What Coronavirus Means For College

Well, it's official. My three college boys will have an extended spring break and online classes due to the Coronavirus. It's amazing how quickly this situation turned and how drastically it may impact some of our lives. Those of us in Houston couldn't fathom the cancellation of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, yet it happened. Now universities are cancelling classes, cities are cancelling activities, even cruise lines are cancelling sailings. 

So, what does this mean for our juniors who are at the critical point in the college research and list-forming process? For one thing, campus visits will likely be restricted or eliminated along with any spring visitation events that are typically held this time of year. Also, travel to visit campuses could be impacted even if the colleges are still doing campus tours. This is a whole new experience that will most likely challenge everyone on some level. 

One of my sons who had been selected for a special spring break leadership conference by a major oil and gas company will no longer be able to attend as the event has been cancelled. Internships, study abroad programs, career fairs, and conferences are all in the crosshairs right now as our society tries to digest the true dangers of COVID-19 and how it's spread. This is truly uncharted territory.

But, it's in my nature to find the silver lining. I'm a half-glass full kind of person, and I know that there will be positive things that come out of this. I encourage juniors to continue actively planning for their college applications and researching their campuses of interest. Look for the virtual tours on the college website, and use sites such as Niche to learn as much as possible about the universities on your list. If it's not a big inconvenience, take a road trip and at least drive through the campus, or reach out to the area representative for a meeting or phone call. This is an uncertain time for many of us, but I'm convinced that "this too shall pass."

I'm including a link below that has virtual tours of many colleges. Also, I offer virtual college consulting as well. I can't imagine this all coming to that, but I do have many local clients who prefer the convenience of online sessions even when we don't have a pandemic. Online college application and essay workshops will be offered this summer as well. Click here if you would like to be put on a list for future registration information.

Let's all just take a deep breath, and keep life in perspective. Maybe we won't be going to the rodeo this year, but a walk on the beach sounds nice or a trip to the zoo. Hey, I know I'm going to enjoy the extra time with my college boys, even if they will be busy with online classes.

Click here to research college campuses.
Click here to explore campus virtual tours.