How to Improve Your College Applications During Covid-19

As COVID-19 continues to disrupt countless businesses, schools, and community institutions we have been given a precious opportunity to stop and appreciate the “little things” we often take for granted. 

Whether that means we take more walks throughout the day, or spend time with our families, this gift of time helps us to pause, take a break, and re-focus on what’s important. 

However, one thing most people don’t consider is that this “time off” is a perfect time to also strengthen your college application.

 Before we understand how you can use this time to leverage your college application, let’s take a look at how the college admissions process is being impacted: 

1. Typically, GPA’s are assessed from the beginning of Freshman year to the end of Junior year of High School. However due to schools closing indefinitely, college admissions officers will have to re-evaluate and set a new standard of required grades. That means the GPA weight will likely be different than before.
2. Because testing centers are closed, and because not all students will have equal opportunities to access test prep resources, colleges will have to adjust how they weigh and consider SAT/ACT scores. Currently, there are even discussions at the state and national level as to whether or not colleges will even accept SAT/ACT scores! 

These major shifts mean college admissions officers will most likely put more emphasis on essays and extracurricular activities. 

One of the first questions college admissions officers ask is: “tell me about yourself.” Though it may seem like an easy question, have you ever stopped to think how you would reply? Try and answer it right now in 2 minutes. 

You’ll probably mention your strengths and weaknesses to describe yourself right? Though this is a good starting point, it’s not the answer you want to give and it won’t help you stand out from other applicants.

On the other hand if you choose to talk about your hobbies, or extracurricular activities, what are you going to say if all of the school clubs and sports are effectively shut down for the next few months?

Well, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. And if the Covid-19 has shut down all your regular hobbies and extracurricular activities… it’s time to invent new ones. Now is a great opportunity to initiate an idea you’ve been considering because showcasing the innovative solutions you’ve employed is the best way to stand out from all other applicants.

Though the cause of this extra time isn’t favorable, it has gifted us all the ability of time to reflect and appreciate what we’ve had all along in our lives. Consider how you can use this time to perfect your college application, and if you need help figuring out where to start, check out the replay of my webinar!

No question is a bad question and if you have more, reach out at [email protected]!