Normally, the April vacation week is a time when many high school students take advantage of college “accepted student days” to finalize their decisions about where they will be for the next four years.
Not so this year.
Due to COVID-19, accepted student days and campus tours have been canceled, leaving guidance counselors, college admissions offices and financial aid departments working overtime to find ways to help students navigate the college-selection process and choose the right school. And, with the number of parents losing jobs growing every day, they are also working to find ways to help families pay for it.
In Saugus, Guidance Director Leanne Mottola said her office has been checking in regularly with students since schools closed in March. Her top priority is moving forward with seniors’ scholarship applications, “because now, more than ever, students everywhere need financial assistance (as) this will be a top priority for our seniors when they’re choosing their college, especially where so many of their parents/guardians have recently lost their jobs.”
Mottola said many Saugus seniors are still debating which college has presented the best financial package, but there are many scholarships still available. With so many unknowns, she is encouraging students to do what’s best for themselves and their families.
Lynnfield Guidance Department Head Kathryn Moody said she sees more colleges with extended application and deposit deadlines. She’s not about to panic.
“We still have many kids who are undecided, but it’s only April 22,” she said. “Lots of kids wait until the day before the deadline to finally decide. Some kids are still waiting for financial aid packages. Normally, this is the week when kids make final on-campus visits. I see more flexibility with some schools offering to refund deposits if kids change their minds, and some have reduced the deposit amount.”
The department is communicating with students via Zoom meetings, email and telephone as much as possible. Because scholarships are processed online, Moody says students have access to the tools they need to apply.
“We are trying to make sure the juniors and seniors are properly recognized,” Moody said. “With the likelihood of awards nights not occurring, we need to find a way to give the kids what they need with constant communication. Bob (Principal Cleary) and Jane (Superintendent Tremblay) are working on that. It’s not pretty, but it’s the best we can do.”
Ashley Bass, a 2016 LHS graduate, is helping the cause. She organized a network of nearly 200 alumni representing nearly 100 colleges who are available to help students learn about particular schools, helping to fill the void left by canceled accepted-student days.
At St. Mary’s Lynn, Guidance Director Maria Ceddia said most students are in good shape. One hundred of 115 seniors have already received acceptance letters.
“When I came to the school in September,” Ceddia said, “we established a tight schedule for students to meet with counselors and put together their applications and supporting documents. We also encouraged as many students as possible to go early-action or early-decision.”
Ceddia said that 10-15 percent of St. Mary’s seniors applied early-decision, while another 40 percent went early-action. That leaves approximately half the class needing to make their decision without benefit of accepted-student days. Some will have some extra time, as many colleges have extended deposit deadlines from May 1 to June 1.
COVID-19 has made guidance counselors’ jobs appreciably more challenging with school buildings closed.
“We are trying to stay connected with students,” Ceddia said. “Being away from them, we can’t monitor their social-emotional well-being the same way.”
St. Mary’s has launched a school-wide effort among staff to talk to students on the phone and is holding (virtual) office hours.
Moody said her office is busier than ever, but in a different way.
“We’re busy, but it’s a different kind of tired at the end of the day,” she said. “We miss the emotional side of face-to-face conversations with the kids, but are amazed at their resiliency.”
Mottola agreed.
“My staff and I are heartbroken that we’re unable to see all of our students, especially the seniors,” she said. “We look forward to sharing this special time with them every year and we miss them all so much, I can’t even begin to describe to you.”
