Coronavirus and the College Process: How You Can Keep Moving Forward During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Coronavirus and the College Process: How You Can Keep Moving Forward During the COVID-19 Pandemic
We are in the midst of an unprecedented time of worldwide uncertainty. Measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic have led to calls for social distancing, including the cancellation of virtually every sporting event, concert, and public gathering throughout the country and much of the world.We are all in this together and, by staying calm and informed from experts, we will adjust to our present new normal and keep the most vulnerable among us as healthy as possible.For students, the social distancing protocols bring added challenges. Many college students are unable to return to their campuses following spring break and being forced to complete their semesters through online learning. And high schoolers facing prolonged spring breaks, many in places without the infrastructure for remote learning, are in a state of limbo themselves.It’s especially important in times like these to control the things we can control. The disruptions to college tours, admitted student open houses, sports seasons, theater productions, job and internship opportunities, let alone life in general are palpable and they hurt. But there are still opportunities—silver linings, if you will—available to those who are proactive and creative to keep the college process moving forward wherever you are in it.Read on for some of our best ideas for how you can use the “pandemic pause” to the best of your ability.
Advice for High School Seniors
Right now, many 12th graders are beginning to hear back from the schools they’ve applied to and growing more excited about their upcoming graduation. There are major projects due and, depending on the school, final capstone assignments that you’ve built up to for your entire high school career.There’s no way around it; the timing stinks! But here are a few things to keep in mind:
You Can Visit Virtually
Perhaps you were planning on visiting the colleges that accepted you in April to make your final decision. Nearly every institution has closed its doors to the public, so this likely will not be possible for you.Still, you can learn a lot about each school and get a clearer sense of which campus and environment is right for you. You will have to work harder than normal, perhaps. But the information is out there, and you will have the time.You can find virtual tours on each school’s website. Take it. Take it several times if it helps you visualize different aspect of the campus and how you might interact with them.Visit the school’s social media pages as well. They are often full of student perspectives and contributions.
Use Your Human Resources
Admissions officers may not be able to visit your town this spring, but they are still available to answer your questions and represent their school. Connect with the officer who represents your region and get the information you need.When you reach out, remember to be empathetic. Their lives are also very much affected by the coronavirus pandemic. But they are happy to interact with you and help give you the fullest picture possible about why their school may be an ideal fit.There is also likely a network of alumni in your area with whom you can connect. You can set up a FaceTime or Skype meeting instead of chatting over coffee at Starbucks.
Finish the Year Strong
Be sure to meet whatever requirements your high school implements even if you experience significant disruption to your schedule. Continue to work as if you will be able to sit for your AP exams and/or finals as scheduled.At some point, life will return to normal and you want to make that transition as smooth for yourself as you can. And although admissions officers will surely understand the strangeness of the moment, they will still need a final transcript from your school before your admissions decision becomes official.
Advice for Juniors
For 11th graders just at the beginning of the college process, the coronavirus pandemic can feel particularly unnerving. Many have been studying hard for standardized tests that they aren’t able to take and planned detailed itineraries to visit colleges that are now shuttered to them.How do you move forward when you’re stuck at home?
Don’t Stop Preparing
Getting ready for standardized tests requires consistent effort and progress. Don’t lose the momentum you’ve built just because the exam you were planning to take has been postponed or cancelled. Instead, gear yourself to be even more ready for when the test is eventually offered again.Likewise, in the classroom, continue to put your best effort into learning. Perhaps it would be helpful for you to work virtually with a tutor on your assignments to make sure you are getting a firm grasp of new material.Try to avoid the trap of seeing this layoff as an extended vacation. While you certainly want to make time to relax and enjoy good mental health, keep your brain active and your routine as close to normal as you can.
Stay Active
On a similar note, continue to be active in your passions outside of the classroom even though this may have to take on some new forms.If your spring sport, musical, or conference was cancelled you might be feeling down—and rightfully so. But don’t let your talent atrophy in your time off.Practice your craft. Work on individual skills that go into making your overall ability stronger. If you’re a basketball player, for example, you can use this time to get better at dribbling or mastering a new move even if your team can’t practice or play together. Singer? Work on vocal technique or study new works you might not have had time for while preparing for the yearly production. You might even take this further and stage a virtual concert for friends and family, providing some much-needed joy and relief.Websites like Coursera and MasterClass offer tons of opportunities to learn something new or perfect something old—from coding to cooking to Steph Curry’s crossover. When you do eventually apply to colleges, you’ll want to be able to talk about how you used your time to grow, not stagnate.Embrace creativity in pursuing the things you love and search for opportunities to share them with others.
Use Your Virtual Resources
You won’t be able to taste the cafeteria food, but you can still get a sense of how you feel about schools that interest you from the virtual tools at your disposal. And on the bright side—another silver lining, perhaps—you should now be able to see all the schools you wanted to but didn’t have time because spring break is only so long. Those visits will just have to be online now.At this point in your college process, the most important goal outside of being the best student possible should be information gathering. Your mission is to determine which features of a campus—its aesthetic, curriculum, community, etc.—are most conducive to your happiness, then identifying the schools that have those features.You don’t have to physically be on a campus to start getting that sense. Use the virtual resources you have available to you—online tours, chats with current students, social media, email with admissions officers or professors—to begin gathering the facts you need to make an informed decision of where you’ll ultimately attend a year from now.
Advice for Younger Students
Right now, your focus should be on being the best high school student you can. Part of that includes not allowing the coronavirus pandemic to interfere with positive progress you are making in the classroom.Do your best and seek help where you need it. For some students, learning remotely is easier than others. Consider different strategies that fit your learning style to help you finish the semester strongly. These may include tutoring or virtual study groups.Beyond the classroom, continue to be curious. Continue to read and explore and build the skills that support your interests. Observing the way social distancing affects your family, friends, and community might give you new ideas about your own ambitions. Use the time you have to explore those questions or think of creative ways you might be able to make life easier for someone in your community in the future.
Distancing Does Not Mean Distant
It is more important than ever for us to work to strengthen the connections we have with each other during this time of social distancing. Try not to let your actions be driven by the frustration of missing out on events or having your process compromised by forces beyond our control or total understanding.Let’s show appreciation for each other even as we exercise caution. And let’s continue to engage in pursuing our intellectual and social passions however we can.The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.Ready to get started? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute conversation today!Want to stay informed? Subscribe to our newsletter.See what others are saying about us