By Kathia Osuna
Greetings to all fellow students and supporters of Central Valley Scholars. First and foremost we would like to send our sympathies to the community members who are facing the hardest economic and social backlash generated by this national pandemic. This article is meant to reassure you that here at Central Valley Scholars we understand the uncertainties students are facing as a result of rapid changes in policies due to Covid-19 and we are working tirelessly to redirect our efforts to produce a more digital-friendly approach to our organizing tactics. That’s why we’ve created this article as a resource to help students navigate the tumultuous conditions that have resulted from this global pandemic as a token of our continued support for students and their families as they enter the college arena.
Read further to learn about some of the recent impacts of Covid-19 related precautions on the college admissions process. Keep in mind that due to the rapid changes in policies and legislation surrounding Covid-19, the information in this article may not be the most up-to-date, however, any resources we use to compile this data will be linked for your convenience.
A-G Requirements
Despite most schools adopting a pass/no pass grading scale to account for students' compromised education, classes that fulfill A-G requirements will still factor into the college admissions process.
“UC has temporarily suspended the letter grade requirement for A-G courses completed in spring 2020 for all students, including UC’s most recently admitted freshmen. ”
The UC system will view credit from P/NP classes for admissions purposes only.
Please click here for more information.
SAT/ACT Testing & Scores
Due to closures related to the coronavirus outbreak, colleges have reverted to a “test-optional” approach for SAT and ACT scores meaning you no longer have to submit your scores. The UCs hope to take this even further by moving towards becoming “test-blind” by 2025, eliminating standardized test scores from the admissions process altogether. While this can be considered a great triumph for underprivileged students who lack easy access to test-prep resources, it only applies to in-state applicants. According to the UC’s response to admissions to COVID -19.
“Campuses will adjust their internal processes accordingly to ensure that no student is harmed in admissions selection should they not submit a test score.”
In short, students can still register for the ACT, SAT, and SAT subject tests, however, they are not required to report those scores and they shouldn’t be penalized for not reporting.
For more information please click here.
AP/IB Exams & Scores
As I’m sure many of you are aware, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes intended to help students with college readiness are one avenue for gaining college credit in high school, thus, saving you money on your post-secondary education. The final exams for these classes will be continuing, however, their dates have been pushed back and they are said to have been modified to only cover material that students are expected to have covered before. The UC system has released a statement saying they will still be accepting AP/IB credit “consistent with previous years.” The exams will now be 45-minute at-home exams accessible online.
How does all this affect college applications & admissions? Deadlines to accept offers of admission have not changed.
"This does not lower the bar for admission, but accommodates the real barriers students have faced … Admissions to UC campuses are highly sought after and will continue to be just as competitive."
For more information click here.
Please watch this webinar for more information on all of the aforementioned.
Final Remarks
With equity and our deepest sympathies in mind, we are excited to announce that Central Valley Scholars will still be moving forward with its workshops, but out of respect for community safety, they will all be online webinars as a healthy alternative.
To view our webinars please click here.