Covid is making it harder to get into a top college

Applying to College
246

  1. NYC tales: My child had the SAT and submitted: it was given at their large public NYC specialized high school in early March, ahead of school closure. Score was high, so was not planning to retake. I am a tutor, but did not prep my own kid - both of my kids just read my prep books on their own and take practice tests. They do not want me to intervene! Was the same for the SHSAT (specialized high school tests in NYC). However, we had signed up for December 2020 subject tests for MIT (before they eliminated them) and our car (street parked) was rammed the night prior. When we went to the car in the AM to get to the exam, it was totaled and we had to postpone. That test was rescheduled 5x and never happened; in most cases, it was listed as taking place until 24 hours prior to the exam, then cancelled. When MIT said not looking at them anyway, we gave up.

  2. I have been a classroom teacher in NYC high schools and during pandemic, I opted out to tutor. I tutor all ELA, so no math. I do not only test prep. I coach college essays, help students with assignments, learning disabilities, enrichment, etc. Students I tutored - some are public school, some parochial, some charter, some private. A significant portion of my practice is pro bono (my kids’ school, while one of the top public schools in the US, is 45% free or reduced lunch). I volunteer because I think the game is rigged against kids who do not have the resources to shell out for quality prep and do not have families who understand how this all works. Many kids who are high achievers but poor do not have families who a. speak English proficiently, b. qualify for College Board waivers so, in NYC, cannot afford cars, Amtrak tickets, plane tickets, etc. So, yes, many of my students could not go to Connecticut for tests. Their parents are often essential workers (one of my kids has a Dad who is a security guard and a Mom who is disabled). People were sick. People died. They were caring for siblings, just trying to stay afloat at a very demanding school during remote learning. Many students in our school needed devices delivered because they did not have ways to log in or reliable wi-fi. So, if you have the means to make this work, please consider that yes, many of my students who can and do score 1500+ with minimal prep did not have a way to take this test.

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