Still Time to Change College Plans for Fall 2020

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) releases a list, in early May of each year, of colleges that still have room for students seeking admission for the upcoming fall semester. May 1st is the national response deadline for most colleges in the U.S., although many have postponed that date to June 1st for this year.  By that date, students must choose the college they will be attending in the fall and send in a deposit. Since most students apply to a multitude of colleges, it’s impossible for colleges to know for sure how many students will actually enroll until the reply deadline rolls around. After the response deadline, colleges that have not met their target enrollment are anxious to accept additional students in order to bring in the tuition money necessary to keep on budget.  

Often, even well-qualified students are not accepted to the college of their dreams.  Other times, students change their minds.  As the time to leave home for college approaches, students sometimes wish they had chosen a school closer to home.  Some students fall prey to basic procrastination and find themselves approaching high school graduation without a plan for the fall. This year brings a whole new set of concerns, as students make their college decisions without really knowing whether or not they will be able to live on their chosen college campus and attend classes in person. 

Fortunately, the NACAC has just released a list of more than 600 colleges that are still accepting applications for the fall semester of 2020. Included are 16 New Jersey schools that have openings for both incoming freshmen and transfer students and are still offering housing and financial aid. The public NJ universities are Montclair State, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rowan, Rutgers and Stockton. The private NJ colleges and universities are Bloomfield, Caldwell, Centenary, St. Elizabeth, Drew, Fairleigh Dickinson, Felician, Georgian Court, Monmouth, Rider and St. Peter’s.

There are an additional 51 schools in Pennsylvania accepting applications (with the possibility of housing and financial aid), including Penn State, St. Joseph’s, Susquehanna, Temple, and University of Scranton. 

Students seeking a New York education will find opportunities at more than 50 schools including Adelphi, Hofstra, Pace, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John’s, Syracuse, The Culinary Institute of America, and several campuses of SUNY. 

The key, at this point, is to act promptly. Students who are interested in any particular college should immediately contact its admissions department to find out exactly what materials need to be submitted. Students should also inquire about the availability of merit-based and need-based financial aid. After meeting all requirements, as quickly as possible, students should follow-up with an admissions officer and reiterate their strong desire to attend that particular college. An acceptance letter may appear in their mail (or email) sooner than expected!  

Susan Alaimo is the founder of SAT Smart. For the past 25 years, SAT Smart’s Ivy League educated tutors have prepared students for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.SATsmart.com or call 908-369-5362