This academic year has been one tough pill to swallow for high school seniors. As if mentally preparing for the competitive college application season wasn’t hard enough, this year has seen one epic event after another, each with its own profound effects on the admissions process, together they create the perfect storm for admissions confusion and chaos.
In normal admissions cycles the stress of college applications, essays, letters of recommendations all while trying to maintain GPA’s in senior year and still enjoy this last year of high school is more than plenty for any teen to juggle. However, for incoming college freshman, for the 2024-2025 academic year, just managing a regular admissions season might sound like a dream to some.
For kids applying to college this fall they can also factor in the recent reversal of Affirmative Action, schools flip-flopping on testing requirements and the on-going FAFSA debacle. College application strategies have been upended and decisions put on-hold, making an already stressful experience, unbearable.
No More Affirmative Action
In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court reversed Affirmative Action. Affirmative action has been around since the 1960s, emerging from the roots of the civil rights movement. Despite facing numerous challenges throughout the decades, it wasn't until last summer that Affirmative Action in college admissions faced a decisive defeat. Before this ruling, public colleges and universities had the ability to consider race among other factors for admissions, aiming to foster diversity within their student bodies. This practice was seen as a way to level the playing field for students from all backgrounds creating more inclusive higher education environments.
The decision has undoubtedly influenced the behavior of applicants. Students, particularly those from minority backgrounds, now need to consider how their racial or ethnic identities might be perceived and valued at different schools. These perceptions can impact where students choose to apply, with some potentially favoring institutions that have made explicit commitments to diversity and inclusion.
Changing Testing Requirements
The end of Affirmative Action has also reignited discussions around the use of standardized test scores and legacy admissions. Critics argue that these aspects of the college admissions process can perpetuate inequalities and may disadvantage students from less privileged backgrounds. Conversely, a number of schools are reinstating test-required policies, feeling that the need for more objective measures to understand a student’s potential for success are needed.
Prior to Covid more than half of all schools required test scores in the admissions process now that number is less than 10% with the majority of schools “test-optional”, meaning it’s up to the student if they want to submit a score or not, not knowing if doing so or not, is a good idea. The number of schools reinstating test requirements in some form or another, is on a slow uptick as of late, further making applications more challenging for students.
FAFSA Fiasco
By far the single biggest frustration for this year’s applicants has been the FAFSA. While the FAFSA is not required to apply for college, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is an integral part in the decision-making process for students. Information from the FAFSA is sent to schools who use it to determine financial aid packages. For students in need of help paying for school, those looking for need-based or merit aid or even student loans, the FAFSA can be a game changer when choosing between different schools financial aid packages.
This year the Department of Education redesigned the FAFSA form in an attempt to, among other things, make it easier to complete. However, the result has been a colossal mess. Slated for release in December, the form wasn’t available until the very end of the month during the holidays. Then, what was released wasn’t working properly with intermittent pauses in availability. And for those who were lucky enough to get in and complete the form, they were told the information would not be sent to schools until March, or possible April in some cases, shortening the time schools have to review the forms and send out financial aid packages to students.
In a normal year, commitments are due by May 1st, known as Decision Day, but this year some schools are extending this date to give kids time to evaluate their packages and make an informed decision, but this is up to each school to offer and is not the case in all instances. Adding yet another consideration for kids to contend with.
The 2024-2025 admissions season will certainly go down as one of the most hectic cycles outside of Covid. Student and parents must feel as if they been unwittingly forced to ride a roller coaster. The class of 2028 is undoubtedly ready to get off this ride, pick a school and enjoy some much needed down-time before fall classes begin and they can put this whole experience behind them.