It’s the hot topic right now: COVID-19 education. So, do you go back to college or not? Let’s talk about it.
Going to university or college was a no-brainer for students before the COVID-19 outbreak. Heading into further education did two things – it stopped you from joining the workforce unnecessarily and it increased your chances of securing a job that you loved.
Ideal. However, the recent health crisis has made the decision a lot tougher.
COVID-19 education: Going back to college or not?
With the traditional method of teaching sidelined and the whole experience different, is it worth going? Should you postpone it for a year or longer?
There’s no right answer – it depends on the individual – but if you’re searching for inspiration, the following factors are well worth considering.
Online tuition
There is nothing wrong with online tuition. A remote or virtually-taught degree is an incredible achievement that carries a lot of weight, as championed by MBA Discovery Twitter and its social media page.
But, there’s a difference between opting for a full or part-time course that you know will be solely online and turning up at college only to find that your seminars won’t be face-to-face. It’s a lot to give up if you’re paying top dollar for an education that will leave you in debt in the future (more on that later). It could be cheaper and more accessible to opt for a non-traditional uni and degree combo.
COVID-19 education: The money
Money makes the world go around, so it’s no surprise that establishments and governments don’t want to give up the cash. On the flip side, students don’t want to fork out for a standard of education that they won’t receive.
It’s not greedy to ask for a reduction if you’re never going to meet your teachers and student peers in the flesh. It’s not only part of the experience, but this process allows you to develop crucial life skills. For example, socializing in groups and resolving conflicts when creating and delivering presentations.
Can you defer going back to college?
It’s a strange world right now, and not everything is how it should be. Of course, that’s not to say that it won’t get better. In the end, society develops coping mechanisms that assist people in transition into a new normal.
Deferring, then, could be a smart move as you never know what the college environment will be like in twelve months. Nothing might change, but you don’t lose much if it doesn’t. After all, you can always pull out and go down another route. Who knows? Traveling might be an option and you can take a gap year.
Comfortability
Finally, you must make sure you’re comfortable with intimately sharing space with hundreds of strangers. It’s easy to assume that young people are fearless and immune to the Coronavirus hype, but you could have apprehensions about COVID-19 education, and rightly so.
For instance, if you have a loved one that has to shield, you might not know whether you can go home and see them. A year is a long time not to be around your parents. Plus, there’s nothing to say that it won’t be long. Then, there’s the accommodation factor – where will you stay?
When all is said and done, you have to ensure that it’s the correct decision for you. Are you thinking about COVID-19 education and heading back to college?
I went back to graduate school in August 2019. I was doing so well. I was set to graduate in May 2020. Now…not the same. I dropped down to one class for Summer 2020, and, for my mental health, I went ahead and dropped down to part-time. I was so scared that I would get sick during the Fall 2020 semester and ruin my 4.0 GPA. I don’t think I made a mistake. I have seen some students use this as an opportunity to fully lose themselves in their classes, and I can understand how schoolwork would be a rational and logical way to lose yourself and feel in control while things go a little haywire around you. I also know others, like me, are really struggling day to day while concerned about job security, bills, healthcare, and our communities.
Thanks Jey for sharing your story. It sounds like you know how to best manage your stress and lifting some of the pressure off your shoulders by reducing the number of classes makes sense for you. This difficult time has to pass, and we can hope for better times ahead on the other side. The vaccines will come in 2021, and a new normalcy will surface. In the meantime, it’s one day at a time. Wishing you a safe holiday season with your loved ones. x
I’m a kindergarten teacher and we are going back full time here in New York. I am very nervous about this but not sure what the right thing to do is.
Hi, it’s a tough situation, especially when tuition works into the equation. Our son’s college is trying an on-campus hybrid semester. We will see what happens, but we are hoping for the best.
this is very interesting, you bring important points and facts…
There is a lot to think about now with regards to education, Christy. Lots of parents are having this same debate about expensive private school education – is it worth it when the kids can’t go to school?
This is such a dificult choice. My daughter is going into the 3rd year of a 4 year degree in Film. It is a very hands-on program. Not easy to do virtually. She would have deferred for a year but most of her friends in her program chose to go back. Because it’s a small program, deferring would have meant getting to know a whole new group of students. She is reluctantly going back. Not sure if it’s the right choice to be honest.