3/17/20: How COVID-19 Changes College Admissions

Whew. What a difference a few days can make. We are committed to equipping our parents and students with accurate news information regarding #COVID-19. At what's shaping up to the most difficult college admissions season yet, we will continue to share information on testing, deadlines, and application processes as we learn more. The Common Application and Coalition Application platforms are closely monitoring the situation and will be in touch directly with college counselors over the next few weeks with specific changes to deadlines or processes.

With regards to SAT/ACT/AP Exam testing, below is curated Information from a recent briefing from the ACT Newsroom that has outlined immediate changes to standardized testing scheduling. 

Throughout this time of uncertainty, we aim to be a voice of reason and hope to our WLG families. Please email directly if you have any specific admissions-related questions. Stay safe and healthy. Your family remains in my prayers as we navigate this uncharted territory. 

College Admissions:

• Common Application and Coalition Application platforms will continue to update college counselors in the coming weeks as we learn more about how COVID-19 may impact deadlines.

• We do anticipate changes to campus visits as most colleges have closed due to the spread of the pandemic. A lot of campuses have opted to offer virtual tours on their websites instead. This means that demonstrated interest will mean so much more this admissions season than in previous cycles.

ACT Scheduling:

• ACT has rescheduled the April 4, 2020 national ACT test date to June 13, 2020 in response to concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus.

• ACT will communicate directly with all students currently registered for the April 4, 2020 ACT test. All students registered for the April 4 test date will receive an email from ACT in the next few days informing them of the postponement and instructions for next steps.

• ACT is committed to making every effort to help those students impacted by this test date change, particularly those high school seniors who are facing deadlines for fall 2020 college admission.

SAT Scheduling:

• In response to the rapidly evolving situation around the coronavirus (COVID-19), College Board is canceling the May 2, 2020 SAT administration. 

• Students who already registered for May, whose March test centers were closed, or who do not receive March scores because of any irregularities will receive refunds.

• College Board will provide future additional SAT testing opportunities for students assoon as possible in place of canceled administrations. 

• College Board have not yet canceled the June 6, 2020 SAT administration and will continue to assess its status, with the health and safety of students and educators as their top priority.

• College Board is working with local partners, and we’ll soon share information about weekday school-based SAT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 administrations scheduled for this spring.

AP Exam Scheduling:

• The AP Program is closely monitoring the updates and guidance about the coronavirus (COVID-19) provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other leading health organizations.

• The AP Exam administration remains as scheduled for schools that will be open on May 4–8 and 11–15, with late testing scheduled for May 20–22.