AdmissionStyles

Early Action decisions will be released at 5PM today!

UVA Extends Test-Optional Admissions for Two Years

Will this become a policy going forward beyond the next two years? https://news.virginia.edu/content/uva-extends-test-optional-admissions-two-years?fbclid=IwAR1uPkcrolPrMRP6w-QkoswtX9aKUd8TkbxtOJMmvF7wHMyb1UJWdcSwZ-k

UVA Extends Test-Optional Admissions for Two Years The University is making the move to ease applicants’ anxiety as COVID-19 continues to potentially disrupt administration of both the SAT and ACT.,

A new record high: Virginia Tech receives more than 45,000 applications for first-year admission

Another tough year at Virginia Tech.
https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/01/ua-2022Applications.html

A new record high: Virginia Tech receives more than 45,000 applications for first-year admission The recent surge in applications is attributed to the successful removal of barriers that discouraged applicants from underrepresented and underserved populations.

A new record high: Virginia Tech receives more than 45,000 applications for first-year admission

Another tough year at Virginia Tech.
https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/01/ua-2022Applications.html

A new record high: Virginia Tech receives more than 45,000 applications for first-year admission The recent surge in applications is attributed to the successful removal of barriers that discouraged applicants from underrepresented and underserved populations.

Virginia's top colleges are wait-listing more applicants, raising expectations

"UVA admitted 21% and selected another 10% from its waitlist this year, about 5,000 applicants. Last year, UVA wait-listed about 4,500 applicants, and 550 of them ultimately enrolled, a school spokesman said.

William & Mary wait-listed 28% of its applicants, which is about 1,000 more students than in previous years, a school spokeswoman said. Virginia Tech wait-listed 15,000 applicants, 35% more than last year."
A waitlist of 15,000. Wow.

https://richmond.com/news/local/education/virginias-top-colleges-are-wait-listing-more-applicants-raising-expectations/article_5b6a99e4-49c1-5cdd-acc7-592d42491672.html?fbclid=IwAR2tOfu250GRpJw1ufqqa7E2Oo9Yn5cEPPCTipMGdVs0eXIvMhDucDH96Ng

Virginia's top colleges are wait-listing more applicants, raising expectations UVA, Virginia Tech and William & Mary received a record number of applications, which has caused them to wait-list more high school students.

College Board is scrapping SAT’s optional essay and subject tests

Big news out of College Board today regarding SAT Subject tests and the essay component of the SAT

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sat-ending-essay-subject-tests/2021/01/19/ac82cdd8-574a-11eb-a817-e5e7f8a406d6_story.html?fbclid=IwAR23-VwllaFDup-MwAFnEn26_rfJ2xlMZErLx4JfqYi6prfxsXpeQEQAmwQ

College Board is scrapping SAT’s optional essay and subject tests Officials say they want to ease demands on students. A revision of the SAT is also planned.

How The Coronavirus Has Upended College Admissions

https://www.npr.org/2020/08/12/900173338/how-the-coronavirus-has-upended-college-admissions
A challenging application season ahead, on all sides.

How The Coronavirus Has Upended College Admissions Because of the pandemic, many students will be applying without standardized test scores and several other metrics selective schools have long relied on to make admissions decisions.

This is the cover page of my son's alumni magazine that arrived in the mail today. I think it is a good message to remember in these trying times. I honestly believe that when they come out on the other side, this generation will be stronger and more resilient than many previous ones. Hang in there.

Virginia Tech adopts Common App for fall 2020 admissions

Good news!!!
https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2020/06/admissions-common-app.html

Virginia Tech adopts Common App for fall 2020 admissions With the addition of the Common App, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions continues its momentum in evolving an application process that eliminates barriers and makes a college education more attainable for more students.

More Than Half of All U.S. Four-Years Colleges and Universities Will Be Test-Optional for Fall 2021 Admission | FairTest

https://www.fairtest.org/more-half-all-us-fouryears-colleges-and-universiti?fbclid=IwAR0G1ekEX8Xh8RDYbeiMF85l58rfpH151JrSxwOIqZ_2CUt8C_CMbMv4vUA

Just keep in mind though - test optional doesn't necessarily mean "test blind". While not submitting scores will not hurt the applicant, submitting good scores can be a plus. For those not submitting scores, admission committees will be looking more closely at other credentials such as rigor of curriculum, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendation letters.
And some colleges will still require test scores for merit scholarships.

