The Leg Up Newsletter

Welcome to summer -

sort of

.

Here in the upper Midwest, it's finally broken the 80 degree mark for the first time (bringing with it humidity and lots of bugs!) and now that students are finding the struggle of the AP examinations in their rearview, many have asked how they should fill their summer break now that COVID-19 has cancelled many camp opportunities.

The short answer is to work with what's available to you - is this an opportunity to learn a new skill or pursue an idea that's been on the back burner? Is there something you're helping with around the house or barn that could turn into a larger volunteer project? What about online education in an area of interest? An old-fashioned summer reading list?

There are a lot of possibilities when you look around yourself, the key is to pick the one that interests you the most and that you'll be most likely to finish once you start. (Perseverance is highly regarded by college admission officers!)

And it's summer, so don't forget to have fun where you can.

News & Notes

Randi C. Heathman

read more >>

What will college look like this fall?

The debate between in-person college educational offerings and online/virtual teaching - as well as several hybrid models - has continued apace since the COVID-19 crisis began back in March.

As more and more state governments begin to plan for re-opening and additional information is gathered about the virus, colleges and universities have begun to make plans for their fall semesters.

Will your college be open on campus?

Will the college(s) you're considering for 2021 be virtual or in-person this fall?

The Chronicle of Higher Education

has been in touch with the leaders from colleges and universities across the country as the situation has developed and maintain a list of college plans on their website that can be accessed in order to obtain this information.

You may visit the site here

to learn what your local, regional, and chosen institutions are planning to do in the coming months (bearing in mind that state governments may force these plans to alter in the eleventh hour). 

You may wish to bookmark the site to stay on top of situations as they develop and change. Please note that the information is shared by the colleges and universities themselves and aggregated by

The Chronicle

, so it is as accurate as can be expected at the time of publication.

Learning How to Tell Your Story to College Admission Officers

by Dale Price

For many parents of high school students, the college application process can be a daunting task, full of questions. The onset of COVID-19 only adds to the anxiety. Does “test optional” really mean optional? How do pass/fail grades affect my admission perception? My internship was canceled; what can I do now? It is more important than ever to know where to go to find answers for college planning.

Current status of college admissions

COVID-19 has also impacted colleges and the ways they recruit and admit upcoming classes. Many colleges are looking at their fall enrollment numbers and altering admissions processes by changing decision dates, moving on to wait-listed students, and, in some cases, even accepting new applications. As many students choose to stay closer to home, the flagship schools in each state expect record numbers of in-state applicants. Remember that colleges want to ensure they have a strong incoming class each fall. They have all yields and an incoming class to fill. Right now, there are also a lot of unknowns too. Will school start this fall? What about sports? Until colleges fill their incoming class, most all decisions for the public will be on hold. Many colleges have already expressed that classes will start in a hybrid form and/or later than traditionally planned.

Read the full article.

Clients' Corner

Juniors

If you don't have at least one meeting on the calendar for June, contact Randi ASAP!

It's essay time! What part of your story do you most want admission officers to hear?

Seniors

Having issues with your selected college regarding COVID-19? Contact Randi.

Some COVID-19-related hardships may qualify you for financial aid. Contact Randi.