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The Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Education

National Student Survey, Pt. IV

In this study, we surveyed college-bound high school seniors to understand how the pandemic is affecting their the college search process and their lives as a whole. Do they feel prepared to go to college? Are they engaged in their education? Has their academic performance suffered?

What we uncovered was COVID's other crisis — its deep and pervasive effect on student mental health.

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Key Takeaways

  • Students are in crisis and need support
  • Students are behind in their college search
  • School counselors play a vital role in college preparation
63% of students say they are LESS motivated. 57% say their educational experience is WORSE. 66% say they are LESS engaged. 29% say their grades are WORSE

Students are in crisis and need support.

Regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, background, or even the direct impact of COVID-19 on their family's livelihood, all students are struggling. 

"To be honest, ever since quarantine I’ve felt lifeless."

Where are you in your college search?

Students are behind in their college search.

With decision deadlines looming, 41% of college-bound high school seniors still hadn't applied to any colleges as of February 2021.

"The COVID-19 outbreak severely affected my mental health, which made me become less motivated for college. Filling out applications felt like a chore, so most of the deadlines had passed by the time I started feeling more like myself."

School counselors play a crucial role in supporting students throughout the college search and decision process. 

An alarming 68% of high school seniors said their family had been directly impacted by COVID-19; financially or otherwise. For those college-bound seniors whose family's financial situation was affected, adequate communication with counselors was shown to have a positive, mitigating effect on the extra challenges they faced.

"I wish I could have sat down and talked to a counselor at school, rather than on Zoom."

In the News

Media Coverage of our National Student Studies

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We’ve partnered with over 300 institutions.

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