Updates on college admissions and enrollment (Fall 2020 and beyond)
The National Association for College Admission Counseling’s (NACAC) Coronavirus Impact page provides a searchable national database on institutions’ decisions on admissions events, candidate reply deadlines and deposit deadlines.
ACCEPT publishes a national list of colleges and universities that have been delaying deposit deadlines for Fall 2020.
Another NACAC database provides updates from individual high schools on how their school counselors are continuing to provide college planning and admissions services to their students, especially seniors planning to enroll this fall.
Some school counselors are posting questions about college admissions that their college-bound seniors need answers to, such as:
- Are you willing to change test requirements or recommendations for juniors or seniors given test date cancellations?
- Will you require “final” transcripts for accepted or wait-listed seniors?
- How do you plan to handle AP course completion and/or testing for admission and placement purposes?
- Will early course registrations or summer programming be offered?
- Will you honor admission offers for international students without knowledge of current travel restrictions?
Testing
The College Board announced SAT testing will be offered starting in August on the following dates: Aug. 29, Sept. 26, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5. SAT Practice resources are provided free of charge by the College Board and Khan Academy.
Registration for 2020-21 ACT tests will open in July 2020.
More institutions have announced that admissions tests will be optional, not required, for Fall 2021 applicants. Examples:
- Boston University will adopt a test optional policy for first-year applicants applying for fall 2021/spring 2022.
- Tufts University is introducing a test-optional admissions policy for all undergraduate applicants for a 3-year period, beginning with applicants who apply for the Fall 2021 semester.
- MIT will not require subject tests for freshman and transfer applicants, effective for Fall 2021 and beyond.
- Northeastern University is waiving test requirements for Fall 2021 applicants.
- Harvard University is waiving test requirements for Fall 2021 applicants.
For searchable list of test-optional colleges and universities, visit the National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest).
Virtual Forums and Webinars
What the Coronavirus Means for College Admissions was hosted on April 2, 2020, by the Chronicle of Higher Education in partnership with Maguire Associates, and moderated by Jeff Selingo, Author and Special Advisor, Arizona State University. The speakers were Mike Keane, Senior Enrollment Consultant, Maguire Associates; Angel B. Pérez, Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success, Trinity College; and Jeannine Lalonde, Associate Dean of Admissions, University of Virginia. A full recording of the webinar can be accessed by clicking here.
- New England Postsecondary Admissions in the Age of COVID-19 webinar was hosted on April 14, 2020, by the New England Board of Higher Education in partnership with Maguire Associates.
- Behind the Scenes: How Colleges Are Managing Enrollments During COVID-19 webinar was presented on April 22, 2020, by the New England Board of Higher Education. Invitees included school and outreach counselors and students and families. The speakers were Jared Cash, Vice President, Enrollment and Marketing, University of Southern Maine and Adrienne Oddi, Dean of Admissions, Trinity College.
COVID-19 and Managing Mental Health
The JED Foundation shares some helpful tips and resources.
