秘密研究所

First things first: We hope you and your family are healthy and safe!

Second, don鈥檛 panic. We鈥檙e dealing with highly uncertain times. Nobody knows how this pandemic will evolve or when it will end, so colleges and organizations that deal with college admissions are continually updating policies and timelines. Most are trying to be as flexible as possible and exercise understanding in the face of challenging circumstances.

Standardized Tests

The College Board has now administrations. Students who were registered for testing during this period will receive refunds, as will those who did not receive their scores from an earlier test because of 鈥渋rregularities.鈥� The test will now be offered every month in the fall and in the event schools do not reopen in the fall they are that can potentially be taken at home.

The ACT鈥檚 April 4 test date has been rescheduled for June 13 (watch closely for updates however). Students may also reschedule their April 4 test for another future test date for free. 

ACT added test dates on June 20 and July 25, pending local public health guidelines. The newly added dates aren鈥檛 yet listed in ACT鈥檚 registration portal, but we expect they will appear in the coming days after being discussed.

Not to be out done, ACT will launch an online, at-home exam for U.S. students by late fall or early winter 2020. This will be provided in addition to in-person testing. It鈥檚 not yet clear whether or when remote proctoring for at-home testing will be available for international students or students who normally test through state and school district testing dates. 

For a detailed article on the SAT and ACT from the New York Times:

Advanced Placement (AP) exams . These tests will contain only free-response questions (no multiple choice), usually within a 45-minute time period. Each test will be administered at the same time worldwide and will be open-notes. According to the College Board, students will not earn points for 鈥渃ontent that can be found in textbooks or online.鈥� The 1-5 point system will remain in place. 

International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations will no longer be held through May, and the IB will be assessing coursework, uploaded by your school and teachers, to award grades, certificates, and diplomas. Alternatively, you may take the exam on the November administration date, which has not been canceled as of yet.

In light of these changes and other challenges, many colleges have . In addition to the entire University of California system, Pomona College and Boston University will be test-optional for one year, while Tufts University will continue a test-optional policy for three years. Vassar College and Case Western Reserve University have also adopted the policy and plan to reevaluate it at a later date. 

Your testing preparation and timelines may change, but now is probably still an important time for you to prepare for your standardized tests. You can access free materials through organizations like and the itself. There are also free review lessons on the  

Additional test preparation options are abundant, but our tutoring partners at are second to none.  Contact us if you would like to discuss our diagnostic testing options and how we work with you to create a customized, data driven preparation plan and schedule

Grades

Nearly all high schools have moved their courses online, which presents challenges for everyone, including having to adapt to a different format and accessibility issues for some students. Many schools have changed their grading policies to pass/fail or eliminated grading completely.

How will this affect college admissions? Colleges understand that high school students didn鈥檛 choose this. You can expect them to regard this semester (and any future ones that are impacted by coronavirus) differently from others and be more flexible in how they evaluate your transcript. a policy in which the usual letter-grade requirement will be suspended for classes taking place during the winter, spring, and summer of 2020. 

The University of Chicago has also released a statement, expressing the understanding that 鈥渟chool transcripts will look different for many students this year, and we will work with that!鈥� Any changes in the way students are graded will be taken into consideration within admissions offices across the country.

This, of course, doesn鈥檛 mean you shouldn鈥檛 still be working hard in your courses to the best of your abilities. Your efforts in your courses affect aspects of your admissions candidacy in ways aside from grades, including your relationships with teachers who will write your recommendations, your preparedness for the next level in a given subject, and your overall readiness for college. 

Moreover, this is honestly a major opportunity to follow your curiosity and passions. Colleges seek out students who truly enjoy learning, and your ability to focus on the content of what you鈥檙e learning rather than the letter grade will help you stand out.

If you do have issues that affect your coursework, such as an inability to access certain technology or a learning disability that鈥檚 exacerbated by the digital teaching format, be sure to address it with your teachers and guidance counselor. Even if you don鈥檛 encounter difficulties, you should continue to communicate with them regularly to maintain a good relationship by asking questions and participating in class discussions.

To keep your grades up here is some of from a student who has done it for the last 4 years! 

College Visits

It鈥檚 impossible to visit colleges during the pandemic, but that doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 find out as much as possible about a school. You should be researching each college through a guidebook (we like the ), digging deeply into the website, and asking questions on student and prospective student forums.

 Reading student-written admissions blog posts, reaching out to current students and alumni (ask your guidance counselor if they can facilitate connections) and reading the campus newspaper, is another way to learn more about 秘密研究所.

