The University of California has announced that “starting with the fall 2023 application cycle, UC will extend the application submission period. You will be able to submit your UC application between October 1 - November 30. The application deadline will not change.”

Not surprisingly, the UCs will check all responses to the Personal Insight Questions for plagiarism.

On May 11, 2021, the University of California announced that all nine of its campuses will not consider SAT or ACT scores for fall 2021.

For many reasons, 2020 was unlike any other year, and the admissions season did not escape the effects of COVID. More than 600 schools went test optional (the SAT or ACT was no longer required for admission), students applied to a record number of schools.

For schools that value demonstrated interest, the “Why us?” essay is particularly important. One of the ways in which schools protect their yield (keeping their enrollment number high) is by rejecting or waitlisting students who they think will go elsewhere. One way to show a school that you are truly interested in attending their school is a well-written “Why us?” essay.

The New York Times reported that applicants to highly selective colleges have surged since standardized testing requirements were mostly eliminated this year. Without the testing requirement, students who thought they didn’t have a shot at getting into some elite institutions are trying their luck.

Every single student has been affected by COVID and colleges understand this. You want to write essays that stand out, so writing about a common experience, even in these uncommon times, is not the way to do it. That said, the impact of the coronavirus will most likely make it into your application.