Online applications have made it really easy to apply to college. Applicants no longer need their best penmanship or—imagine this—to find a typewriter to fill them out. On the Common Application alone, an applicant can access roughly 900 colleges and universities. But how many applications should students submit? And is there such a thing as too many?

This week is all about applications! Our Top 5 Series is back, and we have two top 5’s for listeners: advice for seniors heading into application season (especially in the age of COVID) and for getting organized and ready for the financial aid application process. We’re also checking in on the rising senior summer schedule we introduced back in June and making suggestions for a fall timeline.

by Sally Ganga, former admissions officer at the University of Chicago

In my day-to-day discussions with families, they regularly ask how to handle the educational disruptions forced by the COVID-19 pandemic and how colleges will view those disruptions. The conversation almost always turns to online schooling. Some students do not feel comfortable returning to in-person schooling in the fall even if it is available. Others want to supplement their in-person classes, and online coursework is the obvious option. But are there respected and legitimate online options? And how will colleges view online schooling?

by Kara Courtois, former admissions officer at Barnard College

Amidst the uncertainty of what his first year of college will look like, I got the chance to catch up with a recent high school graduate, Ben. Knowing what he knows now, I asked if he would share any tips for high school students, including specific advice for rising seniors embarking on the college application process. Here’s what Ben had to share.

by Mary Sue Youn, former admissions officer at Barnard College

Have you always known you wanted to be a doctor? Maybe you have always been fascinated by medicine, or perhaps this is a more recent but intense interest. As you begin your college search, you may become interested in an accelerated medical program where you apply in high school to be admitted to a seven- or eight-year track to obtain both your Bachelor’s degree and your Doctorate in Medicine. But is this type of program the right fit for you?

by Mary Sue Youn, former admissions officer at Barnard College

As we talk to families, a version of the same question keeps popping up over and over again:

“What will the impact be on the class of 2021 if a high number of the class of 2020 takes a gap year?”

A “gap year” involves delaying enrollment at a college for one year, oftentimes for travel, volunteer, or employment experiences. Students must ask their enrolling college for permission to use this option, and generally students are not permitted to take courses at another college during their gap year. Annually, about 3% of American college students opt for a gap year, but recent articles have touted that the number of gap years will skyrocket in the age of coronavirus. If 30% of the incoming class didn’t enroll this fall and held off until next year, it would certainly mean that colleges would have 30% less spots for next year’s applicants, right?

How’s that college essay coming? Not well? Then check out this insight from former Reed College admissions officer Ian Fisher on how to approach your personal statement in this installment of the College Coach video series, Ask the College Admissions Expert. Ian lets you know what college admissions officers are looking for in an application essay, how to choose a good college essay topic, and how to get started.

News articles, parents, and college themselves can often focus on the importance of earning As in high school classes. But the reality is that many, many of the students applying to college every year are earning Bs and Cs. We’ll discuss considerations and college pathways for those students, who are far more common than those earning straight As. In Office Hours, we’re answering your college admissions questions.

The college admission process may have recently wrapped up for high school seniors, but, for underclassmen, the fun is just beginning. With nearly 4,000 colleges to choose from in the United States, how can a high school student even begin narrowing down their options?

by Lauren Randle, former admissions officer at Georgetown University

It’s been a tough few months, but you weathered it, and the school year is finally wrapping up. For the juniors, you might be feeling exhausted from all that the last semester brought and the ways you’ve had to adapt. My sincerest hope for you is that you’re able to return to school next fall and resume the things that make a high school experience: activities, close friendships, traditions. I want you to have that time to enjoy as a senior with as little stress as possible.