Higher Ed Responds to Covid-19

The Response of Higher Ed to COVID 19 & College Admissions

Colleges and universities have been sending out information regarding how COVID-19 might affect the college admissions review for the Class of 2021. The overwhelming response has been one of compassion and understanding.

Medfield High School is not alone in adjusting grading policies. Colleges and universities find themselves in a similar position as do thousands of high schools nationwide.

This document outlines the responses from a variety of schools, to which many Medfield students apply. We hope this information gives you as much hope and solace as they have provided us.

What the Medfield Guidance Department will do to support students in the college admission process:

• Include a detailed explanation in the 2020-2021 School Profile of the remote learning plan and spring grading adjustments. The school profile is submitted along with every transcript to a college/university.

• Guide students in ways to share their experiences and efforts during this time in their college applications.

• Solicit narrative feedback from teachers to include in counselor letters of recommendation that outline the student’s efforts during this unusual time (and/or as an addendum to the transcript for those colleges/universities that do not consider letters of recommendation in their admissions review).

Examples of College’s Flexibility in the Year of COVID-19

These are examples of many of the responses from Colleges and Universities. This list has been compiled from emails sent to Guidance Counselors, along with information from our professional organizations (MASCA, NEACAC). For a list of colleges that are always test optional, please visit www.fairtest.org/university/optional.

For the list of colleges/universities, click on the doc below: