Letter to Rising Juniors & Seniors

 

We see you and we hear you. Your feelings of uncertainty and insecurity around school and college planning during this unprecedented time are evident and understandable. In recent months you have adjusted to online classes, the loss of clubs, sports, performances and face-to-face contact with friends and some family members. You are wondering if your school will reopen in the fall and what new guidelines will be in place. And you are trying to navigate the college search process when campuses everywhere are closed, standardized testing schedules have been adjusted, and the SAT/ACT are becoming optional at more colleges than ever before. Will they even matter? You may also be scrambling to modify summer plans intended to enhance your experience and develop your activities list.

 

Know that colleges get it. They understand that your life has been turned upside down and are prepared to adjust their policies in light of this extraordinary time in all of our lives. If grading policies or class schedules change at your school, colleges will do their best to respect school decisions. Applications have always been read within the context of each student’s circumstances so this will not change. Remember too that members of every admissions staff and their families are living through this unparalleled time as well.

 

As summer begins, I offer the following thoughts about things you might do to keep your college search moving forward during the next few months.

 

 

 

• Take time to get to know yourself and your deepest thoughts better. Treat yourself to reading books, articles and poems that inspire you, spark your interests, and fuel your creativity. Get started on an art portfolio, initiate a book club, or virtually reinvigorate a school club that has been on hold in recent months. There is no need to stress about exploring new interests; dig into things that are already part of who you are.

• Examine your interests in new ways. I know a student who plans to take a Mandarin course online this summer and several other students who will work remotely with college professors on computer science and Artificial Intelligence related projects. There are many good public resources to help you including Khan Academy, a free website that offers courses in math, physics, U.S. history, grammar, economics, biology and free SAT practice questions and tests. The online platform edX offers more than 2,500 free online courses and Coursera is another e-learning platform offering free classes taught by professors at many elite schools on topics such as C++, marketing, engineering and psychology. Also, the New York Times and Verizon have teamed up to offer every high school student in the U.S. free access to the New York Times. [https://www.nytimes.com/section/learning/lesson-plans]

• Stay active! During these socially distant days it is especially important to pay attention to your health and overall well-being. Find a place for a solitary walk, breathe fresh air, look at the trees and clouds, really listen to the sounds of nature, dance, sing, do yoga, or ride a bike.

• Take time to really appreciate a long dinner with your family, play games and watch movies. The memories you make now may help to carry you through some tough days in college and beyond. Also, remember to stay in touch with grandparents and others who may be less tech-savvy and feeling especially lonely.  

• Above all, use this gift of time to spread kindness and positivity to family, friends and those who look like they could use a friend.

 

 

 

• Register and attend online information sessions and take virtual tours at the colleges on your list. Also, if a college offers you the chance to connect with a current student—take it, especially if the college is near the top of your list. Record notes just as you would if you were on campus. These notes will come in handy if you are asked to write an essay about why you feel well matched with this college.

• Be sure every campus knows of your interest by filling out a brief form usually found on the admissions website at each institution. Use whatever resources are available now to demonstrate your interest from afar until it is safe to visit in person. Check college websites often as new information may be frequently posted.

• Explore possible majors online by examining the list of courses, internships, study away opportunities, possible career paths and job placement rates.

 

 

 

• If you are a rising senior, work to refine and possibly finalize your college list (although you may also wish to review and discuss your list with your school counselor early in the fall).  

• Create a Common Application or Coalition Application account (or both!).

• If you are a rising senior, consider drafting your Common Application or Coalition Application essay in early August. The Common Application essay prompts for 2021 can be found here: https://www.commonapp.org/apply/essay-prompts and the Coalition Application essay prompts are linked here: https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/essays

• Keep notes about your quarantine experiences and record your thoughts and feelings because you may be inclined to write about this time in your college essay, or when asked for additional information. Take care to reflect on the personal impact of this unprecedented time, what you have done to proactively help others, and not simply record events. Colleges are interested in your story.

• Creating a resume that includes your list of activities with dates and grade level(s) will make completing the activities portion of an application much easier. Colleges understand that you may be concerned about missing out on illustrating your leadership skills and other distinctive talents during this extraordinary time. Be assured that many colleges will turn to evidence of what matters to you, how you used this time in creative ways for your benefit and the benefit of others, and they may look for signs of your resilience and motivation.

•  I know you are thinking about it so yes, prep for the SAT/ACT although realize that dates and test center locations are subject to change so staying current is important. If possible, register for an upcoming test and keep an eye on your list of colleges as some may become test optional or alter their testing requirements in light of challenges related to COVID. Above all, remember that admissions offices do not admit test scores; they admit students from a holistically driven process.

 

As our communities move forward in new and different ways may you use all that you have learned and witnessed in recent months to create a meaningful and authentic path for yourself in this world. I believe that your ingenuity, resourcefulness, resilience and compassion will be an example for future generations….and you are just getting started!

 

All life’s best to you,