To say we’re living in uncertain times when it comes to education would be an understatement. Most colleges across the country have closed their campuses to in-person learning, with many opting for remote, online classes instead. By the end of March, over 14 million college students had been impacted in some way by the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Many students were immediately told they would have to leave their dorms with only a few days to prepare. Their learning environments changed from going to class every day and interacting with professors to attending class online. Some colleges have even taken on a pass/fail approach for the semester instead of handing out individual grades for classes.
This pandemic has caused changes in nearly everyone’s lives. For some, it means getting used to a “new” way of living. College students have had to deal with drastic sudden changes, too. For students who have been preparing for their futures, this virus is something that can completely change their paths, especially when it comes to stepping into a broken economy.
Let’s look a bit deeper into how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted college life for millions of students across the country, and where they might go from here.
The Stress of Moving Out
In a survey conducted by British energy company E.ON, it was discovered that 6 out of 10 people believed moving to be the most stressful life event, followed by divorce. Moving is stressful even when you’ve had months to plan it. For most college students across the country, they had only a few days to get their things together, say goodbye to their friends, and leave.
What’s worse than that, though, is that many students didn’t have anywhere to go. Some college-aged individuals don’t live with parents or relatives, leaving them essentially homeless or having to find accommodations with friends. For those who might typically be more disorganized, to begin with, without regular plans or a schedule in place, the prospect of moving without notice can be terrifying.
If you were a student who was displaced when your campus closed down in-person classes, the rush of moving out was undoubtedly messy and stressful. But, looking for a silver lining in any situation is important when you’re trying to remain optimistic. You can use the skills you learned from this necessary move when you end up moving in the future (even though you’ll hopefully have more time to do it!). Things, like packing properly and planning ahead, can make the process much easier.
Students still looking for an off-campus living situation might consider finding a roommate — even the dormmate(s) you had on campus since you already know what it’s like to live with them! Having multiple people share in expenses can make a big difference in being able to afford an apartment or rental house.
The Switch to Online Learning
Online learning or “eLearning” has become the norm for millions of high school and college students across the country, with students using various portals, platforms, and communication tools like Google Hangouts or Zoom to connect with teachers, classmates, and guidance counselors.
While technology has made this transition possible, that doesn’t mean it’s a perfect solution. It’s not easy to go from having professors at your disposal to talk to at any time, to being forced to do all of your work online without that personal attention and guidance. Sometimes, emails just don’t cut it.
While it’s definitely not the same to sit in front of a computer and complete coursework, there are things students can do to make the online learning experience easier, including:
- Connecting with your professors via FaceTime/Zoom
- Having virtual study groups
- Utilizing online resources to stay organized, like a document management tool
- Asking for support from family members/friends you’re staying with
Developing a routine is also important to be successful with online learning, following a similar schedule to the one you had while on campus, if possible. While it can be a frustrating experience not to be able to connect with people in a classroom, remote/digital learning could very well become more prominent in the future as the technology for it continues to become more advanced, and there is a growing need.
The Concerns Over the Future
At the end of March, the unemployment rate hit 4.4%. Millions of Americans are suddenly without a job, and it is predicted that the economy will take a huge hit from this pandemic, including the stock market. On March 16, the Dow Jones experienced it’s largest single-day fall — almost 3,000 points.
Many students require some type of financing or payment options in order to afford their college education. Some of the most common financing options include:
- Scholarships/grants
- Work-study jobs
- Financial aid from family members
But, with the average cost of college in the U.S. coming in at over $30,000 per year (including room and board), some students may be wondering if it’s worth it to continue searching for aid or to go into extreme debt, just to walk into a broken economy. Because of this, it’s expected that enrollment in universities will drop significantly, not just in the U.S. but in countries across the world. That will put colleges into their own financial strains, and some may even be forced to cut back on operations.
Managing this new way of life hasn’t been easy for anyone in a collegiate environment, including students, professors, and staff. So, while this new normal doesn’t feel normal at all, it’s important for everyone to exercise a bit of patience.
This year will go down in history for college students. Seniors won’t have a celebratory graduation ceremony. Many students will consider not returning to classes. The face of campuses across the country may change indefinitely. However, this pandemic will eventually end. Social distancing will be lifted, and everyone will make an effort to get things back to where they were before.
Will everything be the same? Unfortunately, no. But, this is one instance where we’re all in this together, and everyone will continue to do what’s best so college students can move forward, stimulate the economy, and continue to pursue a better future for our country and the world.
