Sorry but that’s like insane… Off campus could be a few blocks away. Why couldn’t they use the schools resources that your paying for? Yes, that would piss me off to no end. At schools like Michigan they actually treat the students like… Err… Adults… Not sure why this school doesn’t respect their student body? Or am I not understanding this correctly?
So evidently not a realtor but I did see a beautiful mansion for about $25,000/month. That would be big enough ?, ?
LOL.
I totally get it and appreciate your view point. Please reread my post. I did say I feel for them. There is empathy and my kids have plenty of it. I get what your saying. But at the end of the day there is a decision to go back or not. This was discussed also for my kid. His decision was based on the same scenarios. There wasn’t a question but he is also a senior. His view point might of been different if he was a sophomore.
As I learn more about Bowdoin decisions I am confused to the why also. I am reading and responding as I go and I should of read everything then responded. But it doesn’t change the fact that this was a likely scenario. Yes, the reality of it just sucks actually. But it was something that was also a reality.
If the virus remains a significant concern in the Fall (I believe it will), I am concerned about kids traveling from different parts of the country to go to their schools. That number of people moving around the country can’t be good. I thought it could possibly be handled by kids having to be tested & quarantine for the first week or 2. But my D pointed out that I’m not taking into account all the kids flying, or driving multiple days, or families traveling with them and staying in hotels etc.
So if we are really so concerned about the virus spreading that we are jumping through all of these hoops, why are we having kids travel from all over the place, just to take an on-line class? This doesn’t make sense from a community spread standpoint.
A lot of this conversation and advice revolves around elite colleges. Here’s our situation: rising college freshman and junior. Both required to live on campus so no options of renting. Neither are top tier schools.
D’s spring semester online contained NO live classes. Her two labs were a joke. One prof is anti-tech; doesn’t even own a cell. Sure, she could gap or transfer, but this would be her second transfer due to a loss of financial aid from her first university (very traumatic experience). Not sure what school will look like come fall (so far in person but no real details). Is it worth the price? Expensive LAC even with a great merit package.
S has ADHD and EF issues. Online senior year experience for him a joke. Only 2 classes live (not even consistently), lots of busy work. He is easily distracted, really needs live, in person classes. Plans are for in-person but no idea what will really happen. Sure, he could also gap or try to transfer, but there are so many issues with those choices. Is his worth the price? Also expensive even with great merit.
Since we truly have no idea what will come in the fall, we are having a hard time deciding. So far both kids are registered and planning to attend. No idea if gap is even an option. I think it’s an easier decision with a top tier college because the assumption is great professors, lots of money to make the online experience great, and you’ll still have the name on the diploma. Not so easy with lower tiered schools.
I do not object to online courses that were designed by tech savvy folks to be virtual yet interactive and comprehensive. In fact, D is considering an entirely online professional master’s program. But this spring our kids did not receive courses planned and designed to be online. They got haphazard, we’re-doing-the-best-we-can-in-a-crisis classes. Some professors stopped all meetings, some reduced meeting time by two thirds, some cancelled important application projects, and all changed their evaluation methods last minute. It was not the best, and that is no one’s fault.
However, the issue for me is whether we can expect a lot better this fall. Not that much time has passed, professors are on vacation, and schools are busy worrying about contagion. Many colleges are not reporting on what technological and pedagogical improvements are being made, such that the consumer can feel sure the courses will be worth the large sum they’re charging for them. The communication from college is all masks and social distancing and testing.
I’m sick of the implication that parents are overly concerned about the campus experience for their snowflakes. Sure, EC’s are great, but ultimately the education matters and I fear a continued loss of quality.
TSA reported recently that processes 500k travelers per day now, which isn’t up to pre-Covid levels but is up from the nadir. I don’t think the college students travels will matter much.
The virus will be a concern until (or if) there is a vaccine. I guess it could mutate and become less dangerous, but obviously can’t count on that.
The number of students who will be traveling to live near a school that is offering online instruction only is dwarfed by students who will be moving into schools that are offering at least some classes in person. And yes, that’s going to be many people traveling around the country in August and September.
