5 Ways to Stay on Track During a Pandemic

We are currently traveling through uncharted territory in our history: never in modernity have we faced such a global health crisis. Most of our students are learning through a virtual platform, in a condensed manner, and have far more free time with far fewer options to fill that time. Look anywhere, and the first piece of advice you’ll see for high school students is to write about the pandemic. Don’t waste your time.

Like it or not, over the next three years, college admissions officers will read literally millions of “How the Coronavirus Changed My Life” essays. You won’t stand out by doing the same thing. Odds are good that most students are filling their newfound free time with learning TikTok dances and binging through every single Netflix series they can find.

If you want to do something during this time that will make you stand out as a future college applicant, first it might be important to write down what not to do. Spending time writing down thoughts about how the uncertainty of this pandemic creates anxiety is a fine thing to do, but it won’t make for an incredibly interesting read on a college admissions essay some day. Unfortunately, it’s very unlikely that you’re impacted in any way that is unique.

Instead, spend this time picking a few of the below activities that bolster your college competitiveness:

1. Learn a new skill. You have more free time than you’ve ever had in your entire life. You also have an unlimited resource: the internet. Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? Want to learn to cook? Interested in how coding works? Build out a schedule and dedicate a couple hours each day to something that you have always wanted to do. This is something that you can actually speak about some day and it’s also something that can make you more well-rounded as a young adult.

2. Catch up on academic deficiencies. If you’ve always struggled with math, double down on learning skills you might’ve missed in the past. School is at a far slower pace right now so don’t let those deficiencies last through the pandemic. Instead, double down on Khan Academy Youtube videos or work with a tutor to knock out the root of your problems. This will ensure that you’re caught up once school finally resumes.

3. Knock out prep for the SAT or ACT. Once normalcy resumes, you’ll have to take these tests for college. That’s inevitable. Spend a bit of time mastering the material, which won’t change, and then prepare for taking the real thing. There are thousands of free online resources that you can find, and you can take free, full-length tests at home. If you notice real underlying weaknesses persist, then contact a tutor to make sure you eliminate the weakness quickly.

4. Volunteer online. Even though leaving your home might not be an option, you can still dedicate hours to volunteering. There’s never been a time in history in which there are so many needs and if you’re truly passionate about helping others, research some online volunteer opportunities to assist others. These hours can be tracked for college applications and can bolster your chances of getting into the school of your dreams while you spend time helping others.

5. Read. This is a simple way to occupy your time but you’re also able to build some impressive skills that translate to many things by reading. Reading regularly helps improve your memory, alleviate stress, and can help you feel more connected. These are all valuable things to have during this tough time. Reading is also far more beneficial than attempting to set a Netflix record, which is what many are doing with their free time. You’ll be able to improve vocabulary, which will help out with the ACT/SAT later on in school.

If you’re sitting at home, struggling to fill your time with valuable experiences, try knocking out some of the above activities. Not only will this help you feel a bit more accomplished and structured (something that helps with sanity when times are tough and anxiety levels are high) but you’ll actually add skills that will benefit you in the coming years. Connect with our team for more info on how best to spend your time in the coming weeks. Remember that all of our remote tutoring options are currently 30% off due to the Coronavirus.

-Mark Wilson, Director of Curriculum Development & Design