2021 College Admissions Trends: How COVID-19 Comes Into Play
2021 College Admissions Trends: How COVID-19 Comes Into Play -, Post a Comment
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[starportillo](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/author/beyondstellar/)
[June 2, 2021August 3, 2021](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/2021/06/02/)
With COVID-19 upending educational systems worldwide, institutions have done their best to cope and adapt to the crisis. In turn, this has created huge shifts in the college admissions landscape.
The [surge of applicants in larger colleges](https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2021/03/10/new-data-applications-surge-at-larger-selective-colleges/) has prompted institutions to be more flexible in tackling application, admissions, and enrollment. However, there’s still no foretelling if these changes are permanent or just a temporary quickened pace brought about by the pandemic. Regardless, it’s best to stay informed about these developments to increase your chances of being admitted to your school of choice.
**Below are some college admissions trends you should take note of when applying:**
### **More colleges continue extending test-optional policies**
Since test centers pose great health risks, colleges have adopted test-optional admissions temporarily. There are institutions that have been practicing this strategy pre-pandemic and will remain to do so even after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Test-optional policies in schools mean that students and potential scholars will not be required to submit their SAT or ACT scores. Other aspects of the application process such as grades, extracurricular activities, college essays, and letters of recommendation will have more bearing in the admission.
To date, there are [over 900 top-tier universities](https://www.fairtest.org/sites/default/files/Optional-Schools-in-U.S.News-Top-Tiers.pdf) which have de-emphasized test scores. However, [a study](https://journals.sagepub.com/stoken/default+domain/RMRIR6XS4QICVZDDIAZM/full) has questioned the effectiveness of its implementation, saying that it did not do much to diversify college populations.
Furthermore, some colleges claim an “optional but preferred” testing policy that still ends up accepting more students with test scores over those without.
**As a rule of thumb, it would be better for you to take the SAT or ACT if you’re:**
- Planning to play a college sport and apply for athletic scholarship
- Pursuing a merit or need-based aid
- Looking for a last resort to enhance your application
### **Increasing number of applicants = decreasing acceptance rates**
College applicants in “top-tier” and competitive schools have been at an all-time high. As a result, schools have become more particular with their college admissions.
Even as it saw a 23% increase in candidates and scholars this cycle, the University of Pennsylvania has accepted a [record-low of 15% early decision applicants](https://www.thedp.com/article/2020/12/penn-admissions-early-decision-class-of-2025). In the same way, [MIT gained a 62% increase in early applications](https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/mit-early-action-decisions-now-available-online2020/) from last year.
The number of waitlisted students has also spiked, while their [chances of being accepted off a waitlist dipped](https://www.wsj.com/articles/college-wait-lists-are-ballooning-as-schools-struggle-to-predict-enrollment-1524821401), in turn. According to [Princeton College Consulting](https://www.princetoncollegeconsulting.net/) co-founder Benjamin Caldarelli, the trend of adding more waitlisted students is “a practical solution from a school’s perspective” since it allows flexibility in managing college admissions offers.
### **Admission officers to check applicants’ social media profiles**
With the growing involvement of the youth in social justice movements such as [Black Lives Matter](https://www.adl.org/education/educator-resources/lesson-plans/black-lives-matter-from-hashtag-to-movement) and [Stop Asian Hate](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/03/26/stop-asian-hate-asian-americans-across-us-demand-reforms/6990150002/), institutions are being called to hold accountability over its students. Acts of racism and hate speech on social media have become grounds for the [revokement of college admissions offers](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/us/racism-social-media-college-admissions.html).
According to a Kaplan survey, the rate of college admissions officers who visit applicants’ social media pages have [increased by 36%](https://www.kaptest.com/blog/press/2020/01/13/kaplan-survey-percentage-of-college-admissions-officers-who-visit-applicants-social-media-pages-on-the-rise-again/) last year. Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram have become references for a student’s character and \[online\] etiquette— things which were only previously measured through interviews and essays.
* * *
COVID-19 has not only significantly altered college admissions processes, but it has also posed a challenge for schools to step up and implement more holistic approaches for its students. While the future for college admissions remains uncertain, you can still control how you respond to these challenges— and the first step is by keeping yourself up-to-date with the trends.
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Eligibility criteria
Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.
- Citizen or permanent resident of an eligible African country
- Strong academic record — typically a minimum GPA equivalent to a UK 2:1 / US 3.3
- English-language proficiency demonstrated by IELTS, TOEFL or an MOI letter
- Two academic or professional references able to speak to your potential
Required documents
A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.
- Valid international passport (bio page scan)
- Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
- Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
- Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
- Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
- Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
- Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders
Deadline timeline
The sponsor has not published a fixed deadline yet. Use the milestones below as a generic 12-month plan; substitute dates once the intake window opens.
- 12 months out
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
- 6 months out
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
- 3 months out
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
- 1 month out
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
- Application deadline
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.
Editorial verification note
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Last checked 5/8/2026
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the 2021 College Admissions Trends: How COVID-19 Comes Into Play?+
Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the the stated level level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by Various, and be able to relocate to the host country for the duration of the programme.
Is the 2021 College Admissions Trends: How COVID-19 Comes Into Play fully funded?+
Funding model: Funding type varies — check the official site. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.
When is the application deadline?+
The application deadline is varies by intake — see the official site. Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
What documents do I need to apply?+
At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.
How can I improve my chance of winning?+
Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.