Hi, I am a high school student currently entering my senior year. Of course Covid has interfered with the plans of many students just like me regarding college apps and tests. My ACT test date, in particular, has been postponed multiple times, and I’m beginning to worry. Certain schools are becoming test optional concerning applications; while this may be beneficial to certain students, I believe it puts me at a disadvantage. I have a cumulative GPA of 4.0, involved in a multitude of extracurriculars, and have taken multiple AP, dual enrollment, and honors courses; however, I attend an extremely rural and underfunded school that cannot provide me with sufficient resources, guidance, or accelerated courses to exemplify the effort I have put into my studies. I mention this because I fear that as schools become test optional, they will focus much more on the courses students take. I’m afraid that if my ACT test continues to be postponed indefinitely, I will not be able to submit my score, or at the very least, I won’t have time to take it again if I want to. Just as well, I am unnerved by the thought that admissions officers will see that I have not taken as many accelerated courses as other applicants, assume I’m not an exceptionally promising student and reject me. I hope that I haven’t come off as too self pitying or whiny, but I suffer from clinical anxiety and contemplating on this issue has resulted in a great deal of stress for me. Any feedback would be extremely appreciated. Thank you!
@OMendez your application will be viewed in context of your school. The question is not how many APs did you take, rather did you take enough to receive the “most rigorous” designation from your GC/school. Coming from a rural state or county can help (even if slightly) admissions, depending on the college. You have no control over the ACT; if it becomes available, take it. If not, it is out of your control, so no point wasting time worrying about what may happen. Keep doing practice problems and reviewing to keep the material fresh and focus on your application essays; those are things in your control. Good luck!
@OMendez Changing SAT requirements will place weight on many more factors beyond course schedule - things like extracurriculars, interviews, etc. You can read more about how the optional nature of the SAT will impact evaluation criteria here by a former Brown admissions officer (https://thedecision.substack.com/p/admissions-is-changing-and-you-should). Hope this helps reduce some of your anxiety!