Future still uncertain for seniors on National College Decision Day

May 1 is typically a day where high school seniors solidify their plans for the upcoming school year. It's called National College Decision Day because, for most colleges and universities in the United States, it's the deadline for students to notify them of their decision to attend.

High school seniors are grappling with the loss of graduation ceremonies, senior activities, and now possibly the idea of beginning their college careers online.

"I think that the class of 2020, nationwide, just deserves some sort of big award," said Susan Rice, head of Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage. 

Palm Valley School's Class of 2020 is celebrating their college choices virtually. May is usually a time when high school seniors have some certainty as to what the fall will look like. But with coronavirus, so much is still up in the air.

"I would really like for it to not be online. I'd really like to be in person, but you know, it is what it is," said Charles Schnell, a senior at Palm Valley School. 

Charles Schnell is headed to Emory University in Atlanta, even though coronavirus travel restrictions have kept him from seeing the campus himself.

"I hope to be able to visit this summer, and I know I'll get used to it in August and September when I move in," he said.

"I think it comes back to preparing students for the path and not preparing the path for students, and the path is unknown, and it may be rocky,” said Rice.

Rice said the students at Palm Valley are prepared to adapt.

"They're less about adjusting their choice and more about adjusting their mindset and how am I going to handle what's to come," said Rice. 

"There's always the anxiety that I'm sure every senior feels, of being on your own for the first time and not knowing what you're going to do with your life or what your life is going to consist of, and those feelings are very real obviously, but I just try to focus on the excitement and the positive feelings I have," Schnell said. 

Rice has heard other concerns from parents.

"I think for some families who are economically impacted by the shutdown, depending on what their child's tuition looks like for the fall, that may be a decision that they have to make coming up," she said. "I think there may be some fears that arise over, what does it look like to move into a dormitory during the era of coronavirus?" 

"I just have faith that things are going to get better," said Schnell.