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Cancelled Testing & Update
Louise Williams • Apr 17, 2020
Well, it seems that practically every day requires an update, so here’s the latest from my knowledge base. Please reach out to me on the website, email, or phone if you have questions about anything.
- On April 15th, the College Board decided they must cancel the June SAT test date-the one scheduled for June 6. It is clear that the College Board will offer no testing until late summer or fall at the earliest. One of the immediate questions is how colleges will react to news of a third consecutive SAT date being cancelled, with hundreds of thousands of students (like you!) with disrupted testing plans. Certainly, even more colleges will decide to offer students the flexibility of test-optional policies. I can discuss with each of you individually to decide whether to shelve, relax, or maintain your testing-related concerns, based upon scores you may have already and/or colleges you are considering and the list we build together.
- I imagine the ACT will follow suit and cancel its June 13 test, and possibly the July 18 test, as well. As long as the July date remains open, however, I’d recommend rolling your registrations to that date, even if only tentatively.
- An at-home, remotely proctored SAT and ACT increasingly appears to be simply a matter of when and exactly how, not if. When will these plans be finalized and dates announced? Clearly, the more that traditional school testing is delayed or at risk, the sooner we will see the College Board and ACT acting to ensure they don’t simply lose an entire class year’s worth of testing. Amid an inevitable outcry about security and equity that will ensue, how will colleges respond? TBD.
- The New York Times deemed the 2020 at-home, online AP Exams “a kind of dress rehearsal for the fall,” when students may be taking the SATs and ACTs at-home and online. ACT was already planning some online testing for the fall and to offer single section testing in the online format. A smooth and secure May 2020 AP Exam administration will certainly smooth the path ahead for potential ACT and SAT remote testing. Stay tuned!
- When does registration open for existing fall test dates and what is the general perception of how likely it is that those traditional test dates will hold? Students will be able to register for August 29, September TBD, October 3, November 7, and December 5 SAT and potentially Subject Test administrations starting in May. It is not yet confirmed if the September date will include Subject Tests. Frankly, I wouldn’t worry about Subject Tests at this point; most schools do not require or recommend them, but even those that do may waive that requirement for 2021. We also do not yet know if this means that each date will have its own registration opening timeline, or if the College Board will open all dates at once to distribute demand. Keep in mind that these administrations will only proceed if it’s safe from a public health standpoint.
- Students who were already registered for June 6 and/or current juniors who don’t have SAT scores yet will be given “early access.” Students who were already registered for June 6 and/or current juniors who don’t have SAT scores yet will be given first crack at the later test dates. I know that I recommended that students sign up for the June 6 test as most of you did, so you should be in this early access group. Also, if you have no SAT scores yet, which many don’t, you should also qualify. It’s unclear how early this early access will be, maybe just a week or two. If general registration opens in May, then the absolute maximum early access period is about 5 weeks, if they open early now and wait until the end of May to open August registration.
The early access registration process should be fairly seamless for students who were registered for June 6 already, as the College Board will contact them directly. It’s less clear how a current junior who hasn’t taken an SAT previously and was not registered for June 6 would gain access to this early registration window. We hope that those with cancelled March 14 and May 2 tests also receive access to the early registration, but it doesn’t look like they will unless they had already changed their cancelled registrations to June 6. Keep checking your College Board accounts for updates and information.
- If the ACT cancels their June 13 testing, I’d advise each of you to roll your registration to the next available ACT date if possible or register for that test outright. The next date is July 18, and while that is three months away, we just don’t know what will happen.
- Remember to keep up with the changing requirements of colleges for testing and other aspects of admissions. There is a continual update on the NACAC website, and I will continue to keep you posted as well.
- I know many of you were planning college visits this spring, and while those are not possible now, consider the many resources for VIRTUAL COLLEGE VISITS. Many colleges already have a virtual tour and information session available on their website. Also check out https://www.youniversitytv.com/ or https://campustours.com/. Also, admissions offices are working hard to enhance their options for virtual visits, so check with the schools and see what they are offering. Many offer zoom meetings with admissions officers, chats with student tour guides, and other creative resources. And, if you have a friend or a friend of a friend who is a current student at a college that interests you, remember that most of the college students at home, and they’d probably be happy to connect with you. Remember those social networks – there is great information to be found
- Do your best to stay informed on changes. From new test dates for SAT or ACT, to possible changes to the admission timeline, stay in touch with me for the most accurate information. Check your email daily and check college websites often for updated deadlines and procedures. Expect a lot of communication from colleges in the coming months.
