Lucie MacGillvray
Staff Writer
As New Hope-Solebury students know, schools across the country have shut their doors as a result of the arrival of COVID-19. Alongside high schools, colleges have closed their campuses and moved their classes to an online setting. Unfortunately, due to the unpredictability of COVID-19, colleges are unable to know how prevalent the virus will be during the incoming fall semester. Many colleges have begun to announce their predicted plans for the fall semester, while other colleges have yet to release a plan.
At the time, one popular university among New Hope-Solebury students, Pennsylvania State University, has yet to make a solid decision on whether or not students will be on campus for the fall semester. Another popular university, the University of Pittsburgh, has announced that they are unsure of the future, but hopefully will develop a “hybrid option.” Classes may be held on campus, but the number of students in attendance will be reduced, as well as the number of students in each residence hall. Rice University, a private university in Houston, is one of many schools that may shorten their fall semester, ending it around Thanksgiving instead of Christmas. As of now, the majority of colleges in the United States are planning to have classes in-person.
Many concerns have arisen regarding holding classes in-person. Social distancing guidelines would be difficult to follow, both in class and in residence halls, and health officials have stated that there is a possibility of a second wave of the virus in the winter. A resurgence of the virus would not only interrupt the fall semester, but would also greatly affect the spring semester.
Seniors at New Hope-Solebury are unsurprisingly upset by the possibility of an online fall semester. Many students feel that they are missing out on the college freshman experience, resulting in many students opting to take a gap year. Across the United States, interest in taking a gap year has surged.
While many colleges are still unsure of their plans for the fall, New Hope-Solebury students are remaining optimistic about their first taste of college life, which will hopefully be in the fall.
