The college search process will be significantly different for the Class of 2021 in the wake of the Coronavirus.  While spring visits to colleges and standardized tests will not take place as scheduled, there are still things that you can do to position yourself for success on your journey to college. Here are ten things that every member of the Class of 2021 can focus on now:

(1) Register for standardized testing dates in June, July and August

While testing dates for March, April and May were cancelled for the SAT and ACT, testing dates for the summer have not been cancelled. Both the College Board and ACT have said that they will offer alternative testing dates once the threat of COVID-19 has passed, but in the event that these summer testing dates will still take place, we recommend registering for these dates ASAP.

To stay up to date with the changing plans for the SAT and the ACT, please refer to the following links:

• • SAT – https://pages.collegeboard.org/collegeboard-covid-19-updates
  • ACT – https://www.act.org/content/act/en/covid-19.html

(2) Strengthen your skills for standardized testing

Though you may not be taking the SAT or ACT as early as you might have hoped, you will likely take one or both tests in the coming months. Without the pressure of a full school schedule, you should take advantage of this time to strengthen your standardized testing skills. Whether finally learning how to work with fractions or understanding prepositional phrases, you can be prepared to get your best score when testing finally becomes possible.

(3) Visit colleges virtually

While you will not be able visit colleges in person to get a sense of their diverse cultures, there are other ways that you can learn more about the schools to which you may ultimately decide to apply.  Colleges are putting extensive virtual tours on their websites so that students can get an in-depth look at what each school has to offer. Go on some of these virtual tours with your family to learn more about each institution as you begin to think about your college list. And if you can find a virtual information session with an admission officer, that’s even better!

(4) Use online search tools to start shaping your college list

There are thousands of colleges in the United States and most students are only familiar with a few of them. Online search tools can help you to learn about schools that may have everything that you are searching for. While you may already have an account through your school with Naviance or SCOIR, we also recommend taking a look at Big Future, the College Board’s college search tool, which you can find at:  https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/  Record what you have learned about each school and your related impressions in a central place, such as a Google doc, so you can compare schools easily and make informed decisions.

(5) Don’t let your activities slide

One student shared recently that her volleyball coach is still having team meetings and practices over Zoom.  Just because you can’t meet in person, that doesn’t mean that you have to stop participating in extracurricular pursuits.  Keep up with instrument practice and continue refining your artistic talents. You may be able to do virtual community service by reading to young children or tutoring subjects online. Get creative and find ways to continue to pursue your interests!

 (6) Get some rest

Often, we notice how tired students are from the intense schedules that they maintain while attempting to perform well in school and lead in various activities. Even though this may seem like a great time to binge that Netflix series that you’ve been waiting to watch, you should also take advantage of this opportunity to catch up on your sleep.  And since we don’t know if this hiatus will last for one month or several, maintaining a regular sleep schedule will allow you to transition back to school more easily when the time comes.

(7) Get ahead in your toughest classes

It’s often tough to catch up in your classes because they move so quickly, but this might be a great time to build your writing skills, learn that French conjugation, or finally master those physics formulas.  Using everything from Quizlet to an at-home study plan, you can use this time to return to school a much stronger, better prepared student.  You should also prepare for your AP Exams now as they will be given as open-note, open-book online exams this year!

(8) Summer plans, anyone?

While deadlines for many summer programs have already passed, this would be a great time to research possible opportunities for the summer. There are a lot of great programs and internships available each summer and, even if we are still amid the COVID-19 threat, some of these opportunities may take place in a virtual format. A little dedicated investigating during your homebound spring may result in a summer to remember.

(9) Remember your relationships

While we hope that you are practicing social distancing in terms of meeting in person, please use this time to reignite relationships with friends and loved ones and to check on those who may be struggling during what seems like a dark time. FaceTime and Google Hangouts allow us to virtually look in on each other to offer a laugh or a little encouragement. Remember, some will struggle more with loneliness than they do with sickness during this epidemic. Take some time to reach out and let others know that you are concerned – it will mean more than you might suspect.

(10) Don’t overload

During the early days of the pandemic, I watched every news update, followed the stories on my phone, and read every social media post. In the process, I temporarily lost my sense of peace. Instead of drowning yourself in information about COVID-19, you might consider reading your favorite book, getting some exercise, or challenging someone to a game of Words with Friends (my screen name is Wilky75 if you feel so inclined).

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY – BETTER DAYS ARE COMING – The coming weeks hold many uncertainties – extended school closures, work from home mandates, and the suspension of many of our routine activities. Perhaps one of the best things we can do is to keep planning for the future. We are always proud to be a part of your team and hope that we will continue to make great strides together today, even while we look towards a brighter tomorrow.

For more information about CollegeThoughts, please email us at info@collegethoughts.com – we’d love to hear from you!