I was so fortunate to visit Appalachian State University in Boone, NC over Labor Day. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors. The Saturday we were there, App State was hosting the Carolina TarHeels in a huge football rivalry game. While the TarHeels did barely eek out a win, App State played beautifully and was set up for a fabulous season. In fact, College GameDay hosted its prestigious show in Boone just a few weeks after my visit. If you love the mountain lifestyle and a beautiful town, you’ll love App State. The academic, social, and outdoor offerings are diverse and challenging.
I thoroughly enjoyed a brief visit to Stanford University in late September. Stanford is a place of discovery, creativity and innovation located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the ancestral land of native Americans near Palo Alto. It was orientation weekend when I visited and I loved seeing the students showcase clubs and activities for the freshmen. The weather is most always dependable and pleasant and the campus and the town of Palo Alto are both exquisite.
I so enjoyed visiting Colorado Mesa University while in the area for the Palisade Peach Festival. 🍑 Mesa has a beautiful campus, state of the art facilities and strong programs in so many ways. Definitely a hidden gem on the Western Slope. Check it out.
I had never visited Rider University , and I am so glad that I had the opportunity. Rider is located in quaint Lawrenceville, NJ, about 20 minutes south of Princeton. Rider has so many options for students of all kinds, and their campus and programs have changed greatly in the last few years. They have restructured their College of Arts and Sciences, done HUGE renovations on buildings and academic spaces, and excelled in their Division 1 sports programs. There is something for everyone.
A visit to Princeton is always amazing, and this visit was no exception. I had visited there about 15 years ago, but certainly things have changed. While the campus is still beautiful, unique, historical, and even breathtaking, Princeton has evolved with the times and cultures. The students are very diverse, and inclusion is celebrated. Admission percentages are hitting the single digits and seem very unpredictable, but do not be discouraged. I encourage you to visit if you are at all interested. Princeton is probably my favorite Ivy.
I recently visited Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It is a remarkable school proud of its community-engaged learning and welcoming presence. Red doors adorn every building as a sign of welcome. I have known Muhlenberg primarily for its outstanding performing arts curriculum, but there is much more to offer there. Students thrive in the small and intimate environment and gorgeous campus. Most study across disciplines with extra majors or minors as well. And, Muhlenberg also offers strong programs in business, accounting, economics, finance, and pre-health care majors. One of our guides was from Colorado too!
Alamosa, CO - Adams State is absolutely beautiful and ready for students! Surrounded by Colorado landmarks, history, and beautiful mountains and streams, Adams State offers extraordinary diversity in population and academic offerings. Adams State is leading and supporting actions that transform the campus into a model for inclusive excellence by promoting inclusivity, equity, cultural responsiveness, diversity, and community engagement. If you want to know more and see if this school might be a good fit, let's schedule a time to talk - click here .
Durango, CO - Durango was crawling with travelers and mountain adventurers after being isolated during COVID, and the campus at Fort Lewis was alive as well. Fort Lewis College is a place of experiential learning and an incubator of ideas and opportunity. It emerged through a series of changes uniquely tied to this region and its people. From military outpost to Indian boarding school, rural high school to public college, we have been at the heart of Southwest Colorado and the Four Corners region for over a century. If you want to know more and see if this school might be a good fit, let's schedule a time to talk - click here .
Gunnison, CO – I visited Western on a hot day in June, but the campus was still hopping! Surrounded by mountains and rivers, Western Colorado really captures the feeling and personality of Colorado. The school’s mission is to promotes intellectual maturity and personal growth in its students and prepare them to assume constructive roles in local, national and global communities. Western’s distinctive character emerges from its unity among academic and professional disciplines, high standards of scholarship, and a unique environment in the mountains of western Colorado. If you want to know more and see if this school might be a good fit, let's schedule a time to talk - click here.
2020 was full of challenges, but 2021 is full of opportunities. Encourage your child to achieve their goals this year. Register for the February ACT test. Register HERE
