If Colleges Remain On-Line Only
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Anonymous
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If colleges remain on-line only through the fall semester, are you considering having your child live off campus in the college town?
My DD has been home since March. She is taking courses online as is everyone. DH and I are seriously considering paying for her to live in her college town this fall, even if the classes are all remote. We think this will be better for her mental health as well as ours. We can't be the only parents thinking about this. Please share your thoughts and opinions. |
Anonymous
You must be rich. I'm going the other way. We can save on room (although not board  ) with the kid at home.
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Anonymous
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Interesting question, OP, though the answer will depend hugely on colleges' locations and whether there's anything for college students to do (especially if restrictions continue) in their college town, or anywhere to work if they need a paying job, with college itself closed. Not every area has enough jobs and housing off campus to make a move like this work.
The idea did cross my mind, as DC likes being independent and it's been good for us all to live apart. But it won't work logistically. Even if the large town, six hours away, where DC's college is located did have much off-campus housing stock (it truly doesn't; students live on campus all four years, with almost no exceptions) -- no, we wouldn't send DC there to live. I totally get the idea of how it's better for some kids' mental health to be living apart from parents and vice versa! But certainly for our DC, it would be pretty grim to live near the campus without any of DC's close friends there,. Unless at least a few good friends were around too, DC would probably get very low, very quickly. If there were going to be friends to room with, if there is easily rentable, available housing stock off campus, if the college is not hours and hours away from home -- it could work well, if the student will do the coursework and also is mature enough to stay healthy and follow guidelines. Biggest factor is probably that DC's college is one where students are from all over the place. I can see how students from a college (like a big state flagship) where many or most students live within just a few hours of a campus might go back to stay off-campus. But DC's school has students pretty much spread all over the country, many hours from school even by plane. Harder to see them returning if they're not returning to the campus. |
Anonymous
| Mine is going to GMU, so we’re happy that home is a reasonable option. |
Anonymous
| We were between having dc commute to a local school and dorming at a school hours away. We figured out that dorming was actually cheaper because we couldn’t afford to buy dc a car that wouldn’t require constant repairs. Plus of course the cost of gas, insurance, etc. The two schools were basically that same academically, and tuition was the same |
Anonymous
| I’ll be relieved I can save on room and board. |
Anonymous
We already have a year-lease at a place for my son who will be a junior and will be sending him. College isn't just about classes. Part of the college experience is learning to live on your own, and this still applies. Our financial situation hasn't changed, so I'm not looking to save money. This is an investment in my son, and living off-campus is part of his growth experience. He also needs to learn to manage his own budget regarding food and household care, and how to live and coordinate with roommates. Plus, I'd like for food to not disappear from my fridge in the middle of the night and then I can't make dinner the next day. 
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Anonymous
you'll save on room, but probably not board. (Unless your kid is a lot different from mine  ).
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Anonymous
| Bear in mind that if there is a resurgence and everyone has to change course and go home...colleges will refund the room charge but landlords will not (as evidenced by lots of grumbling on this site). Also, I would not trust kids that age to follow any corona rules (consistently) if they were living off campus. |
Anonymous
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My kid signed a lease for 2020-2021 in January or February. He will most likely move in to his apartment with his roommates and I'm hopeful that at least some of his classes will be in person at least to start the semester.
He's only two hours away so it's an easy trip if there is an issue. |
Anonymous
| My kid won't return to the midwest unless there is a vaccine or some other miracle. Online from here. |
Anonymous
My son eats a lot less than his friends from what I’ve seen. Today he ate a cinnamon roll and some chicken nuggets. He will eat something before bed. Maybe a bowl of cereal. |
Anonymous
Same. Thankfully he has his own room and bathroom so maybe they can observe some social distancing. |
Anonymous
+1 We're in the same situation with a lease already signed for next year. |
Anonymous
I'm wondering if your son is one of my son's roommates - this sounds exactly like our situation! |