Confusion around college applications mounts

(NewsNation) — This year’s college process could be the most confusing and chaotic admissions season yet for both the applicants and the universities. 

The Supreme Court ruling outlawing affirmative action in applications, a change in the federal financial aid application and new test-optional policies are all contributing to growing confusion for both students and parents. 

It’s been an “almost perfect storm” this year with all the changing guidelines and updates, Andy Lockwood, a college consultant, told NewsNation’s Nichole Berlie. 

“Overall, there’s this amazing, incessant pressure on kids and parents about the whole process,” he said, adding that the updated federal financial aid application didn’t help the situation. 

The new upgrade to the aid application was a problem that everyone saw coming for two years, he said. 

Colleges won’t see the data a student submits until mid-March, but they are still sending out blast emails as early as January saying FAFSAs need to be completed. 

Commitment deadlines are being pushed back to as late as June, which pushes the timeline significantly, he said. 

Lockwood also believes diversity will still be considered in applications despite the Supreme Court striking down affirmative action policies that allow for the limited use of race as a factor in college acceptance practices.

“Diversity in college is still a very highly sought-after factor. So what colleges did to sort of counterbalance the Supreme Court decision was to start asking in essay questions about your background, your race, your ethnicity, your story, etc.,” he said. 

“I still think that there will be plenty of diversity on campus this coming year once the dust settles in that area too, but it remains to be seen.”