Standardized test changes for seniors

Application season with a whole new look

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

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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 counselor Ms. Ignaitis. Also, some universities are going “test blind”, meanIt’s really stressful to imagine all the weight that’s put on [college “ dents are not submitting scores that it seems like submitting them 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 tests. All UC’s and CSU’s are I’m kind of like, oh wow - Georgia Power, senior ed not submit [my SAT 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

Application season with a whole new look

many test centers have closed. So many universities are not taking internationstudents have registered for SAT’s and al students this year due to COVID-19 ACT’s but all the centers around here keep and some international students might cancelling tests. “I haven’t gotten a chance to take it at all, not even like not even the December test from 2019. So, I’m just not doing it at all.” said SeDo things slowly, really plan it out. I don’t think the application process should be you stay up all “ not be wanting to come to the U.S. for COVID-19 concerns. So this might help with admission rates. We also nior, Sophia Rivera. night, working on their personal might not see Since applying statements, it takes time, it’s a as many stuthis year is going to be so different process. dents here going to internawe might be seeing a difference in the - Ms. Ignaitis tional schools. “We had students accepted. students who We might be seeing were planning more students going on going to a to school in Califor- four year colnia to be closer to home. COVID-19 might lege that ended up going to community make kids want to stay closer to home and college like we had a group of students pull they might feel safer to be closer to fami- back” and she also saw “ we had a lot more ly. We also might be seeing more students students to do a gap year” said Ms. Ignaitis. accepted than before, or maybe less. Some The application process will be much different this year, but Sequoia seniors seem to keep on top of it. There are many online resources and people at school to help with this process. “What I’ve been doing is going online, like open houses and multiple college fairs. I know the school that I’m early decisioning to has essay workshops and sessions to get to know this school and stuff like that and a lot of schools have that. So if you’re really into a school. It’s good to do that also because it gives demonstrated interest. But it’s also really helpful because it gives you insight about the admissions process and how they like receiving your application and like how they process it.” said Power. It is all very stressful but time management and staying on top of it will help. Ms. Ignaitis and Ms. Rocha are always available for helping students, and many other teachers at Sequoia would be willing to help as well.