by Julie Wolf, Guest Writer

My oldest child graduated from high school in 2019. For her, the time from junior year to graduation was spent seeking out college fairs and admissions information sessions in our area. We toured and explored campuses when possible. Virtual tours were already a thing then. They just weren’t our thing—or the only thing.

Fast-forward to 2020, and on to 2021, and the virtual tour (or virtual admissions session, or virtual college fair) is practically all we’ve got. My current high school junior has amassed Zoom invitations for myriad online admissions events. Colleges and universities have adapted their “customer service” to fit these physically distanced times, and the shows they once took on the road now come to our venue of choice: bedroom, dining room table, living room couch.

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

Just a fraction of the universities and colleges in the country have made formal announcements about their COVID vaccine policies for students, but some clear trends are emerging. According to Inside Higher Ed, “many institutions mandating the immunizations for students fit a certain profile: more often private than public, selective, located in a Democratic-leaning state.”

by Lauren Randle, former admissions officer at Georgetown University

This year, perhaps more than ever, words matter. Your teacher’s words. About you. I’m talking about letters of recommendation, and the reason I am discussing this with high school juniors earlier than usual, is that this year presents a unique set of challenges (understatement of the century?). But it’s not just about recommendation letters. It’s about human connection—even in our current virtual world—and why college campuses may particularly appreciate this in prospective students. To the juniors out there, know that your current teachers have unique insight on how you conduct yourself and your learning in a challenging time, and colleges will be listening.

by Elizabeth Heaton, former admissions officer at University of Pennsylvania

The news on college applications can feel a little scary this year—applications are up in huge year-over-year numbers at Brown (26%), Oregon State (40%), UC Berkeley (28%), University of Pennsylvania (34%) and Colgate (100%!). How to account for these increases?

by Shannon Vasconcelos, former financial aid officer at Tufts University

If you’ve been within shouting distance of a TV, computer, tablet, phone, or newspaper today, you’ve likely heard that Congress passed an omnibus spending bill last night, including a COVID relief package. What you may not have heard much about yet is a number of significant changes to federal financial aid programs included in the legislation.  More details will be forthcoming, and the bill is still pending President Trump’s signature, but, for now, here are the major provisions in the bill that may directly or indirectly affect how students and parents pay for college:

by Shannon Vasconcelos, former financial aid officer at Tufts University

Important news for student loan borrowers coming out of the Department of Education this weekend!

Secretary of Education Betsy Devos announced the extension of the automatic loan forbearance for federal student loan borrowers through January 31, 2021.  This forbearance was originally granted by the CARES Act and was scheduled to end September 30, 2020. President Trump later extended the forbearance by executive action through December 31, 2020, and Devos’ latest action ensures that struggling borrowers will not need to make payments prior to the new administration taking office in late January.

Campus visits are an invaluable way to learn about colleges—but they’re simply not an option right now at the majority of schools. So, how can you figure out if a college is a fit even if you can’t experience it in person?

A guest post from Sabrina Manville, Co-founder and COO of Edmit

This fall, students of all ages have transitioned to virtual online learning in some format as a result of the global COVID pandemic—some by choice, and some not. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, which is tracking college reopening plans, 44% of colleges are fully or primarily online whereas only 27% are operating fully or primarily in-person (as of the time of writing). The remaining colleges are offering a mix of hybrid or blended options.

by Mary Sue Youn, former admissions officer at Barnard College

In July, I wrote in a blog post about a question we get often from current senior families:

“What will happen if a higher percentage of the class of 2020 takes a gap year? Won’t that mean that there will be fewer spots for the class of 2021?”

by Sara Calvert-Kubrom, former admissions officer at Lewis & Clark College

As we field calls from high school seniors and their parents, we have noticed that there is substantial confusion and uncertainty about what “test optional” is, and how to navigate the college admission process during this time of extensive SAT and ACT exam cancellations. Here are some tips and insights to demystify the landscape of standardized testing and college admission for this year’s seniors and to empower you to make informed decisions: