As part of the School’s Virtual Family Program this month, the College Advising Office hosted a discussion on Oct. 20 with journalist and higher-education author Jeff Selingo, who spoke about the shifting landscape of the college admissions process in response to the global pandemic. (A replay of this event is accessible to parents and students on the Family Program website.

Selingo spent a year embedded in three different admissions offices — the University of Washington, Emory University, and Davidson College — and followed a group of high school seniors through the process as well as behind-the-scenes players, including the marketers, the financial aid consultants, and the rankers. The experience culminated in his New York Times best-selling book Who Gets In and Why.

Selingo fielded questions from Richard Hazelton, director of college advising, about the college application process during these unprecedented times. 

Selingo pointed out that many highly selective colleges have a longtime relationship with private schools like Hotchkiss; they know the level of students who graduate, the rigor of the academics, and the quality of the programs. 

Some students may feel that they are at a disadvantage by not taking the SAT or ACT tests this year, even though many colleges are not making them a mandatory part of the application process. But admission officers know what students are facing and understand how it impacts the process, he said.

He said that the vast majority of colleges will be test-optional for the coming admission cycle, realizing the difficulty students have had taking the tests, and some colleges have gone a step further, declaring themselves “test-blind.” 

Selingo said he expects selective colleges may use their early-decision programs to fill more of their freshman and sophomore classes. He also predicts colleges and universities will accept a larger percentage of the class of 2025 from their early-decision pools if they can.

Selingo said he is always reluctant to advise students to apply early decision because it takes away their ability to compare financial aid offers from other colleges. But, if a student is sure about a school and that the financial commitment will work for the family, this might be the year to do it to get an admissions advantage.

He noted that the pandemic has thrown the college application process for a loop, creating confusion. Selingo recommended students focus what they can control: grades, recommendation letters, essays, and outside interests.

He also noted that since the pandemic hit at the end of most students' upper mid year, colleges will be looking more closely at their senior grades and at essays.

He also foresees that with the potential of continuing decline in in-person classes, colleges will see a drop in enrollment that will affect them financially. This, in turn, will result in cuts to programs and financial aid, and a move toward creating more value-added courses such as internships and skill-driven classes that place students on a more secure post-college career track.