As the school year starts with remote learning, Addison Trail seniors will be struggling with not just remote learning but the realities of applying to colleges in quarantine.
“Usually, at this point of the year, the guidance office is crowded by seniors with questions about the application process, however, this year is much different,” says AT’s co-college and career coordinator Shane Cole, who is usually busy providing students information about applying to college this time of year. “The Guidance Department’s role in the admission process is to provide support for students and parents. Facilitating communication between students, parents, specific admissions offices, and even financial aid offices are all part of our role. That role has not changed, but it is more difficult because students don’t ‘drop by’ to see us as they used to when we were in the building,” Cole continues.
Although the college admissions process is year long and the regular deadline is almost three months away, many students are already feeling overwhelmed and overburdened by the process as a result of remote learning and.
“Covid has made an already frustrating and taxing process even more difficult, from the search process, testing, and even the applications themselves,” says senior Daustin Perez, who is especially disappointed about the lack of college visits this year. “It’s really sad that we can’t have a normal senior year but at the end of the day it is what it is.”
“It’s really frustrating this year”, explains senior Angel Elizondo. “With no in-person help from counselors or teachers, It isn’t the same and makes the whole process even more difficult.”
Although Covid-19 creates problems for students, it also gives them one advantage, the fact that many colleges have removed the SAT as a required part of their application. In fact, according to statistics from the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, almost half of all colleges are not requiring students to report their SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. This omission from the usual application makes it easier for students who struggle with standardized tests to apply to colleges. Although colleges are not requiring students to send in SAT test scores, students are still allowed to if they feel it may strengthen their application.
The guidance office which supports students and parents throughout the entire admissions process is always open to students even with remote learning. “Just because we are not in the building does not mean we cannot help, we have 3 counselors available during every remote learning period, all week, and are always available for individual student Zoom meetings,” explains Cole.
