@msdynamite85 Most colleges are saying that large classes will be online, and classes will only be offered in-person in rooms that allow social distancing. While that is the norm for some colleges in a typical semester, packed lecture halls will not be happening for the upcoming semester (and probably not the upcoming year)
I think people on here underestimated the resources the state government can throw towards public schools. Whether it’s testing capacity, tailoring the rules to their abilities, or funds for construction.
Duke is massive though and such apart of NC, that it could find itself still benefiting.
How does that say anything different from posts like the following? It looks like most posters here do not want to pay private college tuition when the experience is the same as that which a low cost economy class local public college offers.
We do think there will be a difference between remote Bowdoin classes and some other schools. S19’s remote spring was actually pretty good. Just not the same as in person no matter what they look like.
@homerdog sorry I meant to tag someone else
@homerdog, I am sorry to hear about Bowdoin.
Football is such a big part of the culture of my alma mater that if they announced ‘no football’ right now…well, I have no doubt that there would be a lot of requests for gap years, pronto. Go Irish.
Cynically, I think Bowdoin knows students WON’T social distance, WON’T wear masks, and WON’T refrain from parties. Which these small, intimate schools in areas with long and harsh winters are rather famous for. 
I think Bowdoin figured keeping many students off campus will protect THE SCHOOL from the inevitable outbreaks, illnesses, professor protests, etc – things that are significant liability issues.
And frankly, seeing videos of 20-somethings partying up a storm nationwide - no masks or distancing - I agree. Bowdoin doesn’t want to make its staff Covid Police and knows it’s unrealistic to expect its students to live with significant Covid restrictions. Students who chose LACs chose an intimate academic experience. Can’t have intimacy in a Covid world, especially in remote areas far from major hospitals.
Why Bowdoin decided to take this route and other similar schools haven’t is a mystery to me. Maybe Bowdoin is more realistic, or maybe it’s more risk averse. For Bowdoin parents/students eager to get back to campus that might be a moot point. For outside observers it will be interesting to compare how other SLACs in the Northeast fare vs. Bowdoin.
So unless this is a joke? why would anyone expect something to be free or reduced? Maybe I just don’t understand. I get the “it’s not the experience we are paying for” theory. Really no campus will have that. Sure, I’ll take a credit if they want to give it but don’t expect it. I am paying for the education that only Michigan (insert name of school here ) is capable of giving my student. Brilliant professors and teaching styles won’t magically become less brilliant and less engaging.
Now if they want to throw in some free covid masks and of course a t-shirt then great. If my son can’t go to football games, I hope they honor the student pricing next year when he’s not a student but that’s about it. The Alumni aren’t going anywhere. The fall semester as I stated will be different and parts of it will suck.
I think it was @homerdog that said her kid was going back with his friend unit in an apartment (did I get that right?). My daughter stayed at school her senior last semester with her friend unit. Couldn’t of been a better decision. Many days by the river doing homework and making a picnic. She did homework with her friends in Kayaks (yes, you read that correctly ?), went on social distancing walks nightly. Did homework together just being together. Drank wine and watched Netflix in her “family” group. Complained that online totally sucked and not up to their schools normal standards Etc etc. Even though school wasn’t the same it seems she got the material and had a great senior last semester. They even watched their pretaped commencement together and had a blast doing it.
But if you can save money that is great also for not paying for room /board. Personally if I had the choice and could afford it and make it happen, I would want my kids to be on campus. They just get more done and why my son stayed till the end of finals also. If they can do it online then why not give a choice of being on campus also?
B — College Confidential
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/b/
In case we want to talk about any of the myriad of other colleges and universities that start with the letter “B”. . .
But the colleges are not advocating this. No one is having students tightly packed in classrooms. Read the plans. Those allowing students back to campus are all imposing significant modifications. This will not be business as usual, as we have seen from the numerous announcements from colleges. None of my colleagues plan to conduct their classes, office hours, or interactions with students and other faculty and staff in the same manner.