There will be covid cases on at least some, maybe many, campuses, so they will be able to see if their testing/tracing/isolating practices work. Hopefully we will all learn a lot from the situation.
This also is probably why colleges need to quarantine students upon arrival. Because they could very well be exposed on a flight.
Sure, but I’m going to push for a better (fair) offer and push for a defined plan.
It is true that Bowdoin plan is different, but the plans from other schools were also met with harsh criticism and dismay. So I am not sure any plan would be met with grace here because of the expectation.
I think that @TheVulcan et al have a good point about planning that many on this thread should dispassionately consider. We have always stressed to our kids the importance of owning their options and plans. This empowers them to see all the possibilities and puts the power in their hands. I think some of the disappointment being felt could have been avoided if instead of waiting for the school to pass down it’s plan, the students/parents made various plans on what THEY wanted to do. Then, when the schools plans came out they could have seen which of their plans best meshed.
But guess what, it’s not too late. I’m not convinced that any plan on paper today will survive intact come fall. So, nows a great time to start having discussion on what YOUR plans are. Stanford has the beginnings of a plan with much detail still unknown. Our son has about 5 different plans that we’ve discussed and refined over the last few months. He may need more plans, who knows, but he does feel in charge of his destiny to the degree that anyone can.
Plan that works perfectly for your kid/situation may need to be changed at some point as the semester/academic year moves forward. What will you do then?
My daughter will go back. Its her senior year. She really only needs one class which she is taking this summer online at local CC. She has off campus apartment. Right now plan is for mix of online/in person classes. Will live in off-campus apartment with friends. Plan is to have an internship next winter semester and graduate in May. That internship ran full time this year and is expected to do the same next year.
I would think still up to the professor whether they are counting “attendance” but the school would probably encourage taking student situations into account.
Not the professor’s problem.
Also up to school.
Undoubtedly so.
Again, up to the professor.
May or may not be up to the professor. Depends on how much liberty they have to choose platforms, etc.
Apps? There’s apps?
As there always are in courses everywhere.
@Rivet2000 I agree with that. We’ve gathered enough info at this point and we are unlikely to learn anything new before S19 has to decide. I told him the ball is in his court. Start thinking about pros and cons of remote learning, taking a semester off, taking a year off. Talk to the friends about a four month lease if that’s what you guys want. Be the leader if you need to - if you want to get a house, be the leader and tell them you’re looking and will show options and see who is a taker. At least get a text out there and ask if anyone has a budget to get them moving.
You’ve said this a few times. It’s HIGHLY unlikely that there won’t be therapeutics or a vaccine or more hope about this situation in six months. It’s only been three months since the big influx of the virus to the US and we already have progress. Even if it were just some more PPE recommendations and availability. I view with a jaundiced eye the talking point that “it’s forever, so get used to it” when used to force a given economic (or college opening) outcome.
That’s just not a sensible statement. Take a broader view of all the considerations that the university needs to worry about.
No one who reads the news should be shocked. Remember - pandemic? Virus killing hundreds of thousands of people? Still not under control?
I know the colleges in Colorado have different plans for each of the state government’s phases. I don’t know the specifics, but those phases are the foundation of the “openness”.
@sylvan8798 Requiring attendance at synchronous online classes is problematic especially if your school has any international students. It’s even a larger problem if it puts them at an academic disadvantage. Increasingly problematic if the school allows individuals to formulate their own policy and “let” students/parents decide.
Security, (encryption etc) should be a concern for everyone. The first time your synchronous class is hacked you’ll find out (make sure to report back on this one as some of the cases have been hilarious).
I could go on, but IMO, a very sub-par plan, and I know that we disagree on this so lets just move on.
Again, best thoughts and wishes to you, your students, and your school. 
Agree, concerning for everyone.
Not all hacks have been hilarious. One of my son’s HS zoom sessions was hacked, and hackers showed porn video and a bunch of nazi symbolism/messages. Teacher had no idea how to turn it off/stop it, so closed down the zoom session, after trying other things for what must have seemed like an eternity. (maybe closing down the zoom session is the only way to deal with it, I don’t know)