From optional standardized test scores to not being able to visit campuses in person, COVID-19 has changed the admission process and college decisions for the Coppell High School class of 2021. 

“In years past, students applying to college could relieve stress and keep your mind off of decisions by spending time with friends or going out,” CHS senior Daniel Nelson said. “Now, most people are just sitting at home thinking about everything. The stress keeps building up, and at certain points, it gets to be too much. COVID-19 began during the second semester of junior year, so college has been a pretty big thing on my mind since.”

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many seniors have adjusted their perspectives on major life decisions relating to college. From interest in taking a gap year to wanting to stay closer to home, there has been a change in independence levels concerning education. Since students have been given the opportunity to learn virtually this year, many have shifted their mindset and approach to their education. 

CHS senior Presley Abercrombie originally committed to the University of Alabama for law. However, in October, she visited the University of Arkansas to see friends and decided it would be a better fit due to its proximity to her home. 

In reversing her college decision, Abercrombie juggled having a close relationship with her family and the length of travel from Coppell to the University of Arkansas (about five hours)  versus the University of Alabama (about nine hours). 

“Since I’m an only child, I’ve always been really close to my parents,” Abercrombie said. “Quarantine has only made us closer, and I’ve become really dependent on them. I couldn’t have handled being so far away. I loved that the University of Arkansas is only about a five-hour drive. The University of Arkansas also has a better business school.”

For the fall semester, Abercrombie predicts that she will take a hybrid of online classes and in person classes if she is given the chance. She plans on factoring in how much hands on experience a class needs, the professor, their policies and what building the class is in.

Comparably, CHS senior Maria Salman, who is still in the decision-making process, hopes to stay in-state to be closer to family. In the event her family contracts COVID-19, Salman wants to be able to attend to them as quickly as she can and vice versa. 

Salman also finds it difficult to understand the environment of a school without physically visiting. However, previous visits to Texas A&M, University of North Texas and Oklahoma State University have impacted her decision process.

“Colleges can look much different when you’re on a tour, but since I’m not able to go on any, I have to rely on past visits which have impacted my decision,” Salman said.

Since Nelson was unable to visit any campuses such as the University of Texas at Austin or Texas A&M, his college decision process changed. Though the substitute of virtual tours exist to students, Nelson found his virtual tour of Haverford College in Pennsylvania unhelpful and decided not to move forward with other tours. 

“Certain schools give off different kinds of energy through the environment they provide,” Nelson said. “Just from a tour, a student can decide if the school is the best fit for them or not.”

Since Abercrombie expected her senior year to be online, she decided to pursue the Senior Scholars program, an extension of the dual credit program, which allows students to get the college experience through North Lake College. 

“Senior Scholars gives you a lot more freedom because you can do your classes on your own schedule,” Abercrombie said. “It gives you a real taste of what college life is like because you get to learn from a professor’s syllabus.”

Because of an increased emphasis on her education brought about by COVID-19, Salman switched from CHS to Turning Point. Turning point offers Salman the classes she needs to graduate early such as English IV, environmental science and government. Due to the accelerated program, she was able to graduate on Wednesday.

“You don’t necessarily have to go to college,” Abercrombie said. “After staying at home for so long and learning virtually, I want to experience new cultures and see new things. I also changed my major to marketing because I thought it would be better for online school.”

The pandemic has caused many people to see major life changes in a new light through altered priorities. By considering factors that didn’t cross their mind until after the pandemic, many seniors are now able to approach their college decisions with greater care and wisdom

“COVID-19 made me appreciate what I have and realize that I took some things for granted,” Nelson said. “Going forward, my approach is to enjoy what you have at the moment and keep in mind that everything can be temporary.”

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