New York Times: The Pandemic's Possible Silver Lining for High School Juniors

April 15, 2020

Dear friends,

By now many of you have heard about the College Board cancelling the June SAT and Subject Tests worldwide. This affects quite a few of our students so I thought I’d share some guidance.

The facts:

  • June SAT and Subject Tests are cancelled worldwide

  • Available SAT/Subject Test dates through 11/1 ED applications: August 29, September (date tbd), October 3

  • We expect all of these dates will be available internationally, too

  • Registration will open in May with June registrations automatically rebooked to August 

  • The College Board has committed to offering selected school day options in the fall, which would supplement the test dates above

  • Available ACT dates through ED applications: June 13*, July 18, September 12, October 10

  • *June 13 has not yet been cancelled but chances are high

  • We expect all of these dates will be available internationally too

  • We expect ACT to add school day options in the fall as well

Generally, these changes shift testing responsibility toward fall, when rising seniors will already have applications, including college essays, to focus on. This means that this spring, Academics and Character take highest priority. Where possible, early drafts of college essays—the excavation phase—should happen earlier, beginning in May/June, to create room in late summer for testing. 

Temporary Test-Optional:

As I wrote about in our last newsletter , a number of colleges are adopting a temporary test-optional policy for the high school class of 2021. The same points I made in that newsletter continue to apply:

  • Acceptance rates are historically lower for students who apply test-optional

  • In selective admissions, test-optional is more suited toward low-income and first generation students. The more adversity a student has faced, the less weight testing will carry

  • Applying without testing puts a greater burden of proof on Academics and Character. Regardless of testing, be sure you are focusing appropriate energy on these two paradigms, particularly in the form of AP exam preparation and final junior year grades, even with virtual learning. Contact us if you need one-on-one support.

  • Students who experienced COVID related hardship—health or economic—will certainly be considered as facing adversity

  • For students who are so fortunate to be healthy, excellence in problem solving ability remains a key to standing out in selective admissions

Finally, I was pleased to comment to the New York Times on some silver lining Juniors may see given COVID-related changes this year (we are all in need of silver lining right now!). CBS-NY also featured a Zoom interview with Lakhani Coaching focused on guidance for making the most of virtual learning. Not a snow day, everyone!

Some scenarios students are facing are outlined below. Feel free to contact us to discuss your situation in more detail. 

Wishing everyone good health-- 

Hafeez 

Junior: You finished SAT/ACT but were planning on June Subject Tests.

Congratulations on having SAT/ACT complete—that is a huge boon right now. Shift your plan for Subject Tests to 8/29 plus a backup date in September. Contact us to discuss a plan for preparation, be it a more intense focus beginning mid-June or a slow and steady approach from now. If your diagnostic scores were humbling, a longer term approach may be wise.

  • Summer Character Work: this should remain a high priority if plans are not yet in place.

  • Subject Test Coaching: inevitably this will reach highest intensity in August

  • College Essays: given the added responsibilities to late summer, drafting for college essays—helping a student excavate his/her Overall Narrative—should start in May/June. Wise not to pile numerous responsibilities on top of each other. 

Junior: You need 1-2 more SAT/ACT sittings.

Time is crunched, but not to worry. Consider the following:

  • You may still be ready to apply Early Decision on November 1, but if not, it is perfectly acceptable to apply Regular Decision around 1/1.

  • Consider taking the June 13 (if it is not cancelled) and July 18 ACT. If you have been preparing for SAT, switching tests takes a few weeks of adjustment but thereafter students typically match or exceed their previous levels on the opposite test.

  • If your next SAT/ACT sitting won’t be until 8/29, wise to accelerate excavation for college essays to May/June. Spread out the responsibilities. 

Sophomore: You were planning on 1-2 Subject Tests this spring.

This is where it pays off to be accelerated. Yes, it would have been ideal to take Subject Tests alongside culminating a course, but you’ll have to make do otherwise.

  • Other potential Subject Test sittings: August 29 or spring of junior year.

  • A reminder that students can register for up to 3 subject tests in any one sitting (each test is 1 hour), so coupling with spring junior year may be wise (later reviewing material that may have gotten rusty).

  • August is the earliest date to test but many of you will be going intensive on SAT/ACT this summer—a key to testing success for rising juniors—so you may not want to juggle SAT/ACT with Subject Tests. 

  • As with juniors, be sure to give ample focus to APs and final academic grades this term 

  • Contact us to discuss a plan unique to your situation.

Resources:

New York Times: After Coronavirus, Colleges Worry: Will Students Come Back?

CBS NY: Coronavirus Is No Recess: Tips for Parents Worried About Their Students Falling Behind

FOX5NY: How Covid-19 Impacts College Admissions

College Board: Covid-19 Updates

College Board: Plans to Provide Students with Opportunities to Take the SAT in 2020

Hafeez Lakhani