How Covid-19 is changing college admission for Fall 2020 and beyond

April 1, 2020 –  University of California reduces requirements for 2021 applicants and 2020 newly admitted students. A “dramatic action came in response to the cancellation of testing by the SAT and ACT this spring due to the widespread disruption at high schools in California and nationwide during the health crisis” Short-term measures announced: 

How does Covid-19 response this affect college admission for Fall 2020 and beyond?

California colleges, UC and CSU systems, have responded with several temporary accommodations  and modifications to address the current extraordinary circumstances. The below list is not intended to become policy shifts.

1. Distance learning instruction and grading are at best varied from school to school. Temporarily suspending the letter grade requirement, and or accepting Pass or Credit grade, for A-G courses completed in spring 2020 and or summer 2020 for high school students enrolled the 2019-20 academic year. This applies to all students, including UC’s most recently admitted freshmen.
2. Recognizing effort students have already made in AP challenging courses with regards to 2020 AP exams score. (Similar provisions for designated IB subjects and GCE A-level subjects.) Both UC and Cal State will accept the results of high school Advanced Placement exams even though they are being significantly revised to recognize the move to online learning and social distancing practices.
3. Suspending the standardized test requirement for students applying for fall 2021 freshman admission only. This is a planned temporary suspension of the standardized test requirement (SAT / ACT). 
4. Delayed transcript availability will not necessarily hurt admissions. “CSU campuses will not rescind conditional offers of admission based on the non-receipt of transcripts.” “UC students will not have their admission offer rescinded over a missed transcript deadline, however, UC continues to request that transcripts be submitted by July 1 if at all possible. …Providing that there will be no rescission of student admissions offers that result from students or schools missing official final transcript deadlines, and student retention of admission status through the first day of class until official documents are received by campuses.”
5. Summer programs for new incoming students: “The CSU will not facilitate a systemwide Early Start Program in summer 2020; individual CSU campuses may offer summer transitional programs (e.g. Summer Bridge) in virtual formats.”

https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/Pages/first-time-freshman-guidance.aspx

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-eases-admissions-requirements-help-students-families-wake-covid-19

https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/response-covid-19.html

University of California suspends SAT/ACT requirements for 2021 applicants

For students who want to enroll in a CA Community College for Fall 2020 or who planned to transfer from a CCC to a UC in Fall 2020 – start at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office COVID-19 FAQ webpage:  https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/Chancellors-Office/Divisions/Communications-and-Marketing/Novel-Coronavirus/student-faq