@houndmom There is so much that could be said in response to your questions and many different views. There will be no consensus of opinions just like there is not everywhere else in the country. I will just address the apartment situation. I have seen where there are some complexes that are offering risk-free leases where you don’t have to pay if there are no on campus classes. I have not looked into those as my son already has a lease signed, but you could look into that.
My 2022 will go back to Gainesville regardless of online or in person classes. My 2024 will go off to the dorm to start his university experience unless dorms do not open. We feel that they are low risk for COVID complications and I fully expect that they will be exposed to it early in the semester if they have not been before they get to Gainesville.