Of course, the process of applying to college is always stressful! The Pandemic can be blamed, however, for causing college applicants to be more stressed than usual! As always, the biggest worry is financial aid. Today's students really worry about what their level of debt will be if they don't receive sufficient financial help!
There is also a new stress factor. Students simply don't know whether they will be attending college on campus or online!
Another effect of the Pandemic is high school students' decisions about where they will attend college. Many students had to forgo their in-person campus visitation and opt instead for an online tour. As a result, many are choosing to attend schools closer to home because they are already familiar with the school. This pleases many parents as students might elect to live at home rather than on campus.
Whether or not it is the Pandemic, students' decisions about which colleges they will apply to are increasingly based on which college is the best fit for their future careers.