Deciding During The Pandemic: Is Going to College Worthwhile?

Students nowadays - seniors, especially - are stuck at home with their online classes and distance learning. Stripped of their traditional graduation rite, they are left contemplating whether they still want to go to college or whether going to college is still worth it.

This dilemma adds to the fact that seniors must decide when, where, and whether to attend college. However, with the pandemic, these difficult decisions have become futile for these prospective college students attempting to account for circumstances that are beyond their control.

Opting for community and technical colleges to save money

Katrina Stevenson, a senior, living in Colorado, received her acceptance letter to Colorado State University in December and was committed to attending the school in early February. She also planned to earn a degree in English education.

Stevenson calculated that with a room, board, and tuition, it would cost her more than $20,000 a year for four years. She admitted that her family is already struggling with finances, and although she will be the one handling her school finances, she did not want to add to the stress.

Because of this, she opted to a local community college to study business administration while keeping her job at Domino's to save money. She said that she would save up money to enroll in a four-year institution later on. But for now, she wanted to see how schools will start to put themselves back together after the pandemic.

Is tuition worth it if you cannot be on campus?

Since it is still unsure whether schools will open in the fall, seniors were left to ponder whether putting down deposits for online learning is worth it.

Jacqueline Caulfield was granted a dual degree program with Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University, in which students spend two years of their college careers studying at each institution.

Caulfield said that her parents do not want to pay for her tuition if it is going to be online, as they feel weary that it will not be the same experience. She also added that schools have not agreed to make the tuition cheaper, and the thought of paying to stare and sit on a computer at home made her rethink things.

Seeing new opportunities within the community

As others finalize their post-graduation plans, Diego Castillo, a high school senior based in McAllen, Texas, has seen the opportunities within his community.

Castillo decided to commit to The University of Texas Rio Grande Honors College despite being accepted to his dream school, Boston University.

He said that he was failing to see the opportunity in his town and discrediting it. Castillo added that in terms of universities, it is not always about prestige and popularity. He said that it is vital for people to reflect and analyze what they truly want out of their lives and what the basis of their decision is. 

Finally, the aspiring neurosurgeon said that he would have plenty of opportunities to go out of state for medical school and residency if that is what he wants.