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A new survey details the things that high school students didn't do this spring -- such as visiting and picking colleges, taking the SAT or ACT, and meeting with their teachers and counselors.
The survey by Hobsons was based on results from nearly 10,000 students who are registered in Naviance, the college planning application of Hobsons, used by 13 million students at more than 13,000 U.S. schools.
It asked students in 11th and 12th grade a series of questions.
It asked 11th graders when they started looking for colleges to attend. Comparisons are provided to last year's answers:
| When did you start … | First Half of 11th Grade -- 2019 | Second Half of 11th Grade -- 2019 | First Half of 11th Grade -- 2020 | Second Half of 11th Grade -- 2020 |
| Searching for colleges | 38.02% | 26.92% | 24.37% | 14.82% |
| Visiting colleges | 28.62% | 26.63% | 20.63% | 8.40% |
| Took first SAT/ACT | 37.21% | 41.14% | 25.90% | 12.68% |
| Took last SAT/ACT | 8.51% | 48.20% | 17.34% | 14.36% |
| Met counselors/teachers about colleges | 41.46% | 40.93% | 25.44% | 17.57% |
| Finalizing college application list | 5.25% | 27.54% | 6.04% | 25.21% |
| Decided which colleges you wanted to attend | 7.87% | 19.68% | 6.04% | 13.83% |
A majority of 11th graders last year searched for colleges, visited colleges and took their first SAT, but only a minority of this year's 11th graders did so. And overwhelming majority of 11th graders in 2019 talked with their counselors and teachers about college, but only a minority of students did so this year.
The figures on the SAT and ACT -- suggesting that many more will be trying to register for the test as seniors in the fall -- relate to why so many colleges are going test optional. The College Board called off several dates to take the SAT this spring, and kept one date just as the pandemic was spreading.
The 12th graders' responses indicated that only a minority of students abandoned plans to enroll in college. But there were increases in the percentage of students who said they wanted to work.
12th Graders Answer: What Are Your Post-High School Plans?
| 2019 | 2020 | |
| Gap year | 2.70% | 2.23% |
| Technical certificate | 1.60% | 2.27% |
| Military | 1.40% | 2.44% |
| I don't know | 4.20% | 3.91% |
| Working/getting a job | 2.50% | 6.02% |
| Two-year college | 19.40% | 18.84% |
| Four-year college | 68.20% | 64.30% |
The 12th graders were also asked for the top four factors in their college decision (they could pick four). The top four choices were the same but had much higher responses than did other answers.
Top Factors in College Choice
| Factor | 2019 | 2020 |
| Financial aid | 38.86% | 58.91% |
| Majors | 49.61% | 67.13% |
| Location | 48.58% | 74.35% |
| Cost of education | 59.65% | 78.70% |
Kate Cassino, the CEO of Hobsons, said she was struck by the large increases in the number of students who cited financial aid and majors as a top factor in their choice.
And she said she was also surprised by the high number of 11th graders who didn't make meaningful progress in their college searches during the year.
"It's really important that schools have strong advising programs," she said, especially for the fall, when high school seniors will be rushing with their college choices and freshmen will be arriving on campuses.
As for the things the high school juniors didn't do, Cassino said that just increases the pressure for senior year.
The spring semester, she said, will be known for "the transition, or lack thereof."
