every year. So, if your application strategy is based on the idea that fewer people will be applying to college this year because of the circumstances that we’re in, it’s time to adjust to reality. You should go into application season assuming that competition will be just as stiff.
This brings us to another falsehood, which is the idea that test-optional schools are always easier to get into. It’s important to keep in mind that when schools go test-optional, more students apply. Some studies have even shown that in the first few years after going test-optional, those schools can receive up to 30% more applications. We posted this blog post, which is definitely worth a read. It explains how students will be evaluated in the absence of standardized tests at Cornell. Spoiler alert: the process isn’t getting easier.
Something that we’re keeping our eye on is the new immigration legislation. If it holds through November, it ~could~ have an impact in terms of the number of international applicants. IF it’s hard for students from outside of the United States to get their student visas, it’s possible that less international students will apply. However, colleges like to admit international students because it creates a more diverse student body. By no means are we saying that your application strategy should include hoping that less international students apply, we’re simply laying out aspects that could affect the final number of applications and therefore your chances of admission at any given school.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, a few tips for creating your final college list:
Keep preparing for the SAT and/or ACT.
Assess your grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities.
Attend virtual tours to familiarize yourself with schools.
Make a list of majors you might be interested in, and then research those programs at various colleges.
Identify student groups/organizations you’re hoping to pursue in college.
Reach out to current students at schools you’re interested in.
You might end up with a long list, and that’s fine! Narrow it down by continuing to research the offerings and then break your list out between target, reach, and safety schools.
If you need help with the college process, contact us here.