Will Current Covid-19 Spikes Influence College Lists?
With the freshman 2021 class mostly established and about to commence with classes, colleges are now looking forward to spring 2022 and fall 2022 applicants.
Trying to predict immediate admissions trends that are impacted by current Covid-19 statistics might become influenced by the surge of the Delta variant. Where will this year’s applicant pool apply? Will students avoid universities located in states that have a reputation for being lax in handling Covid-19? Fearing statistics, will parents dictate the applicants’ choices? How will the current Coronavirus spike impact institutions such as Emory University or Loyola University New Orleans that typically attract students from all over the country? The undergraduate population of University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa is only 40% Alabamians.
Parents seem more concerned than students about the protocols of individual states in responding to outbreaks. Many parents are insisting that their children apply only to schools in states that require students to be vaccinated. For instance, Florida's ban on vaccine requirements includes private colleges as well as state institutions, making some parents wary.
The fall traditionally kicks off the busy travel season for college recruiters to visit high schools and connect with prospective students. Increased virus numbers in specific states is influencing those potential travel decisions. Some colleges are cancelling travel plans to states with high Covid rates and low vaccination rates. Will this new wrinkle impact applications?
As seniors embark on their final high school year, this is the time when many are finalizing their college lists. Consequently, current news headlines might influence lists. However, with regular decision deadlines occurring in early January, there is still plenty of time for applicants to add or delete colleges from their final wish list.
Some families are not concerned at all about Covid-10 trends or whether vaccinations are required. They take the position that the virus spikes ebb and flow. These families believe that the pandemic concerns will most likely be significantly lessened by the fall of 2022. Additionally, students tend to be less concerned about long-term “what ifs” than their parents.
Tulane’s Michael Strecker, assistant vice president for communications, released this statement:
"Interest in attending Tulane has increased among students nationwide during the pandemic. We received nearly 46,000 applications for the class entering Tulane this fall (the Class of 2025) and accepted only 9.8 percent, making this year's incoming class our most selective, diverse, largest and most academically qualified class ever. We also had the highest yield rate ever on our offers for admission to this year's entering class. In terms of health interventions, more than 95 percent of Tulane students and over 90 percent of our faculty are fully vaccinated. Thanks to this and our strict adherence to safety protocols, including mandatory face coverings and one of the nation's most robust testing, contacting tracing and isolation/quarantine programs, Tulane's positivity rate has remained substantially lower than that of the city's or state's throughout this pandemic.”
It is important to remember that Covid-19 statistics are constantly changing. Although recent information has caused a valid increased concern, there is also a chance that the variants might slow down as seen in India and England. Correspondingly, the college admissions process is not static either.
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