Where would the students (upperclassmen) who were going to live in the apartment building go? It’s not like apartment buildings near colleges are just sitting empty.
What @evergreen5 and @AlmostThere2018 said.
It is certainly scary to the class of 2021 to think of all colleges allowing unlimited gap years for the class of 2020. This year’s juniors would like a shot at getting into some of these prestigious colleges too. Allowing unlimited gap years for the class of 2020 unfairly punishes the class of 2021.
I have been on dozens of AO webinars in the last month or so. Many say that gap year inquires have increased, but that actual requests for gap years have not increased. Of course, if and when schools say some or all classes are online, that could change.
Most schools have clearly defined criteria for taking gap years and many have said they will not grant more gap years than a typical year. A few have said they will offer unlimited gap years (Davidson said this re: incoming freshman). So, 2021s will have to ask questions, especially at smaller schools, re: what percent of the class of 2021 is already full.
From a prospective employment angle, high school class of 2020 students should consider whether they’d prefer to graduate in a relatively smaller class in 2024 or in a ginormous bubble class in 2025.
I don’t see how schools could allow unlimited gap years or leaves of absence. Of course, that’s what parents want (especially incoming freshmen) but schools need to think about future classes as well.
I have already instructed my D21 to email admissions officers at each of the colleges on her list in early July to ask if their 2020 gap year policy means a significantly smaller acceptance rate for the class of 2021. I figure by July the colleges should have an idea of whether or not the number of gap year kids are much higher than usual (for those colleges who are allowing unlimited gap years). Three of the colleges on her list have already announced they will not allow more gap years than normal for the class of 2020. We appreciate that. And fwiw, if COVID19 sticks around a long time and/or makes a comeback for fall 2021 and all classes for fall 2021 are online, D21 will not take a gap year. She will work with whatever her college is doing and roll with it.
There’s a possibility colleges that allow unlimited gap years for the class of 2020 will see a decrease in applications from the class of 2021. Why bother applying to a school if their acceptance rate is now significantly lower because they allowed so many gap years? That just adds an extra X factor into an already stressful process.
I’ve seen in multiple places the same comparison; if two people are in close proximity for a significant period of time, and neither of them are wearing a mask, then the chance of transmission is near 100%. If the HEALTHY person is wearing a mask but the infected person isn’t, the chance of transmission is 70%. If the INFECTED person is wearing a mask but the healthy person isn’t, the transmission chance is 5%. If BOTH are wearing a mask, the chance of transmission is only 1.5%!
This is why requiring everybody on a campus (and in dorms) to wear masks would be very effective in mitigating spread. I’m not sure if it depends on the type of mask, but in their email, Amherst College implied they were acquiring masks that were PPE; if I had to guess, they are acquiring N95 Masks that everyone would be required to wear. I agree that college students May be reluctant to do this, but if the alternative was studying at home or taking time off and there were harsh consequences (that were actually enforced) for disobeying the mask-wearing rule, I’m sure virtually everyone coming back to campus would obey this rule, and if not, they would be sent home. And with regards to testing, they are working on getting tests too. The thing is, many nurses can’t acquire tests because they would have to get a test from the hospital or government, who are being very frugal with their tests (for good reason). However, a college wouldn’t get them from the government or a hospital, they would order them in bulk from a lab testing company (LabCorp is the one mass-producing them right now), who would very likely not turn down the opportunity for that amount of money.
I’m not sure why but I am not particularly worried about a glut of incoming freshmen taking gap years. Partly, it’s because I think most campuses will be open in some way shape or form this fall and I bet kids will be really ready to go to school. Also, there’s a lot of talk about gap years but, when faced with them in reality, I bet most families won’t do it. That’s a big commitment to have your son or daughter home for 15 straight months starting now with so many unknowns as to what they can do instead.
As for S19 and a gap semester, that idea is slowly dwindling away too and that’s another reason why I bet older kids will go back. I’ve warned him about what it could be like on campus if they go back but he wants to see his friends, who he left 51 days ago, and likely won’t be able to see this summer. He knows that, if he stays here, we are likely to ask him to take some other type of online class (less expensive ones!) and he really doesn’t want to do that while his college friends are trying to figure out “new life” reality on campus.
