When COVID hit in March 2020, it disrupted life for everyone across the globe, including college admissions. Standardized test dates were cancelled, rescheduled, and cancelled again, and ultimately more than 1200 colleges and universities made them an optional part of their admissions process. We’ll update you on test optional policies for the 2021-2022 admissions cycle and share our thoughts on whether or not juniors should still plan to take them. In Office Hours, we’re answering your college admissions and finance questions.

by Emily Toffelmire, former admissions officer at University of Southern California

This is part two in our award series. Check out our previous post and stay tuned for part three.

The 2020-2021 admission cycle has been a beast. It’s caused even more anxiety and stress than would normally be expected, and it’s laid bare inequity of our education system as well as the fragile state of so many of our institutions of higher learning. It’s been hard to identify any slices of good news out there but I do consider the move to test optional and test free admission policies to be a win—a silver lining of a mean and ugly cloud. And there are other silver linings. Despite the enormous pressure and unpredictability of the last year, many admission offices saw 2020 as an opportunity to improve the work they do: to become more accessible to more types of students; to upend years of the same old, same old in their app review process; and to increase transparency when it comes to that process.

by Shannon Vasconcelos, former financial aid officer at Tufts University

February’s here, and in Hollywood, that means awards season—the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, and the Oscars—and a chance to celebrate the best films of the year. Now, maybe this year spent in quarantine has affected our brain chemistry, but, here at Bright Horizons College Coach, we’re beginning to think we could give Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie a run for their money on the red carpet. Therefore, we’ve decided to break out the virtual glitz and glamour, and launch our own contribution to awards season. Over the next week, we will celebrate the best and brightest in the world of college admissions and finance. 

There have been a few recent court cases related to the use of affirmative action in college admissions. But what is affirmative action in this case, and how is it really used in admissions? Jamiere Abney, Coordinator of Outreach for Opportunity & Inclusion at Colgate University joins us to share more. If you’re worried that it’s too late to apply to college this year, you’re in luck—it’s definitely not! We have advice and information on your options. Finally, in part one of a two-part series, we’re talking all things financial aid award letters, including and especially, how to decipher the information.

We often mention the difference between being competitive in a highly selective applicant pool versus being compelling, which is the difference between who gets in and who does not. We’re sharing actual examples of compelling students we’ve worked with recently who have had success at this level. For those finding college too expensive even with scholarships and financial aid or those who want a different college experience, we have information about options to have your degree funded by your employer. We’re also discussing who qualifies for in-state tuition, who doesn’t, and some options for ways in which you might qualify even if you technically live in another state.

Have you read Jeff Selingo’s book, Who Gets In and Why: A Year in College Admissions? Well our team has, and we’ll be reviewing the book in this episode. Find out what we think he got right and if we think he missed some nuances—or maybe even got it completely wrong—based on our insights into college admissions as former decision makers.

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

Did you know that there are two medical degrees that lead to becoming a physician?

There is the MD (allopathic) and the DO (osteopathic). Application requirements for these degrees are similar: they both require the MCAT, experience in the field in the form of clinical exposure and research, and pre-requisite courses. Each degree’s medical training is similar: both are four-year medical school programs followed by three or more years of residency. Post-graduation outcomes are also similar: each program’s graduates are physicians who are trained and licensed to practice medicine – prescribing medicine, performing surgery, and practicing in specialty areas.

Maybe you want to take it easy for the last half of senior year. Your college applications are in, right? So what harm will dropping a class do at this point? Before you make any hasty moves, check out this video tip from former University of Pennsylvania admissions officer, Elizabeth Heaton. In the latest installment of the video series, Ask the College Admissions Expert, Beth answers the question, “Can I drop a class?”

As admissions decisions start to come in, you may receive scholarship offers from some of your schools. Did you know you can negotiate for more? Learn more about the dos and don’ts of the scholarship negotiation process. For those finding college too expensive even with scholarships and financial aid or those who want a different college experience, we have information about options to have your degree funded by your employer. Tune in for another story from our team. Hear about how one of our college finance experts started with an associate’s degree before getting his bachelor’s.

We talk a lot about what to do as part of your college admissions process. This week, we have some cautionary tales of mistakes some have made in the hopes that you can avoid making similar bloopers. In Officer Hours, we’re answering your college admissions and finance questions.