More Than Half of All U.S. Four-Years Colleges and Universities Will Be Test-Optional for Fall 2021 Admission | FairTest A new tally of higher education testing policies shows that more than half of all 4-year colleges and universities will not require applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores for fall 2021 admission. The National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest), which maintains a master list, reports that 1,24...

Opinion | The End of College as We Knew It?

"Current events show that when it comes to treating one another like fuller human beings, we need all the help we can get."

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/04/opinion/coronavirus-college-humanities.html?referringSource=articleShare#commentsContainer

Opinion | The End of College as We Knew It? Restaurants get eulogies. Airlines get bailouts. Shakespeare gets kicked when he’s down.

SAT registration is open for summer and fall 2020

Information about registering for upcoming SAT tests:
https://blog.arborbridge.com/sat-registration-open-2020-summer-fall-testing-dates?utm_content=130533218&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-221503901194915

SAT registration is open for summer and fall 2020 Registration for the SAT's 2020 summer/fall testing dates is open. Here's what you need to know, including tech tips for priority registration.

Admissions process to lift testing requirement for 2020-21 cycle

Virginia Tech will be test-optional for applicants applying in the 2020-21 cycle. Several other colleges have done the same, with more to follow I would assume.
https://vtnews.vt.edu/content/vtnews_vt_edu/en/articles/2020/04/admissions-testing-2025.html?fbclid=IwAR0cdMDo9uowh5WLnuMk3xtBabJvrRVWSmhBHDXASzW9-WGpxIk38SiG3MU

Admissions process to lift testing requirement for 2020-21 cycle There will be no advantage or special consideration for students who choose to take the tests, and no penalty for those who choose to not take the tests.

April 2020 National Exam COVID-19 - The ACT Test

April ACT canceled (postponed to June 13 test date)
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/covid-19.html

April 2020 National Exam COVID-19 - The ACT Test The safety of students and test center staff is ACT’s top priority. ACT has rescheduled its April 4 national test date to June 13 across the U.S. in response to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). All students registered for the April 4 test date will receive an email from AC...

Coronavirus Impact Updates

May SAT is canceled.
https://pages.collegeboard.org/natural-disasters

Coronavirus Impact Updates College Board is monitoring the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and as the situation continues to rapidly evolve, we are focused on the health and safety of students, educators, and their communities.

College in the Coronavirus Era: Wistful Goodbyes and a Sense of Loss

While I know it is probably the right thing to do, I'm sad for the seniors who don't get a proper good-bye. I'm hopeful that at least, if graduations are canceled, that they find a way to do a make-up ceremony for them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/nyregion/cornell-university-coronavirus.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

College in the Coronavirus Era: Wistful Goodbyes and a Sense of Loss “I feel like a lot of experiences have been stolen from me,” said one Cornell University senior, as students left campus.

So You Got Financial Aid for College. But How Do You Pay for the Rest of It?

Each year, as college costs rise, it becomes more and more difficult for families to keep pace with the costs. There is definitely a middle to upper middle class squeeze: those who qualify for little to no need based aid yet can’t reasonably pay the cost of attendance.
I do appreciate U Dayton communicating upfront about the cost over all four years instead of one year at a time; a step in the right direction when planning costs.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/education/learning/financial-aid-gap-college.html?referringSource=articleShare

So You Got Financial Aid for College. But How Do You Pay for the Rest of It? More families are now struggling to fill the tuition gap after their financial aid falls short, forcing them to make some difficult decisions.

Bowie State University opens food pantry that feeds students for free

Kudos to Bowie State! Food insecurity is a growing problem on college campuses.

Bowie State University opens food pantry that feeds students for free Monday is the grand opening of a new food pantry and nutrition lounge at Bowie State University. It is located in the basement of the library and is free to all students. Food Lion Feeds donated $10,000 to the university to help open the food pantry and nutrition lounge. The university said many of....

In this age of online decision notifications, Clemson still does it old school and mails the "big envelope". My student LOVED everything about Clemson and was beyond thrilled to get her mail yesterday! (For privacy reasons, I added the smiley emoji - but honestly, I think her smile was even bigger!)

This is so true. While many students are celebrating their early decisions this week, some are feeling great disappointment. My own kids roll their eyes when I tell them my philosophy of "everything happens for a reason", but I really do believe it.

