Leaves Are Not The Only Things Changing This Fall!

ACT News: Too Good To Be True?

You might have seen the news reports about the ACT deciding to allow students to retake individual sections of the test instead of taking entire ACT tests beginning in September 2020. You can read the statement from the ACT organization here:
ACT Section Retesting, Superscoring & Results.

Is this news too good to be true? We’re not quite sure yet. As we learn more about this new development and how it will affect students when it is implemented next fall, we will keep you updated. In the meantime, members of the classes of 2021, 2022, and 2023 can be cautiously optimistic that things are moving in a student-friendlier direction, but keep preparing to take whole ACT exams as before just in case.

Changing the Subject (Tests)

• In a departure from their strict policies of years past, Georgetown University announced last month that it still “strongly recommends”, but no longer requires, three subject test scores from its applicants. Additionally, Georgetown will now accept AP exam scores in lieu of or in addition to subject test scores. This is great news!
• Cornell University announced similar news at the end of September: their College of Arts and Sciences will no longer require two subject tests from first-year applicants, beginning immediately. Note that this change is only for Cornell’s College or Arts and Sciences –– not Engineering.

Did college admissions just become an episode of The Bachelor?

In September, the National Association for College Admission Counseling voted to make changes to its code of ethics. Even though you may never have heard of NACAC before, that vote could affect applicants as soon as this spring and summer.

•  Beginning this year, colleges will be allowed to continue to pursue students after the May 1 decision date, offering them more scholarship money or other incentives to change their college plans –– even after students have declined admissions offers or started classes elsewhere.
•  Colleges with Early Decision may now offer “bonuses” like additional scholarship money or better housing choices to applicants who choose to go that route and make a binding commitment to attend their universities if they are admitted.

What does this mean for you? In theory, nothing. With our help, you should have a thoughtful, well-balanced and researched college list going into the process. This will allow you to make your application strategy decisions –– and your eventual college commitment choices –– without worrying about the whims of fickle college suitors. However, it will be interesting to see how this affects the way colleges handle enrollment deposits and admitted students programs.