The coronavirus continues to have an impact on North Atlanta student’s lives, this time concerning college applications. With some students unable to take the usually required ACT or SAT standardized tests, most colleges throughout the US have made their applications test-optional, or have dropped the requirement completely. Now, the class of 2021 is unsure how these alterations will impact their application process.

When it was announced standardized tests were not mandatory this year, students had mixed reactions. Those who hoped that their test scores would set them apart from other applicants are disappointed that there is less of an emphasis on that section of their application. Some seniors hoped that their test scores would be another thing to distinguish themselves from others in the eyes of admissions officers. On the other hand, some students looked at this change as a saving grace being that taking standardized tests is not their strong suit. “Though colleges say it will not count against you if you don’t turn in scores,” said senior Virginia Moses. “But we all know if there’s someone with the same credentials as you and they’ve submitted a standardized test score while you haven’t, they are more likely to get in.”

Testing and tutoring for the ACT and SAT consumes and overwhelms students’ lives for the majority of their junior year and the beginning of their senior year. As testing is optional or not required at all this year, some students look at all of that time and effort put into testing as a waste. Countless hours of tutoring and taking practice tests along with the expenses of a tutor and testing fees now seem like an unnecessary inconvenience to some students. “The time and money that I’ve been lucky enough to spend on tutoring has definitely motivated me to keep testing,” said senior Tyler Hankin.  

With Covid-19 canceling test dates left and right, some students are now struggling to find a time when they can look to improve their scores to send to colleges. Students are getting notified the night before or day of their testing session that the test has been rescheduled to a different date. Students who are still trying to get their scores up view this as a huge annoyance as the hassle of trying to find a new date is complicated by the dwindling amount of time they have before application due dates. “I got my ACT test canceled four times in a row and I’m hopefully taking my first one this weekend.,” said senior Avi Hunter. “But, this really messed up my chances of applying early action if I wanted to.”

Despite this new challenge that seems to throw a wrench in many seniors’ plans, obstacles are nothing new for the class of 2021. Only time will tell how students’ admissions will be impacted by this sudden change to an already unpredictable school year.