How will Covid-19 affect the number of applicants for graduating class of 2021?

[DeepWaters]

I know for the civilian colleges, there is already talk about how Covid-19 will affect the college decision process, to include some rising seniors electing to go to a state school or closer school to home, to others electing not to apply to NYC schools, etc. Some rising seniors are talking about taking gap years too, so that things will we hope return to relatively normal.

Obviously, applying to the academies and applying to civilian colleges are a different ball game. Still, any theories out there on how Covid-19 might affect the number of applications this coming year? I know for me I was looking forward to the summer seminars to help me decide between certain academies. I wonder if with the economy tanking more kids who might not have been serious about serving become more attracted to it because of the "free" tuition?

Of course, any answers would be speculation, although I think there might be some good educated guesses. What do you think?

 

[usmaismygoal]

Of course, any answers would be speculation

I personally believe that spending your time speculating will not do you any good. The only thing I would speculate would be how are others spending their time speculating while I am doing everything I can to improve my file. At the end of the day, a year from now, it will not matter what you speculate but rather what you have done.

 

[jaglvr]

I would not worry about that. I think the nominators are attuned to realize who really wants those appointments for the CORRECT reasons.

 

[justdoit19]

I know for the civilian colleges, there is already talk about how Covid-19 will affect the college decision process, to include some rising seniors electing to go to a state school or closer school to home, to others electing not to apply to NYC schools, etc. Some rising seniors are talking about taking gap years too, so that things will we hope return to relatively normal.

Obviously, applying to the academies and applying to civilian colleges are a different ball game. Still, any theories out there on how Covid-19 might affect the number of applications this coming year? I know for me I was looking forward to the summer seminars to help me decide between certain academies. I wonder if with the economy tanking more kids who might not have been serious about serving become more attracted to it because of the "free" tuition?

Of course, any answers would be speculation, although I think there might be some good educated guesses. What do you think?

It will be Interesting to see how that plays out. I have a senior exchange student, his next semester at a NY school has already gone to online learning. So he is deferring to the following spring or next fall semesters.

I suspect a SA will have a good handle on acceptance rates. And if they are lower than desired, they can pull from their “waitlists”. I don’t think there will be a lack of qualified candidates!

This pandemic hasn’t far reaching tentacles, that will be bothering systems for many years to come.

 

[TB_Rays]

I know for the civilian colleges, there is already talk about how Covid-19 will affect the college decision process, to include some rising seniors electing to go to a state school or closer school to home, to others electing not to apply to NYC schools, etc. Some rising seniors are talking about taking gap years too, so that things will we hope return to relatively normal.

Obviously, applying to the academies and applying to civilian colleges are a different ball game. Still, any theories out there on how Covid-19 might affect the number of applications this coming year? I know for me I was looking forward to the summer seminars to help me decide between certain academies. I wonder if with the economy tanking more kids who might not have been serious about serving become more attracted to it because of the "free" tuition?

Of course, any answers would be speculation, although I think there might be some good educated guesses. What do you think?

I doubt it will affect USMA much. The applicant pool is always competitive and has plenty of applicants. USMA is going to do everything in their power to create a normalized 47 month experience regardless of the circumstances.