I remember in college, some of my best memories are of walking by a small lounge and finding a lecture going on, or hearing that my favorite professor was giving a little lecture in a lounge and popping in to hear what he or she had to say, and participating in that discussion. I went to a state university that specialized in art and the performing arts, and I used to love going to a free show or strolling through the halls to see the art the students did. I didn’t live on campus but what I experienced of the whole thing wouldn’t compare to sitting in front of a computer and doing some online crap. I think of online college as being for people who want to knock out a degree, or a course, for the sake of having the paper document of the degree or needing the course for work.
My 7th grader’s school work is lacking compared to sitting in a classroom. I can only imagine what college learning is like online, especially paying 70k for it.
I feel especially bad for students who are going to college for the first time, who can’t even look at their dorm or apartment to pick it out.
If I were a parent of a high school senior, I might be considering putting college off for a year to wait for the virus to be under control, if that would be a possibility.