Welcome to the first post of this series! I am so excited! What is “Conquering COVID-19”? This is a small series designed to help incoming and current college students navigate university life in the era of COVID-19. This series consists of advice, freebies, tips, and tricks to use for the upcoming year from the GPSNeeded Blog, run by a rising sophomore student at Rice University, taking the same journey!
By now, many universities have indicated some sort of plan for the upcoming academic year regarding whether classes will be conducted in person or not. There are some major highlights that stand out in every decision and not all universities are taking the same route. There is one question that is on everyone’s mind and that is, “What is the best decision for me?” By no means am I an expert on what to do, but there are many factors to consider when trying to make the best decision for you personally, healthwise, and academic-wise.
First, is the overall health concern of going to campus and risking contracting COVID-19. Although universities that plan on welcoming back students are putting various measures in place to make campus safe, the overall communal nature of a university should not be ignored. In college, everything is shared. All students are in the same place, students share bathrooms/rooms/laundry spaces, and all meals are given in the same locations. These are all important considerations to have when deciding to move back or deciding the personal measures you will take to keep yourself safe.
Second, many universities are raising tuition for the upcoming academic year. Universities are making efforts to provide the best quality education they can to all students regardless of whether they are on campus or not. This obviously requires a lot of money and effort on their parts. College is VERY expensive and the costs are definitely something else to consider. Is it worth paying the extra room and board in addition to the raised tuition? It all depends on you and can impact your decision!
Third, really think about the reason you are deciding to return to campus. You may want to go back and hang out with friends you have not seen or get back to the college life you once had. However, events and activities are looking very different across the board with a lot of them probably not taking place this year. Also, with a majority of classes being offered online and social distancing measures, you are not necessarily returning to the same life you had before. I would definitely consider what your true reasons for returning are and if those are the best for your health, the health of others, your personal life, and your academic career.
Finally, there is the consideration of the option of deferring this semester and taking a gap year. This is personally not something I have considered but I see why others are. Classes online can be very difficult to manage and adjust to. However, as mentioned above, universities are making efforts to give the best education and experiences to students in these difficult times. If this is a decision you are looking to make, I would take the time to talk to some of your academic advisors and really figure out if this is the best decision for you and your academic path.
Obviously, I am not completely aware of everyone’s situation. Some things you can do between now and the beginning of the school year are to talk to academic advisors, ask your deans and university presidents about any concerns you may have, and put your health first in every decision you make. Wishing you all the best of luck as we try to navigate this season together!
Love Always,
Karen <3
To reach out, email gpsneededblog@gmail.com
Students should not have to risk their health or fear deportation in these unforeseen circumstances. Support International Students navigating college during this time. Use this link: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/allow-f-1-students-stay-us-through-fall-semester-if-instruction-online-due-pandemic