Why I Dropped Out Of An Ivy League College 3 Weeks Into Freshman Year

“More importantly, I no longer feel an extreme sense of urgency to have it ‘all figured out’.”
I applaud this young woman’s ability to listen to her inner voice and act on it before things could have gone very differently.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/asian-american-ivy-league-college-dropout_n_5db061eee4b0a7dbe8e28816

Why I Dropped Out Of An Ivy League College 3 Weeks Into Freshman Year I was following the promise of fortune and success as defined by my parents.

After a College Applicant Hits ‘Send’

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/22/well/family/college-applications-parents-children-advice.html?searchResultPosition=1

After a College Applicant Hits ‘Send’ Regardless of outcome, the application process itself forces the kind of growth parents dream of.

Student tracking, secret scores: How college admissions offices rank prospects before they apply

Well, this is eye-opening. This is definitely worth a read if you have a student applying to college now or in the near future.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/14/colleges-quietly-rank-prospective-students-based-their-personal-data/?fbclid=IwAR2XDQ4XhAcTf6SIcSIpO-lSa_87eMhSvmXiSIrqGu854ajJzuVvvua4Ipg&wpisrc=al_special_report__alert-tech--alert-national&wpmk=1

Student tracking, secret scores: How college admissions offices rank prospects before they apply Records reviewed by The Washington Post show that at least 44 public and private universities in the United States work with outside consulting companies to collect and analyze data on prospective students, either by tracking their Web activity or formulating predictive scores to measure each studen...

ACT to Allow Students to Retake Parts of College Entrance Exam

Well, this could be a game changer
https://www.wsj.com/articles/act-to-allow-students-to-retake-parts-of-college-entrance-exam-11570518000?fbclid=IwAR2jwUEYo0od5C7RGlLFkYdXPIcg5kTwJn1nMcum33nU-aSoID-zlqx7T7Q

ACT to Allow Students to Retake Parts of College Entrance Exam The ACT plans to let students retake the portions of the test that they are unhappy with, as admissions face greater scrutiny.

Some sage admissions advice from those who know it best. 🎓

Colleges Would Rather Freshmen Not Choose Their Roommates

When I went to college, it was random selections for roomies. Now it’s trending back that way. What do you think about this?
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/08/colleges-dont-want-freshmen-choosing-their-roommates/596803/

Colleges Would Rather Freshmen Not Choose Their Roommates Though many new students want to choose for themselves, schools prefer to use dorms as a way to introduce young adults to new perspectives.

Advice to My College Freshman

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/well/family/advice-to-my-college-freshman.html?fbclid=IwAR2UKCVKFGIQeHOi8TsYNwBG7EG-1DBy6kK80b7YkU2Elr2VKrjx81UjDYg

Advice to My College Freshman Don’t take other people’s Adderall. Granola bars have a lot of sugar. The stamp goes in the upper right-hand corner of the envelope.

OpenTable Reveals 25 Best College Towns for Foodies 2019

It’s all about the food 😋
https://blog.opentable.com/2019/back-to-school-opentable-reveals-25-best-college-towns-for-foodies-2019/

OpenTable Reveals 25 Best College Towns for Foodies 2019 With fall and the start of school on the horizon, OpenTable is pleased to reveal the 25 best college towns for foodies 2019.

Even the gloomy weather couldn’t hide how beautiful Holy Cross’s campus is.

Clark University. I found out today that if a student completes their undergrad degree - all four years - at Clark, they are eligible to stay for a fifth year to complete their masters degree for free!

First day of a two day post-conference tour. Despite yukky weather, had three great visits at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Clark University, and Holy Cross College. Tomorrow: Boston College and Wellesley.
WPI:

Some incoming Virginia Tech freshmen offered money to delay start in effort to relieve enrollment strain

And another Virginia university makes news today -
https://www.roanoke.com/news/education/higher_education/virginia_tech/some-incoming-virginia-tech-freshmen-offered-money-to-delay-start/article_6ed2a7b2-3b31-500a-a810-e3f968866c3b.html

Some incoming Virginia Tech freshmen offered money to delay start in effort to relieve enrollment strain Virginia Tech is offering some incoming students money to not attend the university for up to a year — a move that comes in the wake of an over-enrollment crunch.

UVA Adds Early Decision Option for Prospective Applicants

A big change for students applying to UVA
https://news.virginia.edu/content/uva-adds-early-decision-option-prospective-applicants

UVA Adds Early Decision Option for Prospective Applicants Read on to learn about the pros and cons of early decision, early action and regular decision.

Military Academy Nominations

Military Academy Nominations Instructions The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. For more information, please review the page of Frequently Asked Questions for those seeking a Military Academy Nomination.