Prioritizing Self-Care during the 2020 Admissions Cycle

During the past several months as we’ve all done our best to adapt to our stressful and unpredictable new world, I continue to stand in awe of the young people with whom I have the privilege of working. What began as a short-term experiment in how to reimagine daily life has stretched into a protracted ordeal with no real end in sight.

At the beginning of the crisis, students’ concerns were more predictable and mundane—what will happen if we run out of toilet paper, and will the world stop turning if the SAT is canceled? But over time, I’ve noticed a definite shift. As I’ve gotten to know my students better and am now reading early essay drafts, I see that their questions have become much more reflective and far-reaching: What type of society do I want, and how can I contribute to a better future? They are not asking these questions to impress an admissions team or jump ahead of their peers in an imaginary race. They are genuinely grappling with their identities and re-assessing their personal priorities.

Perhaps rapid maturation is a predictable byproduct of the pandemic, and self-reflection most certainly has its benefits. However, the long-term effects of prolonged stress and anxiety may be substantial, so I continue to stress the importance of self-care during this time. I’ve been encouraging my students to unplug, exercise, and find ways to connect with friends and their communities safely. But anxiety about college admissions remains high during these unprecedented times, so I was thrilled to see that approximately 300 deans from universities throughout the country came together with a unified message in their report entitled “Care Counts in Crisis: College Admissions Deans Respond to COVID-19.”

The bottom line of the statement is that colleges intend to remain as flexible as possible during the upcoming admissions cycle, and students need to prioritize caring for themselves, their families, and their neighbors above cramming for standardized tests and padding their resumes. If there are young people in your life grappling with college concerns, please help reinforce this message, and remind them that they will play a critical role in contributing to the world they’re envisioning for the future.