I would expect that vast majority of colleges to make decisions in large part based on financial considerations. That different schools make different choices doesn’t mean they had different reasons for doing so. Colleges are big businesses. I don’t think its surprising that they make decisions like one.
We sure do. But many of them [“Just. Can’t.”](School in the 2020-2021 Academic Year & Coronavirus (Part 1) - #7731 by circuitrider - Parents Forum - College Confidential Forums)
@1NJParent But Bowdoin largely isn’t making the decision based on financial implications: they are dodging the financial implications by deterring students from taking time off. If they want to go online, fine, but they should have to deal with the financial consequences, including dealing with all the students who want to take gap years.
@1NJParent we will never all know how the sausage was made when making these decisions. Colleges will give us reasons why they chose their plans but we aren’t privy to all of the conversations that were had leading up to these decisions. The bottom line has always been that, as much as it sucks, the students can make their own decisions. S19 is saying he’s hearing a lot of kids on his Bowdoin threads saying they are looking to transfer or take a gap. He just said that, anyone not loving their experience there, now has no reason to stay. I think that’s somewhat true unless you are a senior. I guess they could still take a gap year but they are so close to the end that I don’t know how many would do that. They can’t transfer at this point.
I think Bowdoin is clear that kids will want to gap or transfer. They are knowingly taking that risk and must have decided they can handle it financially.
@TheVulcan wrote:
I’m confused. What part of that response do you disagree with?
Again, not sure there’s any disagreement here. My explanation (difficulty de-densifying the dorms) is entirely consistent with what I’ve been saying all along about colleges following the HYPSM model.
Bates plans on bringing students back but there’s no official plan yet. I believe it’s the same for Colby. No details. The communication so far for both has been pretty short and tentative but both said “planning” for students back and that was last week.
I am not out to argue opinions about relative merits of LACs vs “Ivy equivalents” (or even whether MIT is an “Ivy equivalent”;). I simply doubt the explanatory power of your theory;)
I thought we [already covered that part](School in the 2020-2021 Academic Year & Coronavirus (Part 1) - #7734 by Chekov - Parents Forum - College Confidential Forums).
I agree with this. There is a certain degree of marketing/spin in what colleges will announce/have announced. Much like there is in pretty much all colleges do. Interestingly though if you agree with the spun statement, you are less likely to see it as spin; if you disagree with it, you are more likely to see it as spin.
There are lots of wealthy and prestigious universities and colleges choosing on campus, hybrid approaches.
Maybe the Bowdoin professorial ranks shot down coming back to Maine in enough numbers to matter.
They also always seem to walk to the beat of their own drummer. They also have an individualistic view of things. First TO super LAC I recall.
Now they are class and student optional for the fall. Based on their best guess and informed by their faculty staff and view of the world. I think it’s a shame personally. But only time will tell. Please let’s stop with the hero worship and ultimate conclusions before the game is over. It’s actually a riskier bet to try and bring the students back. Certainly reputational risk and expenses. Saying stay home isn’t really some bold statement.
Hasn’t the transfer deadline passed? It seems they wouldn’t attend college again until fall 2021 anyway. I don’t see how a transfer is achieving something a gap year wouldn’t.
My school has announced they will be returning with the now-typical modifications to the schedule (no fall break, in-person ending at Thanksgiving), and some combination of in-person and remote courses still being worked out. Students in dorms, but apparently not as many.
They are redoing the Fall schedule which won’t be out until late July. That could be tricky. As an adjunct, I have the choice to agree to or reject whatever they are offering me, yet I’m already under contract, so not sure how that’s going to work out.
Yeah. Who knows? Like I said, we aren’t going to get the whole scoop. Professors pushing back? The town of Brunswick pushing back? Some arithmetic they did that shows they can weather the storm in this very conservative way (at least for one semester) so that they don’t have to figure out how to get everyone back? Not enough hospital beds in Brunswick/Portland to make them comfortable right now? However the decision was made, they decided the risks were not worth the rewards for this one semester. I wonder what they think their odds are for spring.
I feel like we might get a little bit more of a clue when we see Bates and Colby’s return plan.
Not sure but I know there’s still a lot of movement for incoming freshman changing their minds about where to go to school. Don’t know if kids could reach out to schools they’d like to transfer to and see if they’ll consider taking an app for fall (or spring).
A student who does not feel that a remote or restricted-on-campus experience is worth the tuition, and does not see Bowdoin academics as anything special over those at a local low cost community college or state university may decide to transfer to the low cost community college or state university. In some states, the less selective state universities may be open for applications for admission into the summer. For example, University of North Texas has an application deadline of 8/1 for this coming fall semester: https://admissions.unt.edu/transfer/how-to-apply .
@homerdog sorry for your son. Maybe he can join a local running club and do some 5k training for his kick. And help d21 with some application and essay review. Plus classes if he decides to stay with the online experience and you will pay for it.
I think They should give students free tuition for the one semester if forced to stay home.
Opposite numbers at MIT. Most students (upwards 80-90%) are registering under most scenarios, including fully online learning.
https://thetech.com/2020/06/17/student-preference-survey-team2020
@privatebanker aw that’s sweet. Free semester would be perfect. lol.
As for staying home and helping D21, that’s the FIRST thing she said when she heard. “He can help me with calc this fall!!!”
@vulcan. That doesn’t surprise me in the least.
It’s as much about the “type” of students, majors and reason for choosing each school as anything else.
Amherst has a lot more athletes statistically as well.
They have a lot of students outside of stem.
They are different by design. Yet both have equally important roles to play in this world.
This comes across as very obnoxious and insensitive…