04/13/2020
Higher Education Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19)-
Admissions & Enrollment
Bans on large gatherings on campus have forced many colleges to postpone campus tours and admissions events. A survey of enrollment officials from EAB found that 36% of campuses are experiencing a decline in admissions visit requests. Several schools have begun planning and using virtual webinars and tours to support prospective students in the admissions process. The EAB survey found that 62% of campuses are adding video conferences and 46% are adding social media platform live events.
Many colleges typically send acceptance and financial aid notification letters in the spring, and May 1 is National College Decision Day, typically the deadline for students to declare their intent to attend a school and reserve a spot for the fall. Given the uncertainty around admissions and limitations on travel, more than 250 schools have extended this deadline to June 1 according to ACCEPT Group, a non-profit which is tracking admission deadline changes. Some institutions have extended deadlines even further. The University of Hawaii system said it would consider applications until August 1, 2020.
The outbreak has also disrupted the admissions process related to testing. The next scheduled nationwide tests of both the ACT and SAT have been cancelled. The College Board which administers the SAT, cancelled the May 2 test as well as the makeup test for earlier cancellations in March. Students who registered for both tests will receive refunds. The ACT postponed its April 4 test date to June 13. The College Board has also announced plans to allow students to take Advanced Placement (AP) tests from home. Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the GRE, has also announced an at-home version of the exam will be available to students who wish to take the test for graduate and professional schools. International Baccalaureate (IB) exams in May were also cancelled. Because of disruptions in testing, several schools have announced plans to remove ACT/SAT requirements for admissions and become test-optional.