As for clubbing, bars, and concerts…not sure why you think that’s exclusive to college environments. Have you been watching the news?
I stand by my assertion that your comparison is severely flawed.
Gettysburg College put out a plan to return to classes in fall. Start 2 weeks early and then 14 weeks of school without breaks until Thanksgiving, finals online.
Some in person classes, some hybrid, some totally online and also adding evening classes.
To me it sounds like completely remote learning will only be available to those who can’t return to campus - international visa issues, health, family obligations etc. Also clearly states that remote learning will not be as “comprehensive “ as
that being offered to residential students.
No info about dining, very little about dorms etc.
Masks required if can’t be 6 feet apart and in all campus buildings.
All of this comes with the bonus of a 3.75% tuition hike.
I know a few who are transferring INTO top schools from schools with lower profiles… it’s a great time to be a full pay transfer!
Thanks, Leigh22. I wonder what they mean by remote learning not being as comprehensive. Is the tuition the same as for in person?
Yes, tuition is the same. It said something about a “suite” of online options for remote learning. Interested to see what that means. Also “college endorsed “gap semesters will be an option.
Information for both of these should be available sometime in the first week of July.
At least at Michigan they said that if “all” students were not on campus then no sports would be played since athletes are students also. I really respected that decision. Some other schools didn’t have that view.
Agreed. The user who made the Broadway comment comparing it to classes clearly is not aware of the protective measures the colleges are putting in place.
I am very aware of covid protective measures, I am a key worker.
The protective measures being put in place for colleges include either full or partial online learning. I made the broadway comparison in response to complaints about certain schools not allowing students back to campus. The reason behind that policy is the same reason broadway will likely be shut for a year.
@katliamom Are you saying that students at LACs are more likely to ignore the Covid rules than kids at universities? Schools like BC, UNC, Duke, Notre Dame with much bigger student populations and in locations with much more Covid are going back. I doubt those students are any more or less likely to follow the rules than kids at LACs. And I contend that a smaller school can have more control over variables than a bigger school.
Perhaps it is a football/basketball revenue thing. It seems like the D1 schools with tv contracts are going back. But D3 schools with big endowments like Bowdoin and Grinnell are bring extremely cautious and perhaps financially they can afford to forego room and board revenue. Then some D3 schools with smaller endowments are going back because perhaps they can’t forego the revenue? And some Ivy’s with massive $ also have very restrictive plans. So maybe these decisions are driven primarily by financials.
Bowdoin Online courses Spring 2020 were o.k. but -$28 k is a lot of $ to spend for a semester of online school. Bowdoin heavily implied that if no changes to Covid, only seniors allowed back on campus for spring 2021. will my son get the same education online as in person? No freaking way… there is a lot of chat tonight about bowdoin students moving into off campus private apartments with friends etc…, so they would have access to library and other resources if there are letter grades this fall (nothing like that Bowdoin competitiveness/ err backstabbing). concern over “the citizens of Brunswick” no…fall semester online since little other options at this point. spring 2021 semester online - forget it. Bowdoin “name” not worth year and 1/2 online in any situation. transfer somewhere else for spring/fall 2021 - redo sophomore year on a campus then.
Knowsstuff wrote: »
@homerdog. But why would so many want to transfer? That’s kinda sad that the student’s can’t deal with one semester not going their way. You are paying for their teaching style and what a degree from Bowdoin means.
I know the last semester was online but I would assume if they had a hybrid semester that it would of been a better experience.
I am asking to just understand it.
NOTE: Bowdoin is telling parents only freshmen Fall 2020 and, if no improvement or relapse, only Seniors Spring 2021. So if that happens then you have 2 and 1/2 semesters (almost 3) online. If you wait until Bowdoin tells your their decision for spring 2021 in November or December - you are stuck either taking time off or doing it again… Better to take online courses this fall and apply to transfer for Spring 2021 elsewhere-there are good options