We are getting a number of questions related to COVID-19 and how this challenging time will play out in future applicants’ admission review.
Short Answer – Don’t Worry! This continues to be a challenging time for everyone, but your college application will not be something to add worry over.
Due to the unprecedented effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on students, their families, and their schools, we are happy to share that the CommonApp has added sections to the application to allow you and your counselors to share how COVID-19 has affected your educational experience. The sections will be optional to fill out, but will provide ample space to share how your life changed, while still allowing you to use the rest of the application as you would in any other year. In other words, you don’t need to re-think your essay!
For Applicants:
According to the CommonApp website, this is the question you will see:
Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces.
- Do you wish to share anything on this topic? Y/N
- Please use this space to describe how these events have impacted you.
The question will be optional and will appear in the Additional Information section of the application. The response length will be limited to 250 words.
For Counselors:
The CommonApp will also provide a section for counselors to discuss how COVID-19 has affected the following aspects of their schools:
- Grading scales and policies
- Graduation requirements
- Instructional methods
- Schedules and course offerings
- Testing requirements
- Your academic calendar
- Other extenuating circumstances
For more information, please visit the CommonApp website here: https://www.commonapp.org/blog/COVID-19-question-common-app
