By Emmy Ribero
The class of 2021 had a very difficult year. Having to be adaptable and learn remotely has been a challenge in itself, then having to go through the college application process with little to no guidance was even harder. The last punch to the face for the class of 2021 was those deferrals and rejections from colleges they were expecting to get into. So why have state schools like UMD suddenly become so hard to get accepted to? What can be done when applying to help better your chances at getting in?
It is true that application pools have become increasingly bigger in 2020, which could be caused by a number of reasons. A unique circumstance for 2020 was how most schools implemented test-optional policies. Previously, a teen may have not applied to schools because of their test scores. Now, the number was not stopping them from applying, many had the “why not?” mentality towards it. Mr. Vangeli, a guidance counselor at River Hill speculates that the increase in applicants is because “the test optional policy made it easier for students that do not test well to apply to more competitive colleges and possibly be accepted than in the past.” With this surge in applications, with no change in the amount of spots available, more qualified applicants had to be waitlisted or rejected. It’s worth noting that schools have a cap on the amount of kids they accept from a single high school. This could have played a role in particularly the University of Maryland and other popular school’s acceptances for River Hill. Additionally, class of 2020 also filled spots in the freshman undergraduate class. A record number of students that would have started in the fall of 2020 instead took the year off because of the pandemic. Many of them felt that college tuition was too much for them to have the experience online.
Not only did the applicant pool increase in population, colleges also raised expectations for the admitted students. Standards for students have only been growing higher for colleges, and instead of a solid transcript of above average grades, students are expected to have high rigor classes with all As, if not As and Bs. Students also need to show a balanced schedule with extracurricular activities, all while maintaining perfect grades. It is clear to see that the expectations of students are significantly higher than they ever have been and this increasing trend is only continuing.
The class of 2022 will also be entering a new and unfamiliar college application process. There are many unknowns when it comes to what they should expect. Mr. Vangeli offers advice for juniors, “I think the class of 2022 should make sure that they apply to many schools that would be considered safety schools, schools where they exceed the requirements published to ensure they get some acceptances.” This is not a new suggestion, but it is more crucial that students do this step more than ever. The state schools and acceptances have been more unpredictable and students should take this into consideration when coming up with their list. This does not mean that students shouldn’t apply to any rich schools or more competitive schools. But when doing so, Mr. Vangeli suggests, “ The more competitive colleges look for many things beyond grades and test scores, so having a special talent can be helpful. Also, maybe doing something in high schools that others have not to make them stand out…I say just be yourself, show your passions and have teachers and others that know you well write letters of recommendations. Also, visiting the college, requesting an interview, and attending information sessions for specific colleges should help.”
Unfortunately, becoming waitlisted for colleges is more common than some would think. This is not a rejection, so don’t lose hope. These college waitlists are more flexible than most would believe. If you find yourself on a waitlist for a school that you were very interested in, “write a letter or email to the admissions counselor for our area. Also, maybe requesting a google meet with the counselor for our area may help. Demonstrating that the college you are waitlisted for is your top choice may help.” These are not guaranteed ways to get yourself accepted into your waitlisted school, but it does not hurt to demonstrate interest to move up in the waitlist.
The pandemic has affected almost every aspect of our lives, especially student’s academic careers. It is important to make wise decisions and take precautions when sending applications to schools. Just remember, it is not the end of the world if you don’t get into a school, everything is unpredictable at the moment and the decision does not define you.