College Search Advice for Juniors…in the Middle of a Pandemic
Last Updated on May 27, 2021 by Jill Schwitzgebel
While we are spending lots of time talking about the impact Covid-19 is having on high school seniors, we can’t forget about the juniors.
Juniors Are Worried
Most of our teens are worried and sad right now. Seniors have the luxury of being able to slack off just a little during this final, weird stretch of high school. Of course they want to pass their Advanced Placement exams and do well enough that they don’t have to worry about losing their college acceptances. But for juniors, the stakes still feel really high. With college entrance exams being canceled and so many colleges becoming test-optional, I know they fear that their grades and AP scores are now even more important for college applications. Meanwhile, they may be struggling with a less than ideal online class format. And at the same time, there’s a pandemic going on in the world which can overshadow just about everything, making it difficult to concentrate.
Many motivated juniors have absorbed all of the college admissions advice over the last year or two. So, now they’re worried that elections were never held for that leadership position they had worked toward for their senior year. The weekly volunteering gig that meant so much to them and that also fulfilled their graduation service hour requirements may also be canceled. Or, maybe they were hoping for a great spring athletic season to have new times or new tapes to submit to college coaches, but now that season is canceled and they’re wondering what happens to their scholarship opportunities.
Many have had to give up plans to do some college tours and feel anxious about how they will decide where to apply. They are worried that they won’t be able to return to their classrooms again next fall with their senior classmates. And finally, I am hearing that some are even quietly worried that too many seniors are going to take gap years and that it will affect their chances of admission next year. (It will not!)
The Reasons NOT to Worry
I want to address some of the juniors’ concerns that I listed above. All of their concerns are understandable. But I hope I can provide some encouragement for many of them.
First, I can’t emphasize enough that it’s important to remind your juniors that they are not alone. Every high school junior in the country is facing the same college admissions challenge next year. And after reading, listening to podcasts and watching many webinars, I am well-convinced that every college admissions department in this country “gets” it. They are prepared to be flexible next year, and probably the year after too. That’s one reason so many colleges have already chosen to go test-optional, including institutions ranging from Cornell to Swarthmore.
I have heard an admissions officer, Giselle Martin, from Emory University, say repeatedly that they understand this is not a normal admissions season for the college or for students. In a blog entry she said, “Life is different now, and we understand that.” Colleges will understand if a student didn’t get to perform on the stage in their school musical this spring or if they didn’t get to do any volunteer work for months on end. Remember the admissions counselors are living in the same era and they are not participating in their personal activities as usual either!
Some students worry about whether a college will truly be test-optional, and whether it will “look bad” if they don’t submit a test. It will not. Colleges are capable of using other information from their application to understand the student. Jon Boeckenstedt, author of Higher Ed Data and a VP at Oregon State says, “First and foremost, GPA is almost everything. The SAT and ACT follow GPA about 65%-70% of the time. In those cases, the SAT or ACT may give you a little extra insight…” In other words, he’s saying that even when tests ARE required, the tests are NOT the first thing colleges look at, and they are definitely not the only thing.
Families wonder what colleges will do if some students do submit scores, while others do not. But remember, every student brings unique assets to their application. Some students play piano and some do not. Some had jobs and others did not. It’s why colleges have a holistic application process. So, a test score will be just one other factor to consider about the student’s application. At a test-optional college, will submitting a high score necessarily result in an acceptance? Nope. But it doesn’t guarantee admission at a test-required college either.
As far as grades, if your teen’s high school has chosen to go to a different method of grading for this quarter or semester, like Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, I promise that a college will not hold that against your student. Beyond that, if your student’s grades dip a little during this time, it’s not going to raise any red flags, unless there is a tremendous drop. Students are going to receive the benefit of the doubt at application time.
What Students Should Do to Prepare for Applications
After putting your teen’s worries to rest, it’s time to move on to the next phase – the actual college search.
1. Prepare a College Application List![assorted books on wooden table]()
This is no different than at any other time. The college search begins at home with some conversation and research. Students should use the advice here as a start – consider a combination of their interests, their grades, their geographic preferences, and if available, their test scores, to begin to identify colleges that might be a good fit for them. At the start of the search, I always advise students to consider colleges of different sizes and in differing locations, both urban and rural. After you have the initial list, move on to step two.
2. Conduct Internet Research
With many campuses closed this summer, visiting in-person may be impossible prior to when applications open in August. This is going to mean that students need to spend more time doing online college research using sites like the ones listed here. Additionally, spend some time doing some virtual tours of the colleges that make your list. Teens may not get the “feel” of the campus, but this should give them some ideas. Follow colleges of interest on social media. Colleges recognize that being unable to tour the campus is not ideal, and so they are going out of their way to showcase their school in other ways.
It might be wise to check out the financial health of the colleges your student is interested in, as well.
3. Schedule Wisely
Remember that rigor of their curriculum still matters. Students should plan their senior schedule accordingly and challenge themselves, without taking on too much. It usually means exceeding the requirements that the school district requires for graduation. Before opting out of that math class or foreign language, be sure to check the requirements of any college to which the student plans to apply.
4. Check Out Test Requirements
For the many juniors that began searching for colleges in the fall or even last year, keep in mind that testing requirements may have changed. Many have gone test-optional. For students still planning take any of the tests, watch the College Board and ACT websites for more information about what’s happening with upcoming test dates.
5. Reflect on Covid-19’s Impact
This virus has obviously had a huge impact on families and students and communities. It might be natural to write about it as part of the college application. Be aware that I’ve now heard two admissions officers mention that they believe it might be appropriate for colleges to ask a specific question about Covid-19 and the impact it has had on the student, on their applications.
Applications
Most college applications will open up on August 1st, although some colleges will open their own applications up even earlier. If campuses remain closed to visits into the fall, this might be a year where students choose to apply to more colleges than they typically would otherwise. Even in more normal circumstances, teens often change their minds about what they want in a college during their senior year. So, this year, it may make sense to err on the side of applying to too many colleges rather than too few. And hopefully, there will be time for visits as the school year goes on, well before your teen has to make a commitment next spring.
Overwhelmed at the thought of the college search? Consider whether hiring a college admissions consultant might be worthwhile for your family?
See also: “How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?”
