It’s been a few weeks since I’ve blogged, and that’s been a deliberate choice. The past few months have seen disruptions on a world-wide scale, leaving no-one untouched and the too-long days have been crammed into too-short weeks as I’ve focused my energies on navigating newly unchartered waters of the college application process. As many articles as I read, webinars I attend, and podcasts I listen to in an effort to offer informed advice to the families I work with, all too often the only answer I have is a painfully honest, “I’m not sure.”
How can you, with confidence, tell students what they should do to present the strongest application they can when much of the advice you’ve given in the past is unhelpful, irrelevant, or both? Take the SATs three times – no longer possible in most instances. Find opportunities to be involved in productive and meaningful activities – difficult when clubs aren’t meeting and volunteer opportunities are limited. And the oft-repeated recommendation to take the most challenging course feasible is met with blank stares as students consider the realities of classes that Zoom for an hour or two a week.
In truth, the fundamental advice I give my students is the same as it has always been: Do your best and be your best. But these last few months there’s been a twist. Telling students to take classes that challenge and inspire them also means finding other opportunities for independent learning. More than being involved in their communities, I encourage students to take on responsibilities around the house, help neighbors, and find ways to reach out to those in need. And with the time they might have spent preparing for the SAT or ACT I encourage students to do things that are more personally fulfilling and deeply engaging.
One initiative to redefine the ethos of college application process to make it less stressful, more student-centered, and more sane is the Making Caring Common Project. Their recent statement, signed by 318 admissions deans (and counting), describes out what those colleges value in their applicants. Collectively, it’s a powerful acknowledgement that the college process has lost sight of what is truly important. It reads, “We are keenly aware that students across the country and the world are experiencing many uncertainties and challenges. We primarily wish to underscore our commitment to equity, and to encourage in students self-care, balance, meaningful learning, and care for others.”
To that end, these colleges affirm that they are prioritizing the following:
1. Self-Care. Recognizing that these times are putting strains on students and their families in many different ways, they encourage students “to be gentle with themselves.”
2. Academic Work. While a student’s academic work continues to matter, achievement and performance will be evaluated in the context of the obstacles that the student has faced. Further, no student will be disadvantaged by their lack of access to standardized tests or their ability to visit campuses.
3. Service and Contributions to Others. When and if able, taking advantage of opportunities to be involved and make a difference during these times of even greater need will be viewed as a valuable way for students to spend their time and energy.
4. Family Contributions. In many families, students have taken on new or greater responsibilities around their homes including caring for siblings or infirm relatives, doing more household chores, and even earning money to support the family. Colleges view substantial family contributions as very important, and this only has a positive impact on the application review.
5. Extracurricular and Summer Activities. Recognizing that many summer plans had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, no student will be disadvantaged for not engaging in extracurricular activities during this time.
In effect, without some of the traditional boxes to check (Made lacrosse team captain, check. Starred in the spring musical. Check. Got a summer internship in a lab. Check. Broke a 1450 on the SAT. Check.) students need to decide for themselves how they will measure their own progress towards their own goals. And, through this process, hopefully they’ll learn a little bit more about themselves, what they value, the roles they play, and the full reach of their potential. In the end, that information is more useful to colleges when deciding if an applicant is a good fit. But, more importantly, this marks a shift in the focus of the college application process from developing the best application to developing the best person. So, now my advice to students? Do your best with the resources and opportunities available to you and be your best in service to others and yourself.