Simplifying college admissions anxiety during COVID-19

Charlotte Ehrlich, Newsroom By the Bay

SAN FRANCISCO — With the COVID-19 pandemic leaving much of the world in a state of uncertainty, millions of rising high school seniors and college freshmen alike are about to enter an unprecedented period of schooling. 

It is okay to feel scared. 

As a rising high school senior, the prospect of not being in control of my next year and potentially my college years terrifies me. However, understanding this fear and confusion and acknowledging that every one of us is attempting to cope with the same experience makes it normal. And that’s important.

My biggest advice to incoming students is to stay educated and informed about available resources. Being prepared for what lies ahead is the best way to combat anxiety. 

Here’s what to expect if you’re a recent high school graduate with plans to attend college in the fall or a rising senior, and how to make sense of it all. 

For the class of 2020

A class that will be forever remembered for its relationship with COVID-19, the class of 2020 is entering college at one of the most unpredictable times economically, socially and politically in history. 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 3.7 million students in the United States graduated high school this past spring. That’s 3.7 million questions about on-campus life, remote learning, dormitories, roommates, sports and research opportunities left unanswered.

But here’s what we do know. 

The Chronicle of Higher Education — currently tracking about 1,100 colleges in the United States — revealed that 59% of these universities plan to be in-person throughout the fall semester. Another 26% are proposing a hybrid model, 9% are planning for an entirely online semester, 4.7% are considering a range of scenarios and 1.6% were waiting to decide as of July 8.

Areas such as residence halls, laboratory facilities and lecture rooms may facilitate the rapid spread of COVID-19. Having “in-person” or even “hybrid” learning models would require students to wear face masks in public and sit –– or stand –– six feet apart. Not to mention, social interactions will be limited and sporting events, concerts and parties are out of the question, at least for now. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is critical for universities to have robust testing policies in place if they have chosen an in-person approach for the fall 2020 semester. (Students should expect to get to know their doctors really well.) 

Many institutions, including Miami University (OH) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, have made changes to their academic calendars to avoid the projected second wave of COVID-19. These colleges have opted for a fall semester that either ends or goes remote after Thanksgiving vacation by foregoing their fall break. 

Most freshmen orientations, at schools such as the University of Texas at Austin, have been changed to all-remote formats. However, even with the disappointment of not meeting classmates in person, Zoom breakout rooms allow you to meet individuals in smaller sessions. 

Needless to say, in-person traditions of homecoming football games and welcome week will be altered. 

Though we can guess all we want, the reality is simple: We don’t know anything for sure. Depending on a university’s location, COVID-19 cases and public health orders, it is every college for itself in the process of safely reopening. 

Regardless of model next year, few — if any — schools will be back to normal campus life by fall.

For the class of 2021

The changes in the college admissions cycle for the class of 2021 and beyond are unprecedented. 

Typical hallmarks of junior year — getting straight A’s on transcripts and taking or studying for standardized tests — became a thing of the past this spring, and return dates are still up in the air.

The College Board announced monthly SAT administration through the end of the calendar year starting in August. The organization stated that they will not be offering at-home SAT testing despite holding online Advanced Placement tests this spring as those with ready access to the internet enjoyed an unfair advantage over others. 

The ACT plans to introduce a new option to take the test at home in the late fall and early winter and added more testing dates in September and October. 

Many colleges, such as Middlebury and Amherst, have waived standardized testing requirements for the upcoming admission season and have instead created test-optional or test-flexible policies. 

College visits — a spring semester staple for prospective students — have virtually (pardon a pun) disappeared as campuses closed their doors to stop the spread of COVID-19. A useful website, Youvisit.com, provides free campus tours online for more than 600 U.S. colleges.

Several universities are holding online information sessions and uploading pre-recorded virtual tours to their websites. University of California, Santa Barbara, for example, is offering live student panels via Zoom webinar, during which prospective students can have their questions answered by current undergraduates.

While the Common Application will remain in the same digital format as that of previous admission cycles, there will be a dedicated space for students to elaborate on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected them personally and academically. 

So, what now? 

Speaking for myself, despite an abundance of information being thrown at me from all different directions, I still feel overwhelmed and anxious. I still have so many unanswered questions.

What can you do to feel less helpless during this time of uncertainty while application season so rudely creeps upon us?

First and foremost, be aware of your feelings of disappointment about opportunities that you no longer have and a lack of excitement about next year.

Know that it’s okay to feel a loss of what seems normal.

Practice self-care for your emotional and physical self. 

Laurie Pomeranz, a San Francisco-based marriage and family counselor said being self-reflective will keep you grounded.

“Acceptance is expressing the loss, communicating the loss, processing the loss in whatever way you do that. You can talk, sing, write songs, paint, journal. You need to figure out how to express your sadness, your disappointment, your grief,” Pomeranz said. “You have got to find outlets for that so you can move into a place of integrating the losses and the disappointments and re-engage in moving forward.”  

And don’t do this alone! Use your friends as resources both for academic and personal support and return the favor. As hard as it can be right now, don’t isolate yourself. Try to stay connected to the people who are dealing with the same problems so that you can brainstorm resources for college research. 

Believe in your resilience. When you feel challenged, don’t doubt yourself. Look at the situation realistically and understand that nobody is perfect and nobody has it easy, especially right now.

You are not alone.