As we hit the third anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve invited two guests, Amy Seeley and Cristiana Quinn, to discuss the effects it has had on college admissions. This includes both how students apply to college and how colleges determine who to admit. The last three years have felt like the wild west to those who work with college-bound families, so we know it feels even more so to you. Our conversation details the changes we’ve made to the advice we share with parents navigating the sometimes-bumpy road of helping their students get into college.

EPISODE NOTES:

With the rise of test-optional policies, the college admissions process has become more unpredictable for colleges, who are trying to determine which students will be successful on their campus. The average number of applications that students submit has greatly increased since 2020 and therefore colleges are inundated with applications making their job even more challenging.

On the college side, dealing with more applicants has made demonstrated interest and yield protection play a bigger role. Each college has a different idea of what they want their freshman class to look like: in-state and out-of-state students, international students, diversity, athletes, and legacy students to fill their roster. These priorities may change yearly based on leadership changes and more.
Families and colleges alike are taking more strategic approaches with early action, early decision 1 and 2, and regular decision. Early decision has become more selective since COVID, with acceptance rates dropping and more colleges filling a higher percentage of their seats during early decision. There have been new challenges in securing on-campus housing. It’s important to pay close attention to the changing rules around housing and enrollment deposit deadlines.

In addition to housing, your family ought to carefully check the admissions and financial aid pages of each school's website for important information about merit aid and other deadlines. Listen in and your family will have expert advice on reducing stress during the application process, minimizing the college list, and engaging with standardized testing despite the prevalence of test-optional policies.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Launch College & Career Clarity Course

College Admission Advisors, LLC

Seeley Test Pros

Tests and the Rest

Podcast Episodes Mentioned:

#037 ACT-SAT Test Optional Admission Data

#042 Will Grade Inflation Hurt Your Teen?

#052 Demonstrated Interest: How It Can Help Guide Your College Search

TIMELINE:

[00:53] Intro
[02:15] Introducing The Episode Guests
[02:55] Changes To The College Application

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co