Certainly not the end of the school year anyone expected. Our son was really looking forward to the CPW and PFE experiences, as well as returning to ISEF, among other cancelled academic activities.
At this point I think it is obvious to everyone that the situation is not likely to dramatically improve in the coming weeks, and possibility of this being a months (if not years, depending on how successful we are at flattening the curve) long slug is increasing, with huge impact on the world at large.
Current seniors will have to make their college choices without the benefit not only the college visits, but also without a clear understanding when or whether they will even be able to actually come to the school of their choice during their freshman year or even beyond.
@MITChris, first of all, thank you so much for being the face of MIT for years before, and during this challenging time.
Is there anything you can tell us about what MIT is doing to prepare for the possibility of severe disruptions extending into the next school year?
For families like ours who aren’t rich but whose EFC over four years exceeds the cost of our house, and who are now facing the same economic unease as the rest of the middle class, choosing to finance the dream MIT over other available options (like full tuition merit at Vandy, in our case) is a huge commitment. If MIT goes fully online, under all this uncertainty, it is hard not to ponder if this changes the equation - though we know it would be heart wrenching to have to make any other choice.
Would MIT consider changing their price structure if they were forced to switch to 100% online for a prolonged period of time?
I know expecting any kind of certainty in these unprecedented times is naive, but is there anything you can tell us, admitted students and their parents, to help us feel reassured that no matter what lies ahead, MIT will remain the best place for our children to continue their journey to realizing their fullest potential that is worth every penny it charges?