The world of college admissions is ever-changing and for students planning to apply to universities, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest developments. We’ve rounded up the latest news and given our take on what it means for future and current college students. Check back each week to see what’s new!

1. Historic NCAA and Ivy League rule change allows student-athletes to profit off the use of their name, image, and likeness

Last week, the US National Collegiate Athletic Association announced a new policy that will enable student-athletes to receive compensation for the use of their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) for brand promotions — which would have previously resulted in a loss of competition eligibility. The Ivy League made an adjacent announcement following the NCAA’s, noting “student-athletes should have the same opportunities as all students, including the option to engage in projects that use their [NIL]” but encouraging athletes to be “patient and prudent” when exploring these new avenues.

Crimson’s Take: For many student-athletes at top US universities, their sport requires a high level of commitment that renders them unable to take advantage of other opportunities like internships or part-time jobs. Further, as the Ivy League points out, non-athletes are generally not limited in the business opportunities they can pursue during their time at university in the same way that athletes have been. With all this in mind, we think the NCAA and Ivy League have made the right decision in allowing student-athletes to use their talents to engage with brands — and we’re optimistic about what this new policy could mean for them!

2. Controversial proposal from the UK’s Department of Education provokes resounding concern from Oxford and Cambridge officials

This week, the UK’s Department of Education (DfE) proposed the launch of “a new accreditation system for all initial teacher training providers” alongside “new quality requirements that all courses would need to conform to.” In defense of their own teacher training programs, Oxford and Cambridge have both released statements combatting the proposals and claiming they are “deeply concerned” that the DfE’s plans would require them to adopt a model within which they “could no longer guarantee the high standards [they have] achieved to date” and pointing out that there is “no singe ‘right’ way” to train high-caliber teachers.

Crimson’s Take: We understand that the DfE’s goal with these proposals is to promote a consistently high standard for teacher training which could ultimately produce well-qualified educators across higher education institutions. However, we agree with Cambridge’s sentiment that a ‘cookie-cutter’ approach to training teachers will not likely result in the diversity and versatility of teaching styles that has proven to serve students well. We understand why Oxford and Cambridge are defending their own teacher training models — after all, they’ve been excelling at it for centuries!

3. California governor signs new law to let students make up for the pandemic school year

The Governor of California has signed a new law to provide students with ways to “make up for lost learning” after a year of disruption due to COVID-19. For K-12 students, options include retaking a grade level, changing low grades to pass or no pass, or enrolling in a fifth year of high school for 11th and 12th year students. In a news release, the law’s author, Lorena Gonzalez said, “Whether it’s a third-grade student who needs more instruction time to retain the material, or the senior in high school who nearly jeopardized their admission to college — there’s a recovery option available to help every student access the resources and accommodations they need.”

Crimson’s Take: We’ve seen firsthand the consequences that COVID-19 restrictions have had on students around the world — and especially those in their most formative years of high school, whose academic performance and access to extracurriculars is a key determinant of their university admissions success. As a company that believes in leveling the university playing field for students everywhere, we think California’s new law is an admirable step towards helping students regain lost ground due to circumstances outside their control.