While school is stressful enough, students should consider taking the semester off until they’re ready to go back.
With college campuses being closed due to COVID-19, some may not feel comfortable with taking online classes.
Students may want to wait until they learn or get a better understanding on how online services work.
Both high school graduates and transfer students from community colleges most likely didn’t anticipate that their first time going to a two-year or four-year university would have to be done at home.
They didn’t fill out page long applications or sit around for months eagerly waiting for emails announcing admission decisions to get stuck watching lectures on their computers.
They didn’t simply sign up to only take classes and complete a degree either.
They wanted to experience what they heard in stories or seen in movies of driving to campus, living in a dorm, participating in campus activities or sporting events, joining clubs and making new friends in their classes.
Not only would they be missing out on those opportunities, they’d be paying for it too.
Enrollment fees aren’t being lowered simply because they’re done virtually. Professors are still holding lectures and providing the same amount of work they would have if it was done in person.
While there might be no difference for the instructors, the students are the ones at a disadvantage because they’re still charged the same tuition.
They’re basically being charged hundreds or thousands of dollars a semester for an overpriced video call.
They should consider holding off on enrolling in classes until they get their money’s worth.
The break from school could be useful for students to save up money because college isn’t cheap regardless of when they decide to attend.
It can also allow them to get prepared for the next semester such as getting classes in order or talking to a counselor about their long term goals.
Deciding on a major could be difficult for those who just graduated high school. According to studybreaks.com, many people enter college without a plan.
“According to surveys, an estimated 20 to 50% of students enter college as undecided, and an estimated 75% of students change their major at least once before graduation.”
While it is normal to be confused, it could be costly to enroll in classes that may not be needed to complete their degree. They should take the time to reflect on what career path they want to go down before potentially wasting time doing something they don’t want to do.
Community college students could consider simply staying at the college they’re currently attending.
Instead of rushing to transfer, they could use the extra semester to take more transferable courses for their major.
Most people wouldn’t think of taking a gap year or semester after they just graduated, but no one could’ve anticipated that all classes would be online either.
Many different colleges and universities have already been compromising about these special circumstances by allowing pass/no pass grading and excused withdrawals (EW), they should be understanding why some students would want to wait until campuses are open to attend.