College readiness is a collection of knowledge and skills that high schools across the nation spend a plethora of time and resources educating to ensure that students are well prepared to apply to and enter college. However, the ongoing effects of COVID have forced schools to halt many services and activities that would regularly contribute to the preparedness of seniors regarding their college and career decisions. While most of these aforementioned opportunities are starting to make their return this school year, it might already be too late for the class of 2022.
“I think COVID greatly affected a lot of people education-wise and the whole school system in general,” senior Hannah Schob said. “That flushed out a lot of people from applying to colleges.
This year’s seniors were only sophomores when COVID shut down schools across the world. With precautions still being taken this year, that only leaves one “normal” year of high school for the graduating class to put on their college applications.
“Since we only had one full year of school, there’s a gap in things I wish I had done or opportunities that were taken away,” senior Ty Langoc said. “The things that I had dedicated myself to before, I wasn’t able to do anymore.”
Before COVID, Langoc was a member of the Spanish club, but due to all clubs being disbanded last year, he wasn’t able to pursue them to the extent he hoped to.
“There also wasn’t an opportunity to participate in leadership roles that I would have taken,” Langoc said. “Those definitely would have helped me stand out more.”
Most colleges have revised their application process to fit the effects of COVID, offering essay prompts for students to explain how COVID personally affected them.
“A lot of people’s college application essays are going to be about COVID,” Schob said. “It takes away a unique element to the essays.”
Seniors also missed out on the opportunity to participate in class college visits during their junior year. Although some colleges have started to offer in-person tours again, registration is still being limited to smaller groups.
“It’s been really hard to go to a college physically and tour the campus,” Logan Smith said. “Instead colleges are offering virtual tours and I feel like you’re really missing what’s going on in college life or comprehending how big the campus actually is.”
In a poll taken by The Insight, 64% of seniors responded that they do not feel prepared to apply or attend college due to the effects of COVID.
“I feel like I lost a lot of experiences and guidance from my peers that would have helped me prepare for college,” Langoc said. “Now that it’s my turn, I don’t know what to do.”