COVID-19 has caused huge disruptions and leading universities like Harvard, Yale, and Oxford have been rushing to adapt their admissions process. You’ll be forgiven for thinking that these changes might be ruining your admission plans. But all is not lost! If you look a bit closer, you’ll see that the changes might just be the thing you need to put these unis within your reach!

1. More exam opportunities

If you’re aiming for US unis, you have probably heard of the SAT or ACT, the standardised entry exams for US unis that you can take multiple times. The tests scheduled for March and May were canceled but to make up for lost time, extra tests have been scheduled for the latter half of the year. A word to the wise here. You may have heard that some US unis have become “test-optional” as a result of the canceled tests. This has more to do with the SAT Subject Tests than the actual SAT or ACT but regardless, if you have the opportunity to take the exams, do it! If Admission Officers are forced to choose between two similar students and one has a full list of them and one doesn’t, it’s easy to understand who would be at an advantage.

For more up to date information on the SAT, follow our COVID-19 support page.

2. Learning outside the bubble

If you’ve been trying to fit in every activity under the sun for the past few years, the lockdown should have given you the opportunity to find new interests or deepen your knowledge in existing ones. If you spent your extra time exploring online courses, studying ‘how to’ videos on YouTube, or self-learning a language, it could well be the spark of intellectual curiosity that many universities look for. Don’t get caught into thinking that a 99.95 ATAR or a perfect IB score is the holy grail of uni admissions. There are many smart students applying and using this time to go above and beyond what you do at school will show Admission Officers that you can adapt to change and that you will make the most of the opportunities on campus.

3. Likely to be slightly less competition

The number of applicants to top universities usually increases every year and with it, the level of competition. But if there is one thing unis are bracing for worldwide, it’s a drop in the number of applicants, particularly from countries that have mishandled the breakout of coronavirus. Sure, universities like Harvard, Stanford, and Cambridge are always going to be very competitive but that slight drop might be the thing you need to get in.

4. Opportunities to dramatically improve your extracurriculars

If you’re currently relying on your orchestra, debating, and school sport to wow the Admission Officers, the recent disruption might just be what you need to shake things up! Unis are going to be looking for students that can adapt to a crisis and show empathy towards their local community. If you have managed to make a positive impact by helping people in need, it could well be the number one thing you lead within your application.

Need an example? Take a look at this website created by a Year 8 Crimson Education student based here in Australia. An extra word of advice here is that your initiatives don’t need to be an incredible success. Even if you help a few people or you get a few visits to your website, Admission Officers see the intent and it will be a great learning experience regardless.

If you’re looking for ECL opportunities, Crimson has a set up a portal with ECL opportunity listings. Access the portal here.

5. Athletes, contact the coaches

If you’re tired of washing your hands, here’s a good reason to keep it up! Australia has done better than most in controlling the spread of COVID-19 which is particularly important for athletes aiming for US sports scholarships. The more time you have to compete and work on those highlight reels, the better! But keep in mind that many coaches in the US are probably spending more time on their computer than on the training track right now. Contacting coaches is an essential part of the application process for athletes so take advantage of the extra screen time and start sending some emails!

Get more information on the changes to uni admissions and ideas for extracurriculars by speaking with our Academic Advisors. Request your free consultation below.