Changes surrounding ACT, SAT and college admissions amid coronavirus outbreak
March 31st, 2020COVID-19 has certainly changed our world. I’m constantly thinking about those affected physically, mentally and financially. For high school and college students alike, so much of their immediate future has changed: graduation, prom, financial aid and decision day. Many feel a tremendous sense of loss. Parents and students everywhere are seeking ways to manage the uncertainty.
The week before last, we held a virtual open house with two college students who had returned home from their campuses mid-March due to the Coronavirus outbreak. They answered many questions from parents and students about what families can do to feel more confident as decision day approaches. Some of the excellent advice they shared centered on finding virtual tours, virtual chats and online groups of current or incoming students at schools under serious consideration. We’re grateful for the time they shared, even as they were trying to adjust to their own “new normal.”
In response to students’ need for up-to-date information, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has developed an online tool tracking colleges’ changes to campus visit policies, enrollment deposit deadlines, etc. You’ll find a wealth of information on this website: https://www.nacacnet.org/news–publications/newsroom/college-admission-status-coronavirus/
More colleges are becoming test-optional in admissions, which is one positive change to report. Recently announcing this new policy, in some cases on a pilot basis due to spring testing plans having been upended: Boston University, Case Western Reserve U., Scripps College, Tufts U., U. of Oregon, among others.
Still, most current juniors should plan ahead for summer and fall testing. Future dates are subject to change so you’ll find it helpful to monitor updates that ACT and SAT are sharing. Another excellent resource on this topic is Applerouth, a trusted test prep provider. The article linked below was initially published on their website, and it’s a useful resource for those affected by SAT or ACT cancellations.
Stay strong and healthy, and stay in touch with updates and any questions you may have. We remain here for you, focused on your bright futures.
Article referenced below originally published March 17, 2020, by Jed Applerouth.
What to do if your SAT or ACT was Canceled
Yesterday, The College Board and ACT, Inc. announced that in response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the SAT and ACT will be suspended until June. Students who were planning to take the makeup SAT on March 28, the ACT on April 4, or the SAT on May 2 will have to make adjustments to their testing plans.
For students who had prepared or have been preparing for these tests for weeks or months, this decision, though necessary for public safety, was disappointing. At the same time, the delays don’t mean that the work you have been putting in this spring will be for naught or that you won’t be ready to apply for college come fall.
If your spring SAT or ACT was canceled, here are steps you can take to make sure you are prepared once testing resumes:
