The world is changing all around us. College counseling needs to evolve to meet the needs of students.

Seek to succeed on your own terms, and college admissions should be a byproduct. I’m an advocate for project-based exploration and learning. High school is a time for exploration and curiosity, and I think there is no better way to do that than identifying something you might be interested in and going for it.

Many years ago at a family dinner, my great-uncle took me aside and talked to me for twenty minutes. He told me to be careful about the friends I chose in elementary school. At the time, I didn’t think too much of his advice — I just wanted to go back to the dining table to finish eating dinner. Besides, my friends were my friends, and my life was my life — how much could they really matter?

Without a doubt, COVID-19 this past year has ravished the world in unprecedented ways. The pandemic has affected virtually all aspects of life, from personal to professional to academic. Many normal behaviors such as handshakes and hugs have now been restricted or disallowed by governments. Although the responses have varied much globally, I am most familiar with what has happened here in the United States. Particularly, I want to focus on what has happened to U.S. universities and how it will affect college admissions for those involved. Mainly, I want to explore the new reality for students applying, how admissions staff will have to respond, and the potential long-term results of COVID-19 on higher education.

Due to COVID-19, colleges and universities are changing their admissions criteria. Some schools, like Cornell University and Harvard University, are waiving the SAT or ACT for admission, due to the difficulties in taking the exam. Some students may not have access to the resources needed to study for the exam or even have a place to take it as test centers around the country stay closed. This change is unprecedented so no one really knows how this year’s admissions will turn out. However, there are still some things that students can do to prepare for this change.

Due to quarantine and reduced school and work hours, students may be finding themselves with more spare time than usual. Staying healthy should be your top priority, especially since the US has higher rates of young adults contracting COVID-19 than other countries. Staying healthy includes taking care of your mental health. In this tumultuous time, it is totally okay to focus on yourself. Colleges and schools will be understanding if you focus on taking care of yourself during this time instead of on your resume.