Happy Friday! A note that our office will be closed on Monday for MLK, Jr. Day. Have a great long weekend and be safe!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

PROTECTING COLLEGE CAMPUSES FROM COVID-19

A new study this week found that combining social distancing, mandatory mask-wearing, and routine testing would prevent 92-96% of COVID-19 infection on college campuses. Interestingly, the report asserts that this method would be more effective than online-only classes, which would only prevent about 63% of cases. It is worth noting, however, that this study used a computer model to make its predictions - and actual college students are likely to follow these rules imperfectly.

COVID-19 FUNDS RELEASED TO COLLEGES

The Department of Education released over $20 billion in new funds for colleges and universities yesterday. Even more funding could be on its way, as Biden’s new COVID-19 relief plan includes $35 billion in aid for these institutions. This round of relief will enable schools to implement safety measures, as well as providing more flexibility for emergency grants to individual students. Unlike the last round of funding, it will also be available even to students who are not academically eligible for federal financial aid. Curious about how much funding your school will get? The CDC released a list of aid received by each individual institution.

NEW COVID-19 DISCIPLINARY MEASURES AT MICHIGAN

The University of Michigan released a plan to hold most classes remotely during the winter semester - and as you know, we will continue to share these new plans with you as colleges decide on their new schedules. But in addition to the changes for classes, Michigan’s plan also outlines stricter disciplinary measures for students who do not follow social distancing and masking rules on campus. College students should make sure that they are familiar with the disciplinary measures at their own institution - we have seen COVID-19 disciplinary measures cause issues for many students, and you don’t want to be one of them!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Those who were paying attention to college news in 2016 may remember Emma Sulkowicz, the Columbia University student who protested Columbia’s handling of her alleged rape by carrying a mattress around campus. Around the same time, Ben Feibleman, a Columbia student, was accused of sexually assaulting a female classmate. He was found guilty and expelled without a diploma. But as this New York Times article recounts, Columbia recently settled a lawsuit with Feibleman by restoring his diploma, even as the university stood by its initial verdict in the case. This complicated case reveals the implications of changing rules surrounding sexual assault on campus - Feibleman’s case was made possible by Trump administration’s regulations for due process for those accused of sexual assault, and this is an interesting case to consider for the incoming Biden administration as they debate whether to roll back those regulations.

This article from Jon Boeckenstedt for the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) is a must-read for all those involved in the college admissions process. Boeckenstedt dispels a lot of the myths that surround college admissions and gives an honest look at how the process works. He acknowledges both the humanity in the admissions process as well as the hard financial and institutional realities that admissions officers need to contend with as they try to select the most successful incoming class.

Jeff Selingo, who wrote my new favorite book on college admissions, made some interesting predictions in his most recent newsletter for the college landscape in 2021. Here are some of them:

Student experience will take center stage. After a year when we all realized that college is so much more than just attending classes, colleges will bring more focus to the student experience, improving the relationship between student-facing offices like advising, career services, and financial aid.
Improving the academic experience will be a top priority. Parents and students alike are realizing during this time that online classes are not providing the best value for their tuition dollars. Selingo expects that academic departments will work to integrate in-person and online learning and personalize the learning environment for each student.
Humanities may see a comeback. As we know only too well, after the Great Recession, students and parents were interested in STEM subjects and focused on majors and programs that would lead to successful careers. Selingo hopes that the pandemic will show the importance of thinking, writing, synthesizing information, and developing a growth mindset, and allow a resurgence in studies in the humanities.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

While we’re busy advising on course registration for younger students (#yesyouhavetocontinueSpanishsenioryear #sorry), helping Class of 2022 students put together their college lists, and helping Class of 2021 students wrap up, we are also busy with other types of applications! We’ve got applications for Ph.D. programs, MBAs, law school, transfers, even primary and secondary schools!

Speaking of, it’s actually going to be really interesting to see how the independent school admissions process will play out this year - I have never seen such a competitive landscape. So many families are looking for spots and the spots just aren’t there in the non-entry years.

In any case, one of the things we love about this work is getting to know students across all grade levels and stages of education! If you want to learn more about what we can do for you and your student, book a Meet & Greet or Strategy Session to fit your needs.

Oh, and we also just celebrated our one-year anniversary in the not-so-new-anymore office this week!

Probably should have taken down that little Christmas tree before I took the photo :)

While it’s not unusual for us to never meet clients in person when they live outside of the DC metro, it’s wild to think that some of our current seniors who live right here in Vienna have already finished up the process without stepping foot in our office.

That said, I see the light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine and I’m really hopeful that we will be back up and running normally in a couple of months.. although it will be interesting to see how many kids prefer working over Zoom for convenience! I do miss the human interaction, but I am pleased at how well it all worked out this past year and I could see some students wanting to continue that way.

Enjoy the long weekend!