Apparently Northeastern, BU and BC were not as clairvoyant as some of the elite colleges.
I’d like to “follow” this thread by bookmarking it, but it always shows every post as unread. Does anyone know why this is the case and how to fix it??
Huh, apparently commenting in the thread finally fixed it for me!
@homerdog I think the kids would have to decide by a certain date whether they would come back or not, so they could plan. They could also plan for virtually everybody to return to campus, because almost nobody (except for those who are extremely vulnerable to the virus) would stay home. The option would just be there to relieve them of a liability (they could say in a lawsuit that they had the option of staying home). Also, they could offer a gap semester (most people wouldn’t take it, but the option would be there so the school could mention it in the event of a lawsuit). And again, UC-Irvine has already stated that it is what they are planning to do if students can come back in fall.
This is probably the first year that those offered the Feb option at Midd are really happy!
And probably the same for some students offered spring admission at several other colleges that sometimes offer spring admission to fall applicants, if the college allows spring admits a range of options, including a gap semester or taking fall courses at a local community college and transferring the credit (fall study abroad is another typical option, but is probably quite uncertain or unattractive this year; so are limited-offering on-campus fall programs).
Proceed under an assumption that first year is online. If that alters your decision, then perhaps the current top choice is not worth the premium to begin with.
Younger S’ president sent a letter which stated (among lots of other things) that the current plan is to have in-person classes in August. I figure that’s a nice plan, but we will see.
If they are, we will send younger S to his already leased apartment with 3 other roommates. If it’s online, I asked him if he wanted to go or stay here. I would be open either way. He said he would have to see. He’d rather be with his friends, but he’s a bit skittish about getting sick. I am only 3 car hours away, so getting to him isn’t a big deal, and I’m maxed out on vacation hours (280) with nowhere to go and have nearly 800 hours of sick leave. I can take off. This is why I saved it all of these (23) years - in case of an emergency.
I think many schools pushed back their deposit dates to June or something like that
Maybe that will help having some extra time. Hard decisions but I know many that are still sending their kids in fall no matter what. This is their new normal. I have stated this prior but I would think June /July latest you will have your answer. Don’t think anyone will announce in the next 1.5 before May 1st. It’s too early to know.
@Knowsstuff Many of the prestigious colleges haven’t pushed their dates back. I have a friend who is a senior in high school deciding between Amherst, Swarthmore, and Wellesley and she told me the other day that her decision is still due on May 1.
Many will have to stay open. If they close, it will be permanently.
I would send my kids back. and if either got sick I would travel to help advocate for them, but based on the numbers for those in this age range the death rate is very low. I would say that for this age range the suicide rate is probably much higher. My older D already had a bad case of flu one year, and mono another year while at school. I think all along the issue with the younger folks (who are not immune compromised) is that they would be spreading it . I also have heard of some younger folks getting it pretty bad, but worse than mono/flu ? Both my kids want to go back really really bad. My oldest will be on her last semester if online has stated she will take a LOA. my youngest would probably do online, but not sure if here, or at his college in an apartment. The president of his school has stated that if allowed by law, they desire to have classes on campus. They are in a state that has been hit, but in a more rural area.
In other words, the premium price you would pay in the first year of the private college would be to assure him a seat at that private college for his remaining years of college, rather than any first year experience upgrade (i.e. residential college experience versus at-home distance education or commuter experience).
For the other aspects that people pay for college for, academic content, pre-professional preparation, and prestige-related factors, do you see that private college as an upgrade worth paying a premium for over less expensive colleges?
Add me to those who would send my kids back. A huge part of this is that they have been 100% compliant with social distancing recommendations and laws, and I feel confident that they would do so at school.
If my D17’s college city eases restrictions enough for her to head back, but classes are still online, I would still let her go back. Actually we plan to let her go back whenever both cities and states (here and there) allow it and we feel confident that groceries can be obtained safely. She has off campus housing and will be taking summer school online. She knows how stay at home living is done, and can do it there safely when we can get her there!
Either way, I would have to work out a plan for both kids as to how I would help them be both isolated and cared for if either came down with the virus. This is the trickier part for me, and honestly we don’t even know 100% how it would work with everyone at home now if one of us contracted it. I wonder if, when students are allowed to be on campus, if we will have to agree to some sort of plans or procedure to remove our (on campus) students if they test positive.
@Chuckman UC-Irvine has not yet confirmed they are opening this fall. They have confirmed that if they reopen, they are committed to offering distance education to anyone who does not wish to come to campus in fall.
I wonder that, too. The colleges don’t remove kids if they come down with the flu, mono, strep, etc. The vast majority of kids won’t suffer any more with Covid19 than they do with these other ailments.
I could see the colleges not letting the kids go to class and requiring them to stay in their dorm room. Sending the kids home would endanger the parents who fall into the higher risk category along with all the individuals the student would come in contact with on the journey home if the parents were unable to pick them up from school.
I agree – but – what to do for that year? With 20%+ unemployment, jobs/internships/volunteering will be hard to come by. I suppose you could self-study online, but, boy… the interesting options out there are slim!
You may be absolutely right… I wonder though, if Northeastern’s decision was a more complicated one since it included students who still lived on campus, but were on co-op… If they closed housing they could jeopardize students’ jobs… Anyway, that’s just my second guessing.
It sounds like your family has a plan (and a great kiddo.) But for many students, putting off college for a year without very specific goals would be difficult psychologically. Many need the structure of school/work otherwise they’d spend their days playing video games – kinda like me, right now (except I’m on CC and not playing videos 
)
It’s a tough decision I guess but then why not just pick state anyway? We can justify just about anything right. Your child isn’t going for just 6 months of his life. He’s going for 4 years. So to me it’s not the money unless financially things really turned for the worse for some families. Then that to me is an easy decision. But what was it about his other choices that made it worth $40,000/year more? Prestige? Keeping up with the Joneses? It’s interesting to me how families are really evaluating “value” now. Not a bad thing at all. But does 6 month of potential online or hybrid studies really detract from the 4 years of college of choice? I don’t know what I would really do
My daughter graduates virtually this May. Good part her 91 year-old grandmother can watch it online. My son graduates next year. I have asked families I know for this fall and nothing has really changed for them. Fall will be the new normal. They picked the college of choice for a reason and don’t think their other choices will meet their expectations for what they wanted for their child etc. Interesting times.