As families try to navigate these uncertain times, here are some recent admissions updates to help guide you through the summer. 

High School:

Currently, local independent and Catholic high schools will be allowed to return to in-person teaching in the fall but please expect every school to approach this process differently. Almost all schools will have some sort of hybrid approach to teaching that can be adapted quickly as the coronavirus situation changes. Here is an interesting article that summarizes the current status of each county.All that said, San Diego and LA recently announced that they will not reopen in the fall so decisions are changing daily. It will be imperative that students check the websites of each school they are considering for the latest information.

SSAT has announced that in the fall they will administer only online tests domestically either at home or at a Prometric Center. A student may take a Prometric test twice in a year and an at-home test up to five times a year. Some private middle schools, however, may also be able to offer a one-time paper test. High schools are concerned about the equity of an online test and have further concerns about the possibilities of cheating. As a result, University High School, Branson, Bay, Urban have announced that they will be test blind in the fall and others are expected to follow their lead. Lick Wilmerding will be test-optional. HSPT has not made any announcements regarding their test in January, but I would expect that some schools may be able to offer an in-person test depending on what happens with the virus. Please reach out to me with any questions regarding the SSAT.

Colleges/Universities:

Colleges/universities are also facing unprecedented times and reacting to the crisis with different approaches. Nationwide, they are trying to figure out how they can welcome students back safely while remaining financially viable. The coronavirus will impact each school differently depending on the school’s size, location, and the surrounding community’s population. Some schools, such as the Cal-State system have announced online-only classes; whereas other schools are attempting a hybrid of learning systems. Larger state schools are facing pressure to reduce fees to in-state students but may need to raise tuition to out of state residents to offset the costs. Many are taking students off waitlists to offset the loss of international students. In many ways, the value of a small liberal arts college is the residential campus experience. If these colleges are forced to teach only remotely, they may need to redefine themselves to remain appealing to students. Schools with smaller endowments may be forced to close. Many colleges and universities are moving to test optional, including Harvard. However, for some schools, testing still remains an important factor in admissions. The SAT has dropped its online version and will be holding in-person tests throughout the fall. The ACT will also hold in-person testing and they have added many dates to the calendar in September and October to facilitate more testing options for students. ACT hopes to have an online version for the fall but it is not available at this time. This link explains how the ACT will handle changes to its testing centers under Covid-19. 

The admissions landscape is changing rapidly so it is imperative that students stay well informed in order to not miss any critical information. If you or anyone you know is going through the process, I would be happy to strategize and discuss any questions or concerns in more detail.

Enjoy the Summer!

Kelly