Many colleges are offering virtual tours and open houses. You can usually find information on how to register and attend via their admissions websites. You can search colleges that are having virtual events here

You can also use one of the following resources:

- to view videos of students taking you behind the scenes at almost any college

- to have a Skype meeting with a current student

- For virtual tours and even Virtual Reality

You should also be finding ways to express interest in a college without going on physical tours. There are many ways of doing this, including:

• Reaching out to admissions officers for your region with thoughtful questions
• Participating in virtual interviews
• Following colleges on social media
• Signing up for alerts and e-mails
• Opening and clicking through emails (colleges look at this data)
• Going on virtual campus visits

Extracurriculars and Summer Planning

In addition to upending your courses, the COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted your extracurricular activities. It鈥檚 impossible to keep playing team sports or attending your regular club meetings in person. Additionally, many national competitions and events have been cancelled. However, the silver lining is that this provides you with ample opportunity to demonstrate creativity and independence which colleges will love. 

Consider which activities you always did online or can transition to a virtual format (in addition to club meetings!). Your school literary magazine, for example, can still put out digital issues. Could your school orchestra play a s? 

Remember that colleges always value activities you can pursue independently, and this summer is an opportunity like no other. As of now, some summer programs are still scheduled, but it鈥檚 unlikely that they will actually take place. In place of this, multitudes of high quality summer enrichment opportunities have gone virtual. If you were planning on taking a college course to explore and develop an interest you can still do so through platforms like or . You can curate a list of (better yet, you can prepare and record your own TED style speech) or take a . 

The chance to learn from some of the best teachers in the world has never been greater. Follow your inspiration to write a blog, design an experiment, make a business plan or anything you can dream. To get more experience, create a Linkedin profile to seek out a virtual internship. 

What is most important is that you think about the kind of person you want to be and get creative. Read about the 16 characteristics colleges care about most, and then think of ways (doesn鈥檛 have to be fancy) to develop them further. 

How can I be of service and contribute during this time is the question we should all be asking ourselves? #TogetherAtHome 

Some students may be facing additional challenges in light of the pandemic. Colleges will understand this; in fact, given that no one has ever experienced anything like this before, admissions committees will be forced to reevaluate how they review all aspects of your application, taking a more holistic, character-based approach, with an emphasis on essays. 

If, for example, you have home obligations that stand in the way of participating in more quantifiable activities, such as babysitting (or homeschooling!) a younger sibling, you won鈥檛 be penalized. It鈥檚 a good idea to explain this in the additional information portion of your application. 

Contact Us if you want to understand the full range of opportunities that exist formally and how to put together a plan for DIY experiences that will build the kind of authentic resume that will stand out. 

Gap Years

Given the financial toll COVID-19 has taken on many families, not to mention the psychological stress nearly everyone is feeling, you may want to consider taking a gap year (we prefer the term discovery year) Seventeen percent of respondents to a recent , who were previously planning on enrolling full-time at a four-year college next year, have changed their minds. And of those, 35% are expecting to take a gap year.

 , meaning you may not have 秘密研究所 experience you were expecting if you do decide to start at the end of 2020. 

A gap year can be advantageous to many young adults. Whether you participate in a language immersion program from home (travel overseas is probably not possible this summer), start a side hustle, take non-matriculated courses or volunteer, it provides an opportunity for personal and intellectual growth. Just make sure you spend it wisely鈥攖hink of it as an opportunity to prepare yourself for college, not a break from academic life.

Managing Stress

Coronavirus is impacting all of our mental health collectively, and it鈥檚 no doubt contributing to what is already a stressful time for college-bound high school students. While you鈥檙e cooped up in your house with your parents and siblings,

Start by incorporating therapeutic activities like mindfulness meditation (try apps like and ), regular exercise, and journaling into your daily schedule. If done regularly, they can have an enormous impact on your overall mindset and well-being (you can even count activities like regular mindfulness or yoga practice as extracurriculars if they鈥檙e an important part of your daily life). 

You should also make every effort to keep in contact with your friends and peers. FaceTime or call your friends regularly to maintain social connections and prevent yourself from feeling too lonely. If you鈥檙e struggling, use your guidance counselor and teachers as a resource, too. Not only can they provide personal and academic support, but they can also offer guidance through 秘密研究所 process.

And, of course, don鈥檛 be afraid to lean on your family. You鈥檙e with them 24/7 now, and that might be driving you a little crazy, but remember that they鈥檙e no doubt looking for ways to help you, whether it鈥檚 reading the first draft of an essay or simply lending a supportive ear.

Sometimes you just need to laugh! Watch the . Try not to go to far down the rabbit hole of Youtube, but if you haven鈥檛 already seen it, watch the

The coronavirus pandemic will, of course, impact 秘密研究所 admissions process in substantial ways. It remains to be seen how, exactly, colleges will account for the enormous disruptions that have and will continue to occur, but you can rest assured that you will not be penalized for the impact this has made on your academic, extracurricular, and personal life. Your college process is not going to be like that of your predecessors, but it can be rewarding and successful nonetheless.

Want to maximize your chances of admissions to top choice colleges? We can help you navigate the process with as little stress as possible.