I would not be having D21 contacting AOs directly about how this will affect next year’s seniors. What is an AO going to say exactly? First, they don’t know how many kids are taking a gap year yet and, second, how do they know how that will affect the 2021s? Maybe there won’t be fewer spots because there will be even more melt on the 2020s over the summer. It’s an impossible question to answer.
@ChemAM I’m sorry but there’s no way colleges are going to get their hands on N95 masks.
@homerdog Maybe it’s for surgical masks, because that statistic I’ve been seeing implied masks were only 30% effective when non-infected individuals wore them, but either way, I bet they will be in good shape to reopen in fall. Also, they could get N95s if they ordered them in bulk from a company. Companies won’t turn down any offer for money. I’m sure N95s are being mass-produced right now, and there will be plenty by fall.
I would really think most upperclassmen would come back. My son said after Freshman year that novelty wears off. Now it’s about getting through the major. All seniors he knows 100 % are coming back to finish… Lol… All of his classes even for his minors should be small classes anyway. He could graduate after Fall term but at this point wants the second minor. Plus job opportunities might not be great next winter compared to the fall of 2021.
For me, this would be in the “treatment is worse than the cure” category. I cannot imagine having my rising Freshman home - doing nothing - for 15 months. I think this would have extensive long term ramifications, like, they will find something else and never go back.
“And with regards to testing, they are working on getting tests too. The thing is, many nurses can’t acquire tests because they would have to get a test from the hospital or government, who are being very frugal with their tests (for good reason). However, a college wouldn’t get them from the government or a hospital, they would order them in bulk from a lab testing company (LabCorp is the one mass-producing them right now), who would very likely not turn down the opportunity for that amount of money.”
Also many larger colleges (especially those with attached medical centers) may develop the capabilities to do their own in-house testing to get rapid results rather than sending test kits offsite (would that mean more internship opportunities for biochem students?). I wonder if this will make a difference in reopening decisions.
Exactly. While a gap year sounds exotic, in today’s environment, what can 18-year olds really do with their year off? Travel could be more dangerous than moving into a dorm. Typical volunteer activities are closed off, perhaps until a vaccine is available. Companies aren’t hiring and won’t be any time soon.
Sit home and stream netflix all year?
This would affect both the parents mental health and certainly the students. I’m pretty much at my wits end already and have softened the rules. If numbers keep going down, the rules will continue to erode. Its only been 8 weeks.
I have heard that colleges are trying to acquire rapid testing (Abbott labs machine - 15 minute results) and antibody testing. The Abbott machines already are in existence at doctors offices across the country so its possible there will be some reshuffling (purely speculation here). Abbott is working hard on producing the cartridges needed for the tests.
I for one think it is unrealistic to expect college students to wear masks all day.
Some colleges are really coming up with some great ideas. Obviously, people can find fault with everything, but I am encouraged by the creative thinking. Hopefully we will have a better grasp on this virus within the next month when schools want to put concrete plans in place.
@Leigh22 Well if the alternative is being sent home, and consequences are enforced, I think they would comply.
What a false dichotomy. Just because big important things (as decided on here) are not available doesn’t mean these kids will sit around all day doing nothing but watch videos. There are many creative endeavors that can be undertaken at home- and have value, even if not monetary- and there is nothing wrong with a year with more time to (gasp) relax. I really don’t understand people is what this is all teaching me. I think I might be an alien. Ha.
Any new N95’s are being used by healthcare workers, first responders, or any other essential workers. Then emergency supplies and national defense concerns will get any excess.
My wife’s hospital is only buying made in USA N95’s. Too many of the recent KN95’s made in China are defective. They’re still rationing masks and reusing although they are using the peroxide aerosol cleaning method.
I would be shocked if colleges and universities will get any/enough N95’s by August unless they’re willing to pay a steep premium.