“Developments in the College Process” by Emilia Sawicka ’25

The college application process has drastically changed in a short period of time. With alterations in acts regarding the application, as well as differences in the process itself, many students need help navigating through it. 

Beginning with modifications in actions, in 2021, the FAFSA Simplification Act was passed to remove questions about Selective Service registration and drug convictions. Additionally, it added questions about applicants’ sex, race, and ethnicity, which have no effect on student aid eligibility.

In June of 2023, the Supreme Court struck down Affirmative Action, declaring that race cannot be a factor when examining applications. Nevertheless, this law doesn’t seem to worry schools. They’re making an effort to ask certain questions on applications as a loophole and as long as a student includes their race, a school can take it under consideration. Several colleges across the country have stated that they’re committed to campus diversity and are sorting out how this decision will affect them. However, many expressed certainty that they will search for legal ways to bring a diverse mix of students into their campuses.

There have been extensive changes in all areas, however, most dramatically in the process itself. The exam that every junior dreads has now evolved with technology. Starting in the Spring of 2024, the SAT will be digital, completely doing away with its pen-and-paper format. Though, this isn’t the only major alteration that College Board is making to the SAT. The test time will be shortened from a three-hour period to roughly two hours and fifteen minutes. The test is split into two sections, Reading and Writing, and Math. In each of these sections, there are two modules. Depending on how participants do in the first module will alter the difficulty of the second. Additionally, the reading passages in the first section will be shorter, and the correlating questions will be more direct. As well as the math section having no designated calculator module.

During the pandemic, many students weren’t given the option to take the SAT. With this, colleges found that the quality of their applicants, and later students, had not decreased from a lack of standardized test scores. For the past year, various colleges have decided to go test-optional. Many have decided that how well a student may fit in should be examined by graded or personal writing assignments. However, this does not take away from the exam’s importance. This system provides students the ability to decide if they find the test an accurate reflection of their academic ability. A lack of scores won’t be held against a student. College rankings use SAT scores to pinpoint an average, and so if this piece of data is missing, it doesn’t lower the chances of a student’s acceptance. However, if applicants decide not to submit their scores, for any reason, more weight will be placed on other parts of their application. An outstanding application as strong or stronger than others is crucial to be considered. When applying, it is also valuable to examine the percentages of those who were accepted without an SAT score. When finding that you rank lower than the fifty percentile, it’s best to either retake the exam, or not submit your score. It is important to keep in mind that an SAT score is not a representation of one’s value or success rate.

What factors create an outstanding application? A high GPA is necessary, especially when applying to selective or Ivy League schools. A combination of extracurriculars as well as charity work, or if preferred, a job, adds personality for said applicant. Sports take up a large portion of one’s time, which during challenging years, becomes all the more impressive. Lastly, at least two letters of recommendation, as well as one from a college advisor, always helps college admission officers to better understand the behavior and dreams of a student. However, it is essential to keep an application organized. Community service hours must be spent heading in a certain direction, rather than in activities that have no correlation to each other. Spending one’s time on what they believe colleges will find impressive lacks originality. There should be a clear focus and story to be told of one’s history and goals for the future. Most importantly, an application must be genuine of one’s aspirations. There must be a sense of passion and excitement within each part of the application.


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