Trends During the 2020-2021 Admissions Cycle
It’s difficult to believe that a year ago at this time I was working with my clients as I had in any other year. We were discussing preparation for standardized tests, planning for college visits, and exploring activities that aligned with their goals for college and potential careers. Like any other year, I was touring multiple colleges and looking forward to what would become my final tour of 2020, which included eight universities in and around Washington DC and Maryland. In fact, by the time I boarded my plane home from that last tour, the world was rapidly changing and becoming more frightening each day.
When the world closed down, I watched the young people on my caseload grapple with a level of uncertainty that was truly mind-boggling. All faced canceled activities, newly launched online classes, an unpredictable testing environment, and worst of all, extreme isolation and fear. My seniors missed proms, graduations, and countless other traditions, including, at least in most cases, the typical college send-off. My juniors constructed college lists primarily consisting of schools they couldn’t visit without knowing when life might begin to normalize. We revamped resumes, explored remote opportunities, and brainstormed essays in a world turned upside down. We also did a bit of guesswork, uncertain how colleges would adapt during a time of crisis.
And just as my colleagues have done, I have spent the year eagerly absorbing every tidbit I could learn about the evolving landscape of college admissions. While we will not have a completely clear picture until several months from now, several trends have emerged to date:
Application numbers at many highly competitive universities were drastically higher than in previous years. While this was fairly predictable given the test optional policies adopted by most institutions, the avalanche of applications made it even more challenging for colleges to select applicants and for students to anticipate where they might be accepted.
Uncertain how many students will choose to attend, colleges are reportedly deferring and waitlisting more applicants than in previous years. This has increased students’ anxiety levels this spring, and colleges are reportedly using a variety of strategies to entice students to commit earlier than necessary.
Application numbers at less competitive colleges are down. Reportedly, many students in lower income brackets may have faced too many hardships to apply to college at all, which is cause for alarm and could be yet another tremendously harmful impact of the pandemic.
Smaller private colleges are experiencing mounting financial pressures as the pandemic drags on. Some colleges have been forced to close or merge with larger institutions, and we must all monitor these developments carefully over the coming months.
Now that vaccines are rolling out, we are all eagerly anticipating a return to some version of normalcy, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that this will be a slow process. Just as we did last year, we must carefully monitor developments in the admissions landscape and adapt accordingly. And just as I was last year, I remain grateful to have the opportunity to serve my students during these stressful times.
Another lesson I’ve taken from this experience is that working with students beginning at an earlier age is very helpful. College planning is much less stressful given more time to reflect and explore, so I am currently enrolling students in my classes of 2023 and 2024. But if you have a current junior and are in need of assistance, I do have a few spots remaining in my class of 2022. Wherever you are in your journey, stay safe, and I hope the road ahead is a little less bumpy!
