What to Do During COVID-19 School Closure?

Hi Kate!

During this unique time while we are all at home, working together to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, do your very best to be creative and figure out how to continue your activities online and independently, in any ways possible. You’ll have to get really creative, but many students have taken their clubs online through Zoom meetings, and if you are an athlete you can still do exercises at home to stay in shape, as well as studying techniques from the pros in your sport. For volunteering, contact the organization where you volunteer the most, ask them what their current needs are in this crisis, and then figure out a way to make that happen. Then recruit other students to help you!

As for your GPA, while the situation is evolving daily, it does seem at this time that the colleges are not going to require second semester grades for those students who do not have schooling available right now, and they will consider the work and grades of those students who do have school available. It seems to me that they will have to consider these two groups of students separately, and you will not be penalized in any way–of course–if you are not able to access schooling at this time. Do not worry; the colleges will make it all completely fair.

That said, be sure to use all of the resources at your disposal to continue your learning on your own, whatever resources those may be, and keep track of your independent learning so that you can show the colleges the several books you read, or research projects you did on your own, etc. You can read and access a great deal of info on your phone if that’s all you have, and even something as simple as watching TedTalks can be a great boost to your education. Just track it ALL! Write it all down in a bibliography so that you can show the colleges what you did during this time. Keep reading and writing on your own, too; many universities, libraries, concert halls, and museums have made their resources available online for free during this time.

Do let me know if you have any other questions, and remember to stay positive because that’s the best thing we can all do for ourselves and for one another right now. Create a daily schedule and set some goals; these things will help you to have some much-needed structure during a topsy-turvy–temporary–time.

Yay, college!
Susanna

And see the blog post I just did:

75 Fun Things for Teens to Do at Home During Coronavirus