Lots of ideas! I wouldn’t feel super comfortable with my kid at a 30k student school even if they were seated 6 feet apart! That is, if there are still health concerns.
Good luck to all as we figure this out!
@“Jolynne Smyth” We were looking at a gap year at one of my daughter’s schools and their specific agreement said that you can’t take any college classes in the gap year. I would think that might be just for classes that you would intend to transfer? If my D decided on a a gap year, I thought about having her take classes that interest her at the local CC or ones that might prepare her for her college classes (ex - my daughter is a nursing major - there’s a review class at the local CC that reviews Biology and other things that prep you for Anatomy & Physiology. Considering she hasn’t had Biology since Freshman year, I actually think it would be a good review) Just something to keep her busy. Like you said, not certain what jobs may be available in in this economic market.
@Laxmama24 That’s an interesting idea about having students only on campus in large lecture halls with lots of space but not staying on campus. I could see how that could work if you were close enough to commute.
I read an article posted about Boston University. They are considering multiple ideas including skipping Fall semester and starting students in Jan 2021 and making up the Fall semester in Summer 2021. I think that is a good idea. The dates would have to be shifted to get the typical 16 weeks of classes (semester schools).
Who knows how things will resolve. It’s hard to commit without knowing how things will look. And how each school will handle things in the Fall. Depending on the plans that each school puts in place, I could see how that might change where each student wants to start. I know that’s not feasible but that would be the ideal. Some schools are refunding deposits thru August but then what? I guess our kids would just have to re-apply. I don’t think a gap year would be approved that late in the game.
It seems like some universities are considering delaying the fall trimester/semester or having it online for the upcoming academic year.
@bobrowmugsoup Can’t say I’m surprised. All this news coming out seems to indicate that not only does the virus spread like wildfire, it is leaving long-term damage on major organs. At this point I don’t want to go to brick and mortar school with this thing still uncontrolled.
In North Carolina, there has been a strong push by the public university system to return, whereas my friends in the UC system feel like those admins are making a bunch of remote learning plans. No one truly knows what to do. 
Good summary article in NYTimes today https://nyti.ms/3d8VBoe