COVID-19 Admission FAQs

Will applying without test scores put me at a disadvantage in comparison to other students?

Rollins will continue to practice holistic admission review, understanding that COVID-19 has presented extraordinary circumstances for standardized testing and grading. We have been a Test Optional School for over 12 years and that is a viable option for students wishing to apply for fall 2023 who were not able to sit for the SAT or ACT. For more information, visit our Test Optional Admission page.

Will I still qualify for merit scholarships if I haven't been able to take the SAT or ACT test and applied test optional?

Students who apply without test scores may qualify for merit scholarships ranging from $15,000 to full tuition, room and board and also may qualify for need-based aid as determined by the FAFSA. To be considered for the Alfond Scholarship, our full tuition, room and board award, students must apply by the November 15 Priority Scholarship deadline.

How can I make my application stand out if most of my in-person activities and clubs were canceled?

Rollins will take a holistic view of your application, which will include a review of your grades, rigor of curriculum, extracurricular activities, and test scores if you choose to submit them. We understand that many extracurricular activities may look different the past few years and your access to virtual activities could be limited.

If you have the means to do so, we encourage you to take advantage of virtual options or highlight other activities you might be participating in, such as learning a new skill or community service. You may also use the resume portion of the application to explain any challenging circumstances or any additional contextual information that may be helpful in our review.

I was only recently able to sit for a test or I am scheduled to take a test later this year, and now I am worried about not testing high enough to be considered for the Alfond Scholarship by November 15. What do you recommend?

We recommend that you apply by November 15 if you would like to be considered for the Alfond Scholarship, as that is the deadline for consideration. We allow you to self-report your test score on your application, so if you take an October test and receive your results, please email your admission counselor directly to share your score in order to be considered before November 15. You may also upload new test scores not indicated on your application via your Rollins Application portal, and we will automatically review your application with this new information.

How does Rollins evaluate students that have taken a gap semester or year due to COVID-19?

We will ask that you offer detailed information about how you spent your gap semester or year and will consider this information when reviewing your grades, extracurricular activities, and test scores if you choose to submit them. We also understand that COVID interrupted many students’ educational plans and your access to activities, work, service, or travel could be limited and we will review with this in mind.

My school distributed pass/fail grades in the spring of my freshman year. How is Rollins calculating pass/fail grades into the unweighted GPA for admission?

Rollins recalculates your core courses taken throughout high school on a standard 4.0 grading scale. We will individually review pass/fail grades awarded as a result of COVID-19 impacting the spring 2020 semester but will not use them in your overall GPA calculation.

How will you assess me as a student if I chose to switch to doing all online classes during a portion of high school as a result of COVID-19? Is online schooling perceived as rigorous as in-person?

Your application will not be at a disadvantage if you choose to pursue all online classes. We review both the Secondary School Report and the types of courses you are taking such as AP or honors to determine the rigor of your course load. As part of the application review, we will also assess performance in academic courses, regardless of modality of delivery.

If COVID-19 has personally impacted me as a student or a family member and in some way impacts my application, where can I share this information with the admission committee?

There is an optional free-form question on the application that will allow you to elaborate on how COVID-19 has impacted you and your application to college. We will review as part of our holistic review process.

Rollins is my top choice and I have been planning to apply Early Decision, but now I'm not sure if I should because my family has been impacted financially by COVID-19. Should I still apply Early Decision?

We understand the financial uncertainty that COVID-19 has caused many families. Early Decision can still be a great option for you if Rollins remains your top choice because it comes with many benefits, such as early notification of your admission decision, early financial aid notification, priority course scheduling, and placement in one of your top three choice first-year seminar courses.

We encourage you to gauge your expected financial contribution by completing the net price calculator on our Financial Aid website and then having a conversation with Financial Aid about your specific situation after you complete the calculator. If you are admitted under the Early Decision agreement and finances do not work out, you may be released from the contract.

My high school was unable to offer AP courses during the 2020-2021 academic year, or students could only take AP courses if they attended the 2020-2021 academic year in person. How will this impact my application?

We understand that high schools must make curriculum decisions differently at this time and that the variety of advanced or AP courses available to students may have been reduced. We will review rigor of high school curriculum in the application process in the context of the individual high school, and students will not be penalized for reduced availability of advanced courses. There is also a section on Rollins’ application for admission that allows students to disclose any extenuating circumstances or hardships experienced as a result of COVID-19, and you are encouraged to add information about availability of courses there.