Application season wit BY CAITLIN DULSKY
Managing Editor
Almost all universities and colleges across the country are moving to a test optional application this year. We all can figure why that is the case, with so many SAT or ACT test centers being closed and thousands of students not being able to take the test. Only a few universities still require the SAT or ACT. This year of applications will be like no other year before. With so many students not submitting scores, and some schools not even looking at the submitted scores, students applications will be very different. The whole process this year will be like no other before. Students are trying their best to figure out college applications virtually and figure out what schools they want to go to through virtual visits. This time is stressful for many students and college applications can put a lot of pressure on you. But many students are doing their best to figure it out. “Thinking about your future is just really really stressful and scary,” said Senior, Sophia Rivera. Students are finding ways to manage their stress, like managing their time more, using a planner, and scheduling out time in a day just for college apps. Also students are finding relaxing things to take their mind off college applications and take breaks. “I wake up really early and do work or do college apps and sometimes I stay up late doing them. I also use a planner to stay organized. And, I manage the stress by not thinking about it, cause if I do I’ll just freak out and cry,” said Senior, Georgia Power. Students have to also make the decision to keep trying to take the ACT or SAT, or not submit test scores. Students with SAT scores will still be able to submit their scores if they would like to many schools, but with so many students not submitting their scores, people aren’t sure how helpful submitting them will be. High school seniors now have to focus and rely a lot more on their essays and transcripts this year for their applications. But they don’t have to worry this year 14
about the standardised testing, which is a a disadvantage or advantage. For many weight off of a lot of students’ shoulders. students though who might not have had “This time [students] don’t even have the best grades first semester Junior year to worry about [test scores]. So I feel like may be relying on the SAT for their apat least they could be happier, it is a hap- plication, so in this case it will help. But pier process” said so many stucollege counseldents are not or Ms. Ignaitis. submitting Also, some scores that it universities seems like subare going “test It’s really stressful to imagine all mitting them blind”, mean- the weight that’s put on [college might only ing they won’t applications]. Like every time you like hurt students. be even looking imagine the gravity of the situation “I decidat standardised I’m kind of like, oh wow ed not subtests. All UC’s mit [my SAT and CSU’s are - Georgia Power, senior score] because going test blind. I don’t know, “I don’t want it seems like to say it’s going to be easier or harder, I pointless when other people aren’t gojust want to say I feel like you’re just go- ing to have it and also for me like with ing to have as good a chance as, I don’t my grades and my extracurriculars think it’s gonna be easier, but it’s not gon- and stuff I feel like I can only bring na be more difficult.” said Ms. Ignaitis. me down” said Senior, Georgia Power. For students who are submitting Many students also have not even gotSAT or ACT we aren’t sure if this will be ten to take the SAT or ACT because of how
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