College life during the pandemic revealed that although we were able to adjust, university education was hardly prepared to thrive under such circumstances. Students were suddenly kicked out of housing, universities everywhere ceased on-campus activity, and campuses that did continue to operate online didn’t meet student expectations. These are just a few of the challenges college students had to navigate because of the pandemic.
Fortunately, we’ve seemingly made it through the worst times. But the decision to attend college or continue your college education as we rebuild from this pandemic shouldn’t be taken lightly. You’re right to rethink your college education and seriously consider whether or not it’s worth it.
To help you make an informed decision, here are four things to consider because of this past pandemic before finalizing your college plans.
Health and Safety is the Number One Priority
Your health and safety should be number one whether you attend college this year or not. But it’s imperative if you want to make your way back on campus. COVID-19 is still a significant threat to our health. So, protecting you from it should be a huge priority at the school you choose.
Ensure there are health and safety measures in place like hand sanitizer stations, consistent cleaning of public spaces, social distancing measures, and easy access to testing and vaccination. Also, choose a school that makes mental health and physical well-being resources readily available.
If your first priority is your health and safety, the second may very well be ensuring your economic stability.
An Even Bigger Spotlight on Finances
Because of this pandemic, there’s an even bigger spotlight on whether the financial obligation of a college education is doable and worth it. Experts say that “51% of high school students said that economic uncertainty had affected their post-graduation plans. Of those impacted, 53% of them said that their parents were laid off and will have less saved for college; 44% of them said they would need to take debt to cover the cost of education.”
In other words, the pandemic severely affected the finances of students and their parents. And because of these financial issues, their college savings and plans took a huge hit. So, pursuing college this year should be highly dependent on whether you can afford it and whether you’ll truly take advantage of the education you receive.
The focus on finances also encourages many students to consider other options for higher education just as much as they’re considering a four-year university education.
Other Options for Higher Education
In scoping out whether college is worth it financially this year, you’ll probably come across other suitable options for higher education. Although living on a college campus and pursuing a four-year degree can be a wonderful experience, there are other quality educational opportunities out there.
For example, let’s say you want to become an accountant. But in light of the recent pandemic, you want to prepare yourself for a virtual accounting job. You may find that getting an accounting certification online is more affordable and allows you to still work full-time, pursue an internship, or simply work at your own pace. In addition to quality, affordable education, you get a little glimpse into what it takes to successfully work remotely when you’re asked to use cloud computing and remote accounting software to complete your coursework.
If you’re determined to attend college on campus this year, though, you must prioritize getting back out there socially and establishing in-person connections again.
Reestablishing Connection and Socializing
The pandemic made it so we couldn’t enjoy each other in person anymore. And that stung for everyone. So, when you think about how you want your college experience to go this year, consider how your school will go about helping you reconnect with others and socialize.
For instance, this pandemic landed many students back home with their parents. Now that the pandemic is ending, they can’t wait to get out of the house and experience life again. With that being said, living on campus is a great way to reestablish connections and socialize with other students, staff, and professors consistently.
But in the event on-campus housing isn’t an option, ensure your college has resources to help you get your first apartment close to the school to enjoy the college atmosphere. Additionally, see if there are any financial stipends available to help you furnish your living space as well, with at least the essentials to thrive in your education like good lighting, a nice bed, a functional desk, and storage. If your space is small, you may be living in a studio, so look at checklists for furnishing small spaces like living rooms.
Ultimately, we’ve spent so much time away from each other that we appreciate face-to-face communication and connection even more now. So, resources, events, classes, community, and so forth should be available on any campus you choose to help you reintegrate in a safe, efficient, genuine way.
Moving Forward Now That the Pandemic is Coming to an End
Whether you are attending college for the first time, thinking about reentering, or continuing your education, there are a few things you should do now that the pandemic is coming to an end to ensure your college experience this year meets your needs.
First, be honest with yourself about all facets of where you currently stand. In other words, pinpoint where you’re at financially, mentally, emotionally, academically, and physically. Then, take an in-depth look at your relationships, current job, and how everything will fit together if you decide to move forward with college. Also, be honest with yourself about potential challenges and how you’d be able to overcome them.
Next, do some research on how colleges and universities are getting their students back on campus safely and their plans to support students moving forward. And narrow down your research to the schools you’re looking at so that you’re making the most of your research phase.
And then, explore how you’d still achieve your career and overall life goals if you can’t pursue college or must do so later in life. Be as detailed as possible to create a realistic picture of how this plan B could be just as satisfactory. This will help you take an honest look at both plans and determine which is most doable as we get to the other side of this pandemic.
Ultimately, students are thinking long and hard about their college experience this year. By establishing your needs, considering your wants, and weighing them both against what college campuses can actually offer you will ensure you’re making an informed final decision about how you will continue your education.
About the Author:
Jori Hamilton is a writer from the Pacific Northwest who has a particular interest in social justice, politics, education, healthcare, technology, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @ HamiltonJori.
