If You’re Wondering Where to Write About Your Covid-19 Experience, Here’s What We Suggest
Don’t Use Your Personal Statement
We’re sure you have plenty to say about your experiences during the pandemic, and you will have a chance to write about them…..just not in your Personal Statement.
Your life before Covid-19 might be a hazy recollection. That said, you did spend more than 15 years before the pandemic immersing yourself in important activities and developing your passions. So, the top priority in your essay is to focus on those- your experiences before the coronavirus crisis.
You’ll still have a chance to address your journey during the pandemic because the Common App now has added an optional Covid-19 essay prompt. Use that prompt to discuss how the pandemic changed you.
Do Use the Covid-19 Essay Prompt to Write About Your Covid-19 Experience
The 2020-2021 Common Application writers added the following essay option to the additional information section:
This is the Student Applicant Prompt:
“Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces. (250 words)”
In essence, this prompt is asking about any personal and academic difficulties you faced during the pandemic.
Explain your circumstances while going to school online.
If you or a family member contracted Covid-19, then you should explain how that impacted your academics, if applicable. If your home was full of family members attending work and school virtually, give specific examples of how the disruptive environment affected your performance. Lack of computers, technology, or internet services should also be detailed here. Moreover, if you acquired additional responsibilities such as tutoring siblings, caring for family members, or working, it is important to share that information.
Keep the overall tone of the essay positive.
All students were affected by the pandemic. While this essay can be used to explain how it impacted a grade, the inability to take the SAT or ACT, or other lost opportunities, remember to keep the tone positive versus complaining. You don’t want to use this space to write about how you couldn’t eat out or socialize normally, as those experiences were not unique to you.
Avoid generalizations and use details to tell YOUR OWN story.
This essay is about You. It is essential to write about how you were personally impacted. How did Covid-19 change your life? What did you learn about yourself during this challenging time? What were the adversities you faced? What new skills did you attain because of your difficulties? Did you discover any silver linings?
It’s important to incorporate specific examples of what happened.
For example, depending on your circumstances, you may have had a family member who was hospitalized. Perhaps you needed to care for siblings during that time. Your family bonds may have strengthened or been tested. What lessons did you learn?
Or maybe it was difficult for you to grasp the material in one of your courses, and it became clear to you that you learn best through personal interaction rather than textbook reading.
If one of your parents lost their job, you could write about how you have first-hand experience on the financial implications of Covid, and how you specifically helped your family adapt. You may also better understand the economic impacts of the pandemic across the country. Use this essay to share your insight into unemployment and job searches during this time because of your personal experience.
To summarize, here’s how you should divide your focus on your application:
Personal statement = Write about yourself.
Covid-19 essay = Write about you in the context of the crisis.
Covid-19 Essay for School Counselors
Students aren’t the only ones who will get to submit an additional statement regarding the impact of the coronavirus. Your school counselors will also get a chance to submit a 500-word essay.
You need to know what kinds of information your counselors will include, so you make sure not to repeat it.
This is The School Counselor Prompt:
“Your school may have made adjustments due to community disruptions such as COVID–19 or natural disasters. If you have not already addressed those changes in your uploaded school profile or elsewhere, you can elaborate here. Colleges are especially interested in understanding changes to:
- Grading scales and policies
- Graduation requirements
- Instructional methods
- Schedules and course offerings
- Testing requirements
- Your academic calendar
- Other extenuating circumstances
The counselor’s response will populate all the applications of students from the high school. They will cover any school or district policies that have impacted students, so you do not need to take space to include that information. No specific student details will be included.
Students can ask to see a copy of this statement to know what information has already been shared with colleges. For example, if the school states that classes went virtual starting in March 2020, you don’t need to repeat that in your Covid-19 essay.
Putting it all together
As with any college application essay, the Covid-19 prompt is an opportunity to let the reader into your world.
- Your job is to be accurate and clear about how the Covid-19 pandemic affected your academic experiences.
- Discuss how you were affected.
- Demonstrate how you adapted.
