All in COVID19
2020 - It's a Wrap!
Unprecedented challenges in every sector of economy, unprecedented constraints in both home and work life, and unprecedented impacts to physical, mental and psychological health.
But also, a year with exceptional innovation especially in education and healthcare, excellent resilience on every human-being, and extraordinary empathy with outpour of help and support by people within their communities.
Switching Gears (Again): Back to Online Learning for Winter 2020
As expected, COVID-19 cases are rising around the country as temperatures drop. For many, this means that school, which was briefly opened for in-person classes, will go back to online-only formats.
Coping with COVID
We’re less than two months away from 2021 and it’s safe to say that 2020 was a rough year.
COVID-19 hit us like a ton of bricks. Most didn’t expect it. Many students went from being in school one day to being in an online class the next. Some thought it would last two weeks, and then kids started missing their proms, graduations, summers, and first days of school. Yep, it’s been rough!
California Dropped SAT/ACT Requirement. What's Next for Recruiters?
Times are changing for standardized testing. In a landmark case, a superior court judge has ruled that The University of California system can no longer use ACT and SAT tests as a determinant for admissions. While only a portion of recruiters and students have ties to The University of California system, it is only a matter of time before other colleges and universities follow suit beyond the suspension of scores due to COVID-19.
Post-COVID-19: Part 7 - What Will College Admissions Look Like? With Cezar Mesquita
Our society is continuing to adapt rapidly in the midst of this pandemic, and one of the most important aspects of our community is undergoing major evolution and iterative change: the higher-ed industry. Continuing with our podcast series of speaking with university-level professionals has helped us better understand what to expect from colleges and universities going forward. We had the opportunity of speaking with Cezar Mesquita, the Director of Admissions at Western Washington University. Our CEO, Reetu Gupta, conducted the interview via video call to abide by social distancing policies.
Standing Out: How to Make Your College App Pop as Standardized Testing Fades Away
Earlier this year, Cirkled In CEO Reetu Gupta wrote for Puget Sound Business Journal about one of the far and few between benefits of COVID-19: The end of standardized testing. While the end of cramming for a test that could weigh heavily during the college admissions seems exciting for many, the upended testing system presents a challenge for some students. How can their application stand out above the rest without testing scores that, in some ways, reflect their intellect?
Post-COVID-19: Part 6 - What Will College Admissions Look Like? With Anna Miner
Watch the entire video with Ms. Miner to hear her interesting perspectives on how COVID-19 has impacted and will continue to leave its mark on universities nationwide. Ms. Miner began by pointing out the silver lining in this cloud of change by revealing how the shift to an online space has allowed for widespread accessibility. Virtually meeting with students has opened up tens of thousands of more doors to connections with people across the country. This being said, the digital environment has also opened up a lot more opportunities for students to pursue at a wide array of colleges and universities. As a result, colleges are working extra hard to distinguish themselves and establish their institution as a unique option for students.
The COVID Crystal Ball: Looking at the Future of Testing and College Admissions
Back when all "this" started in March, I doubt that most people thought we would still be dealing with Covid-19 going in August. But we are. In working with families on the college process, I always stress that I don't have a crystal ball that foresees where students will be admitted. I certainly wish I did.
Three Activities to Help Get Through a Summer with COVID
We can’t deny it--summer looks a lot different in 2020. With family vacations, cookouts, and beach days a distant memory for many, we’ve compiled some activities to help students and families make the most of Summer 2020.
Seeing COVID-19 from a Student's Perspective: Part 5
This week, rising-sophomore Vivian discusses how she’s spending her summer and the impending school year. With school opening plans in the air, she’s in the same position as millions of students across the country—wondering how COVID19 will impact the next school year.
Post COVID-19: Part 5 - What Will College Admissions Look Like
The higher-ed industry has adapted immensely to these trying times, but there is still a long road of uncertainty ahead and it's imperative that students, parents, and staff members plan for the future. To equip the higher-ed community with the necessary tools and knowledge to tackle oncoming obstacles, we have been talking to institutional-level professionals to hear their insights. We had the privilege of speaking with Bryan D. Ryberg, the Associate Dean for Student Success & Admissions at Roanoke College. Our CEO, Reetu Gupta, conducted the interview via video call to hear from Mr. Ryberg and his thoughts on what lies ahead.
Seeing COVID-19 from a Student's Perspective: Part 4
Summer is in full-swing! As kids await news on the fate of their fall semesters, we caught up with Adya, a high school student who is keeping up with academics over the summer. While she misses face-to-face interaction with her friends, she is skeptical about going back to in-person classes in the fall due to rising coronavirus cases.
Reflecting on Freedom in 2020
To say the least, 2020 has been a transformative year. Many entered the new decade hopeful for change, new adventures and prosperity. While all of those hopes remain a possibility, we were also confronted with challenges that could not be ignored: COVID-19 and racism.
Seeing COVID-19 from a Student's Perspective: Part 3
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been honored to hear the high school and college perspectives of COVID-19. This week, we’re looking at the impact of COVID-19 on teens in middle school! Alexis Johnson attends middle school in Virginia and while she’s worried about the pandemic, being at home with her little brother and dogs have made it hard to fully concentrate on distance learning.
Seeing COVID-19 from a Student's Perspective: Part 1
Here at Cirkled In, we’ve kept a pulse on how coronavirus has impacted schools and higher education across the country. To take it a step further, we’re beginning a new series to hear from a different perspective: A student!
This week, we had the pleasure to interview our newest intern, Ria Mohan on how she’s been impacted by COVID-19 and what the future holds for her.
Cirkled In CEO Corner - June 12, 2020
As students prepare to attend virtual proms, Zoom graduations, and even some in-person, socially-distanced ceremonies, we look ahead to what the summer and eventually fall will bring for our students. But the truth is--there is a lot we do not know.