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College Admissions 2020-21: Changes in Light of COVID-19 for the Top 50

The COVID-19 pandemic has played a huge role in students’ lives over the past six months. Tests were canceled, classes were moved online, and life in general was disrupted in various ways. To accommodate students’ needs, many top universities have changed their expectations for college admissions 2020-21.

As you are probably already aware, almost all of the top schools have switched to test optional policies for the upcoming college admissions 2020-21 cycle, with a few even trying out 3-year pilot programs. Aside from changes in testing, universities have changed deadlines, updated their application platforms, and adjusted academic and extracurricular expectations of candidates. The changes implemented by the top 50 universities are outlined in the table below.

Changes in College Admissions 2020-21 for the Top 50 National Universities

When it comes to college admissions 2020-21, remember that schools understand that you’ve gone through a lot. All colleges have therefore stated that they will continue to evaluate applications holistically and will take pass/fail classes into account. For example, Northeastern states, “Northeastern respects each school district’s pedagogy and will be thoughtful about the impact of Spring 2020 as we work with students entering as first-years and as we evaluate students for admission in the coming years.” Meanwhile Yale says, “We hope to reassure all future college applicants that your community’s response to the outbreak—and your personal circumstances associated with it—will not negatively affect your chances of admission to Yale.” All schools have also arranged for virtual touring and information sessions that are available on the schools’ individual websites. 

Other Considerations

On a similar note, colleges will also be understanding of the fact that students’ extracurricular activities were disrupted. Even if your activities may have stopped operating in person, it’s crucial to show how you continued pursuing your interests remotely regardless of the circumstances.

Schools are also taking into account current events as they consider college admissions 2020-21. Many colleges, including NYU and Carnegie Mellon, have also clarified that if a student was disciplined by their high school or local authorities for participating in peaceful protests over the summer or fall, their application decision would not be negatively impacted.

While it has been a confusing time to apply to college, thanks to many of the changes made in college admissions 2020-21, students have options to be more flexible when it comes to policies in grading, extracurriculars, and test scores. However, this is not an excuse to slack off; you must still try to the best of your ability. Make sure you pay attention to the early action and early decision deadlines, as well as regular deadlines, and submit your materials on time.. You should also take advantage of the Common App COVID-19 question if your year was drastically affected by the pandemic. Colleges will do their best to understand. Good luck!