Lately, it seems like a day doesn’t go by where we hear news of another college going test-optional next year or new plans from the College Board to make up for lost test dates because of COVID-19. As high schools throughout the country are staying closed for the rest of the school year, Pass/Fail grades for the most critical semester on the transcript are becoming a reality. It seems like the entire admissions process is turning on its head because of COVID-19.
Read MoreCritics from both inside and outside the admissions profession have long argued that the admission process is broken. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, change is coming. Long-standing debates about standardized testing, holistic admissions, endowments, equity, and more are coming to a head because of COVID-19.
For those of you with teenagers going through the process, you are probably hearing and experiencing real changes that might be worrisome. Yes, there is some uncertainty up ahead, but here are a few things you can expect.
Read MoreI can only speak for myself, but when I warned parents against independent counselors, I did it because independent college counseling can be such a predatory business. There are SO MANY consultants out there whose only qualification is that they went to an Ivy League college or have a child who attends an Ivy League college. Some have even fewer qualifications, but charge obscene amounts of money to ensure your child a spot at a “top” college. I’m sorry, but that sounds unethical and too Varsity Blues-esque for comfort.
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