May 23, 2020
Dear Class of 2021 and Parent(s):
With the constant changes brought about by COVID-19, the College Office can only pass on what we are hearing from our high school and college colleagues and testing agencies at this point. Below you will find information that might be helpful over the summer, but please refer regularly to the College Board, ACT, and individual college admissions websites.
* If you are scheduled for, or plan to schedule an upcoming SAT/ACT test, please refer to the College Board or ACT student websites for current information about where and when these tests will be held.
* During the summer, plan to practice regularly for the SAT at www.khanacademy.org or the ACT at www.actstudent.com. Many colleges and universities have already announced test optional plans, and others will decide over the summer, but we advise that you plan to test several times in the fall if possible.
* In lieu of college visits to campuses, take the special virtual tours at their websites; this will be a good way to show the "demonstrated interest" that is meaningful to some institutions. Another way to reach out is to find Stratford's reps under "contacts" on each college's admissions site and email them (both students and parents) with questions or concerns. Hopefully, you will be able to visit the campuses later in the year.
* Colleges do not yet know how they will review applications under these most unusual circumstances, but we hear that there will be an emphasis on strength of curriculum and grades between freshman and junior years as well as teacher and counselor letters. In other words, they expect a holistic approach to admission in many cases.
* Typically, you can apply to the University of Alabama or Ole Miss during the summer. If they are accepting applications, go ahead and apply and request a Stratford official transcript.
* Early action applications are usually submitted by October 1, but you will know definite dates in August.
* Please note that it is your job to begin collecting detailed information about application procedures and policies at the colleges you're considering. Each college has its own calendar and procedures, and they can change from year to year; Stratford's College Office cannot possibly have the most up-to-date information.
* If you plan to apply to private or public selective colleges, complete the common application at www.commonapp.org during the summer. Helpful "how to" information can be found on the Common App site and in Stratford's College Counseling Workbook. As soon as you open a Common App account be sure to sign the FERPA agreement and link Common App to your Naviance account.
* Open an account immediately in Naviance using your email address as your username and following the prompts. List the colleges you will apply to under "Colleges I'm Applying To."
* Every student is responsible for creating a resume, using the template which can be found in the College Office portal.
You will be receiving more information from the College Office later on to help you get started on the fall application process. In the meantime, I want to thank you for scheduling your conferences with me, creating your resumes, and signing into Naviance. Ms. Cowart and I send best wishes for a safe and restful summer and a successful application experience next year.
Sincerely,
Martha Eubanks
Director of College Counseling