DS is transferring from a 4 yr college to another 4 year college. New college is now going on-line for fall 2020 with reduction of on-campus housing by 70%. As a new transfer student, he wants to meet new people and make new friends. We live 1 hour away from the college which is in Los Angeles. Do we have him take his on-line classes at home? Or get him an apt near campus to meet people? The kids are not supposed to go onto campus, if they are living off campus. Thoughts?
Seems like there won’t be many people on campus, and living in an off campus apartment limits his ability to get on campus. Off campus apartment is a lot of work and huge commitment. I would say stay home, focus on classes, this to shall pass and he’ll have plenty of time to socialize and meet people down the road.
On our D’s parents page for her school, this is the main topic every day from parents. As schedules are being finalized at her school, more classes are going on line so parents are struggling with should the kids stay home to save some money, get an apartment near campus to still have some of the college experience or some even thinking of a Gap year.
Given the facts you provided I would lean more to the stay home and save some money up. If they are online then the clubs and activities are most likely going to be virtual as well so why carry the expense of sitting in an apartment.
Our D is going to campus and we move her in next Wednesday. As of now she has two in person classes and the rest are on-line and we are OOS. Each situation is different and you know your kid and situation better than any of us so really the best thing is to sit down with your son and make a list of the Pro’s and Con’s and see if that helps to bring some clarity to your decision.
Can he get on a student group chat on social media and find classmates interested in sharing an apartment? I know others have done that at CMC
My D17 is a senior at a school that sounds a lot like that (LMU). She is in her off campus house now, since last week. From what she’s told me, people she knows are all over the place…some are coming out to be in apartments, some are changing their minds and staying home). It does sound like campus really will be shut down. She will only really be socializing with her roommates, those that come back. Those who are coming back are pretty committed to staying at home and know they won’t be mingling much. But they will have each other.
So…for a transfer student…it’s different. He’s never lived in an apartment before (I’m guessing?), doesn’t know/have roommates. Is the school doing anything virtually to try to help transfer students ‘meet’ people? It’s going to be hard! There are probably kids looking for roommates though on the college student Facebook group, I know my D’s friends have been looking there either to come (looking for roommates) or to leave (looking for subletters).
I think I would lean towards having him stay home at least for now. As I’m sure you know LA apartments are incredibly expensive, and unlike in a small college town, having an apartment “near campus” doesn’t really mean he will be near or around other students (except for Playa Del Oro apts–if we are talking LMU–due to the high concentration of students there) He might meet some people in his online classes once they start and maybe he could make some connections for roommates. Apartments will be available at any time, although price and distance to campus will vary. I’m just not sure how many people he will actually meet if you choose the apartment route right away. I think he might just end up isolated in his apt and “meeting” people the same way he would at home…virtually. Good luck it is hard and sad.
My DD is a rising freshman at a VA school that is 1 (but regularly 1.5 due to traffic) hrs away from home. Room & Board was all set. But just this week her class schedule came out – all online except for the freshman seminar class held T/Th.
We are also debating what to do. Stay home and commute T/Th (saving $$)…although DD tells me that many students are simply moving off campus and rooming in apts/homes…or just stay on campus which will likely be very deserted especially on weekends.
My worry is this…if she relinquishes her on-campus housing for 1st semester…what happens if Spring Semester classes are mostly in-person? I’m assuming she would not be guaranteed housing? Lots to think about.
In your son’s situation, I would probably have him work online from home. The idea about investigating his college’s clubs is a good one.
Our daughter will have an apartment with 2 friends, but we live 2 1/2 hours away in an area with spotty internet, so we think for her, living mostly in Seattle will be the better option.
Wishing your son the best!
@dcolosi “On our D’s parents page for her school, this is the main topic every day from parents. As schedules are being finalized at her school, more classes are going on line so parents are struggling with should the kids stay home to save some money, get an apartment near campus to still have some of the college experience or some even thinking of a Gap year.”
I wish there was a parents’ page where we could all talk about options and vent with some camaraderie.
@TS0104 DING DING! YOU ARE CORRECT! IT IS LMU! I was actually going to PM you but I forgot your 4 numbers after TS. Is there any sort of LMU parents’ page? He has been on a FB page for roomies and apts and keeping his ear to the ground. My biggest concern is that if he moves in an apt, he will want to go out to try to meet new people, then gets asymptomatic COVID and either recovers or brings it home to us. Or drives around LA visiting his old HS buddies. Or if he stays with us, then doesn’t make new friends during this year, which is his Sr yr.
I’ve seen a lot of kids moving back to college even when classes are on-line so I didn’t know if we were the weird ones for wanting him to stay home.
I like the idea of on-line clubs. Maybe if he meets people he likes, he can always move nearby later. There will probably be lots of sublets. Thanks for mentioning Playa Del Oro apts, I’m going to check it out.
My son is a freshman to a college in NYC. We are also struggling to decide online at home or go campus. Just Friday we got an email that need 14 day quarantine for international traveler as we are from north. I searched internet and couldn’t find Canada is on the restriction list for 14 day quarantine. I am still trying to find out how many courses will be online for him. This 14 day quarantine definitely stops us from considering crossing the border. Aso all students will be sent to home at Thanksgiving. Oh, well, we need make a final decision next week.
In your son’s situation I would suggest staying home since school only provides on-line.
similar situation-- our son is transferring from U of Michigan to Columbia U and now it’s all on line-- we happen to live in New York City so it’s one good thing for him but living at home with us is not his first choice, however, considering all that has been going with COVID and money concerns and online classes only, yes he will be going to Columbia U (his dream school) from his high school bedroom-- certainly not ideal but a dream nevertheless…just wondering if anyone else is in the same situation as I assume there are some…would love to connect him with other kids who live locally who are transferring