Let’s address the elephant in the room: should your freshman return to college second semester with COVID cases rising in U.S. counties with large universities? With traveling to college, the virus has the potential to spread even if your freshman has been careful.

For obvious financial reasons, many colleges do not see remaining entirely remote as an option. Despite academic recruiters efforts, a survey by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center in October 2020, reports freshmen enrollment has decreased 13%. With most freshmen being required to live in dorms, universities are hurting.

For other obvious financial reasons, many students are struggling to pay high tuition costs. With parents unemployed and other costs, is college even fiscally feasible right now? 

Some college freshmen aren’t sure it’s worth the high cost. In an article for Bloomberg, 19-year old Aleah Gooden shares, “[College ended up being way too expensive for the experience I was getting.” Aleah is choosing to stay local this semester, withdrawing from an out-of-state school.

Even educators admit the college experience has changed. Dr. Crystal Watson, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, states: “The students are getting such a bad deal this year. It really stinks.”

There are not easy answers. As a college instructor, I can attest personally to the pressure and stress of in-person instruction that follows limiting health protocols. The pandemic brings harsh realities to the classroom. Realistically, this won’t change this next semester.

While my college was able to contain and prevent the spread of cases during the first semester, educators, teachers, and students cannot rely on the vaccine to prevent in-person classes from switching to online classes.

There is enough misinformation spreading about the pandemic on the internet, so my aim is not to spread more. Rather, I would like to provide 4 questions to help guide you as you help your freshman decide if returning to college during a pandemic is best for them.

Will delaying or stopping in-person college classes have an irreversible, long-term impact on my freshman?

Answering this question based on facts, not personal experience or a gut feeling is key. I’m going to share something that I’m not sure colleges say enough: college isn’t the best fit for everyone. Some students are not a good fit for college, and they would benefit much more from attending trade school or pursuing a career that requires only a certification. 

On the other hand, college can be a very beneficial time for a young adult. Whether the general public likes it or not, many jobs (honestly most jobs) require a bachelor’s degree (even if it’s not logical why this is a requirement). There is a surplus of degrees. It’s unfair and frankly a little ridiculous, but it’s the reality your child lives in.

Before making a decision for or against returning to college this semester, consider the long-term impact. Does your freshman have a plan for developing professional skills and getting professional experience if they stay home? Does your freshman have a plan for this time not in classes?

What will my freshman do if they decide to take a gap year or stay out one semester?

In Selingo’s book There Is Life After College: What Parents and Students Should Know About Navigating School to Prepare for the Jobs of Tomorrow, he points to the importance of a gap year including academic or professional development. Without tie to serious pursuit, this year or semester off can do greater harm than good.

Sitting home around the house or working an entry-level job in a slightly random field aren’t likely to help your child develop needed skills or gain needed experience. This time off has the potential to set your freshman back. With world travel, in-person internships, and more not being available amidst a pandemic, you and your freshman might have to get creative to find ways to make this time off worthwhile.

If you and your freshman feel taking time off this semester is necessary, be sure you develop a plan. Don’t allow months to go by without securing experiences that help develop your freshman.

How can I help my freshman feel a part of this decision?

This decision is significant. Your freshman then should play a part in the discussion. 

If you are primarily paying for their education, you likely will have more say in the outcome of this decision. If your freshman is paying for a significant portion or all of the costs of college, you need to allow the burden of this decision to weigh on them.

Please be available to talk, guide, and even ask questions. But I would highly encourage you to let your freshman feel the weight of this decision. The outcome will largely fall on your child, so they should feel ownership in this decision.

Does the cost of college outweigh the benefits of attending?

College for decades has transformed into a transactional experience. Though I don’t agree with this view of education, I do realize that cost is a large part of this decision.

If you or another parent has been furloughed or let go, you likely don’t have the income to support sending a child to college for another semester. If your child does not have the ability or resources to help with their own college expenses, you may not have an alternative option.

While cost is likely a key component in making this decision, there are other factors of “cost” to consider. How will staying out of college impact your child mentally, emotionally, etc.? What does staying out of school communicate about persistence and hard work to your child?

In terms of “benefits,” again consider beyond the financial. College provides transformative experiences, learning experiences, social interactions, and more. Though some of these benefits may be limited, they may still be worth the expense.

You and your freshman may determine that the costs simply don’t outweigh the benefits. Do what you both believe is best, but not without first doing a cost-benefit analysis.

Making life decisions out of fear is probably not a pattern you’d like to set for your freshman. Though there are certainly many significant unknown factors that impact the semester ahead, deciding whether or not to return to college should not be a decision made in fear. Hopefully these questions help provide you with a guide as you and your freshman come to a properly arrived decision.