C0VID-19 | How Will it Affect Your Studies in America?

Grade 12, Study Abroad

How will the outbreak affect U.S. admissions?

Colleges will likely rely heavily on the waitlist this year. Without the ability to predict how admitted students will respond in a time of upheaval, enrolment managers and admissions deans are going to put more students on the waitlist as an even bigger safety net than usual. Our counselors will work with you if that’s the case, and if it’s a top choice school, on how to remain on the waitlist and advocate for yourself appropriately.

What about the I20 and Visa application?

• Before May 1st, Students and Parents Can Relax

There are procedures for foreign students in the United States to apply for an F1 visa (student visa). Students must receive an I-20 from the school to make an appointment for a visa. Generally speaking, this will happen after you have made your decision, then the university will mail you an I-20 form which you can use to start your Visa application.

• Apply for I-20 early

Only an offer from a school can be used to apply for the I-20. Since it can take about 3 weeks to receive an I-20 after it has been mailed in it is recommended to apply as soon as you can. This will give you more time to complete your visa application.

• Visa Interview Time Slots are Constantly Changing

The backlog of application documents from the visa center and the embassy will also slow down the review process. As a result, the available appointments will be tight. But as the epidemic subsides, this should return to normal.

• May-July is Peak Period for Visa Application

It is recommended that after receiving the I-20, students pay attention to the latest policies on study visas and the time available for appointments. If feasible, apply at the nearest or least busy visa center.

Will There Be Changes to Admission Policies?

The outbreak is a global problem that American universities are working together to address. According to the recent policy developments, we are actively communicating with the admissions offices of American universities and colleges, and will later share the latest information.. We must believe that schools will consider the impact of the epidemic and provide students with feasible and fair solutions.

Grade 11, Study Abroad

How to arrange SAT, ACT and AP exams?

• Pay Close Attention to Testing Updates

The College Board will be posting real-time updates, on their official website listing each test location and if there are any closures or cancellations.

Website：https://www.collegeboard.org/
Email：sat@info.collegeboard.org
Phone：+1-212-713-7789

SAT Test Center Closures：
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/test-center-closings

ACT Test Center Closures：
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-day/rescheduled-test-centers.html

• You May Consider Future Exam Dates

Due to the epidemic, it is likely that the testing institutions will arrange more testing opportunities at a later date to meet the high demand of students. Don’t worry about not getting a test right now.

In addition, U.S. colleges and admissions officers will also consider the impact of large-scale cancellations of exams due to the outbreak on student applications.

If a large number of students are unable to take standardized tests before applying, it will force universities to be more flexible about test submission requirements. At present, admissions officers are not optimistic about the forecast of admissions this spring, and they do not want it to be more difficult to attract outstanding applicants.

• Possible AP Exam Format AdjustmentsThe College Board stated that it values ​​the hard work of each candidate for the AP exam, and the AP exam in May may take the form of an online exam.
• Calm Down and work hard for examsAt present, the College Board has officially confirmed that SAT tests in the Asia-Pacific region have been added in August, which will partially makeup for the SAT cancellations in March. After the SAT registration is open in late April, you must register as soon as possible. At present, the best way is to continue to learn and master the SAT test questions, accumulate more words, and fully prepare for the next opportunity.

Can You Afford to Not Take the SAT

• Getting SAT results, Allows More ChoicesIf a student chooses not to take the SAT and only considers those schools where the SAT is optional, the choice of schools that can be  applied to a TOP100 ranking in the United States will be very limited.
• Test-Optional PoliciesSome universities have decided to adopt the Test-Optional policy for students who will be enrolled in the fall of 2021, in order to cope with the cancellation of the exams. There will be no hard requirements for the SAT/ACT test results. But under this policy, admitted students might require more GPA, TOEFL or IELTS scores, and additional application documents.

How Will the TOEFL Test Be Arranged?

The TOEFL test schedule is tight right now. Candidates are advised to make a full-year exam plan for 2020 and report it all at once. Especially for the four-month exams from July to October, in the past years, you might have to register at least 2 months in advance.

How to Show Your Dream School Your Intentions?

Visiting campus is just one way to express your intention to study there. There are many ways to show your determination to apply for a college. The key is to display the abilities that match your application materials. The better the supplement essay matches your activities and who you are as a person the more convincing it will be. In addition, communicating with colleges and universities online, entering college mailing lists, applying for EA/ED in advance, and talking to the autumn admissions officers will help show your willingness to attend the school. Be sure to communicate with your college counselor and make adequate plans and preparations.

How to Plan Your Summer?

The U.S. Immigration Service announced on March 18 that it would shut down its services to the public until at least April 1. U.S. visas are currently stopped indefinitely and travel bans are still in effect. The health and safety of students is our main priority. We do not encourage students to go to the United States to attend summer schools during the epidemic.

Parents who have paid the summer school fees may consider applying for a refund before the refund deadline. Summer alternative arrangements, you could choose to apply to meaningful activities within China, or you can participate in suitable online activities.

Although it may not be possible to visit a school in the United States, it is still recommended that students conduct online college research and make full use of platforms such as YouVisit, YouUniversityTV (virtual travel website), Unigo (university reviews provided by students), the school ’s YouTube channel, and the school ’s official website.