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Post-Pandemic College Admissions University applications may look a bit different in 2021.
BY OLIVIA RIVERA
PLANNING FOR COLLEGE CAN BE AN EXCITING TIME for families. But, like many other situations, the pandemic has changed the way students find their perfect university. No need to worry, local certified educational planner Kate Malczewski from College Connectors in Edina shares some tips to help ensure students and parents understand the new playing field.
Standing out from the pack: As admission requirements have shifted and colleges are looking more at a students’ overall body of work, a well-rounded application can help students stand out from the crowd. Malczewski points out that interviews, essays, recommendations and extra components of an application are measured to holistically evaluate a student’s abilities. She suggests looking into what each prospective school requires and focusing on those elements for each application. Lauren Taylor of Shorewood is set to attend the University of Notre Dame. She was this year's valedictorian at Holy Family Catholic High School. Minnestrista's Carver Kasper, who graduated from Holy Family, signs his National Letter of Intent to play baseball for Rockhurst University.
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AUGUST 2021
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Not all change is bad: The ACT and SAT exams have been used as common standardized college admission tests for many years. During the pandemic, some universities dropped standardized testing as an admission requirement, and since there had already been much debate about the fairness and reliability of these tests, these changes may be here to stay. Malczewski says, “What we’re hearing is that [standardized college admission tests like the ACT and SAT] are optional … I don’t think it’s a passing fad. I think COVID jumpstarted [this trend], which allowed schools to realize they can admit a successful class without a test score.”
