LIST OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TASKS TO COMPLETE WHILE STUCK AT HOME
You’re going to have to do this stuff anyway - might as well knock tasks off the list this summer with help from our brand-new membership vault!
NOTE: Current clients have current access to all the materials they need to complete the tasks below (either in your google drive folders or on our password-protected Guides website). If you have trouble locating anything, please email Donna. You will gain vault access on launch day!
Common Application - Much of this can be filled out in advance - this is one of the first tasks that we complete with our clients.
Resume - If you don’t have a resume already, now’s a great time to start one. While this isn’t always required for the admissions process, you’ll likely need one anyway for internships, summer jobs, and so on.
Common Application Essay - This is a huge task that can be knocked out of the way. You can learn more about the prompts and our process.
Teacher Recommendation Information Documents - Have you already asked teachers to write letters of recommendation on your behalf? I normally would always recommend asking in person, but I think you get a pass in a pandemic! Once you email your teachers to ask if they would be willing to write (DO NOT START until you have confirmation!), you can begin to start putting material together to give to them.
Supplemental Essay Work- Start brainstorming responses now to supplemental prompts. You can then re-purpose these pieces later to fit individual essay prompts.
Activities - Check out our list of Remote Learning Experiences to complete this spring and summer.
Drive-Through College Visits - Not the virtual kind! We called a number of area colleges and universities to ask about their on-campus visit policies during COVID-19. The vast majority are fully open to the public and you are welcome to drive or walk through. Check out our Campus Driving and Walking Restrictions list. NOTE: Please check all applicable laws in advance of your visit to make sure that you are not in violation of a stay-at-home order by doing this. Also, we do not recommend taking walks through college campuses right now from a public health standpoint, even though most of the colleges are fine with it. We are simply passing on the information and each family can make their own decision.
REMOTE INSTRUCTION FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
Our team spent quite a bit of time researching the best virtual homeschooling options if schools do not open on time and FCPS parents need an alternative. Read about the important factors that must be considered and our top five picks for grades K-12.
11th and 12th grade students should consider our College Prep English Seminar course, held weekly on Monday mornings.
College-specific Testing changes
A large number of highly selective schools have transitioned to test-optional admission for the Class of 2021. We recommend checking out FairTest for the most up-to-date version of this list. Remember that test-optional does not equal test-blind, though.