Not trying to recruit- in person vs on line schools

Montana State Army ROTC

Montana State Army ROTC

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Apr 19, 2018
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Just kidding. Montana State is in person. So why go to an online school?? Plus a national 3AD is turned into a 4 year with a freshman tuition waiver.

but serious question- are applicants adjusting their college choices based on who is teaching in person vs online?

Or does a school’s reputation and name still trump whether its online?

I know most if not all the Californian schools the freshman cadets aren’t on campus because the dorms are closed and most ROTC events are online.

Thanks
 
Yes, I am fully adjusting my college applications towards more on campus learning (in person). Personally I don't care what the reputation or name is famous. I prefer a good fit for what I'm looking for which would be in person ROTC events and class.
 
Montana State Army ROTC said:
Just kidding. Montana State is in person. So why go to an online school?? Plus a national 3AD is turned into a 4 year with a freshman tuition waiver.

but serious question- are applicants adjusting their college choices based on who is teaching in person vs online?

Or does a school’s reputation and name still trump whether its online?

I know most if not all the Californian schools the freshman cadets aren’t on campus because the dorms are closed and most ROTC events are online.

Thanks
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My DD completely changed her top 3 schools because they have been completely online since August, and they have not committed to being in person for next school year. Plus, there was no option to live in the dorms if you lived within commuting distance of the campuses. She shared with us that she did not want to go to college from our home or live in a dorm room with no option to experience in-person instruction..

Started looking out of state at privates and publics that have had students on campus this school year and the academic programs she wants. Although we were hoping she would go to college at least in our home state, I can't say I blame her one bit.
 
This has impacted my DS. He applied to more private schools than he had planned to as they seemed to be more open. Regardless of reputation, he will not do on-line.
 
My DD is looking at trying to get into a very specific engineering field, so school options were already limited. Thankfully, the majority of the schools she looked at were either fully in-person or had all labs in person. If that had not been the case, I don't know what she would have done.
 
That is exactly what my DD is struggling with - out of top 3 schools 2 are in person now and the higher ranked school is not. She is also comparing battalion sizes too and opportunities offered. Hopefully making a decision this weekend 🤞🏼
 
What a fascinating discussion in general! And the ROTC piece adds to this. A little add that I’ve seen, is the ‘in person’, where the students go to a classroom, but the professor is online.

It’s FASCINATING that their management of protocols and Covid, can be a marketing tool! But completely makes sense to me. I’ve seen this on a local level here: our biggest public school district is fighting tooth and nail to stay virtual (and hence no ECA’s at all for students)....and has been since last March. In fact, defying governors orders. Meanwhile, suburban districts and private schools have found ways to successfully be in person. Guess what? Families are pulling their kids and transferring (which will create a whole other funding issue). Point is, students are craving in person, even at lower levels.

It blows my mind, that we are fast approaching the 1yr mark of online learning (spring break).
 
DS choose schools that were in person over online. Just cant see how you can get the full benefits of ROTC without being in person. Doesn't make sense to be in person ROTC at a school that is online.
 
(deleted a double post...weird)
 
justdoit19 said:
(deleted a double post...weird)
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My DS is 100% in person this semester and was about 60% last semester. Feel very fortunate for that. Schools that want to find a way will figure it out.

I know many college seniors that changed their top choices due to online vs in person. I also know quite a few that are transferring from schools that are still online.
 
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Very serious issue. DS number 3 changed school selection because of this. It is both an academic and quality of life issue.

On the academic side a few schools and professors managed to shine through this.

I could say the same for AROTC programs and cadets, and students in general. Our DS number 1 and DS number two managed to shine and pick up and solve issues where others had failed. Cadre and some professors noticed and gave glowing recommendations as a result. A few that tried to take advantage of the situation did not escape notice. They paid the price on a few levels. Life is an never-ending OML.

Go ahead use it openly to recruit. It is an honest and important factor.
 
EEBTTF said:
Schools that want to find a way will figure it out.
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Some state governors have the crazy notion that they can force schools to be remote or at least partially remote.

I teach at a state univ and we have some classes as converged - which is some number, maybe a third allowed to attend in person when its their turn. Labs are supposed to be more in person than that. This is a big improvement from the fall when much fewer of our classes were NOT remote - primarily Freshman courses. Now they are trying to give some in person opportunity to more folks.
FWIW: As of now, our scheduling guidance for the fall is for it to be regular in-person.
 
I don’t know if this observation would hold up to statistical scrutiny, but it seems like in our area the private schools are fighting to stay 100% live and public schools are fighting to stay 100% remote. (I’m taking about high schools down to elementary schools here, not colleges.)

Our small, private high school has done an amazing job of getting students in the classroom for 95% of the days in the current school year. For the 5% that was remote, it truly felt like it was a last resort. KNOCK ON WOOD, as I type this.

Perhaps private schools are more responsive to parents because of the tuition. Perhaps private-school parents are more persistent and insistent (see the first point). Perhaps small student bodies are easier to manage and monitor. Perhaps private schools are less beholden to the state authorities. Perhaps all of the above. All I know is, I’m very grateful that we send our kids to — and can afford — private school. They’ve had a rather different experience from the other kids just down the street. Such a shame for the latter.
 
I think it is fascinating the vast differences between some states and regions in terms of this. There is also a big difference between state schools within the same state. Some schools have worked very hard to come up with a plan that works, or at least has a chance to work. Others have been lazy and taken the easy way out. I am by no means qualified to run a school system, but I employ 1000+ people and we have not missed a day of work - why - because we don't have a choice. We have had to work around the clock to keep people safe, provide our clients with what they are paying for and plan for the future. I wish school systems would work this way...thinking of the kids as the clients My opinion is that when faced with a choice, many people choose the most convenient and easiest route - not the one that is best for the stakeholders. RANT OVER.

I am also fortunate enough to live in a State that has allowed many of these choices to remain at the local level.

PS - I just read @MidCakePa post and it is spot on - private schools have to survive, as do private colleges.... (No bail out coming from the feds/state) They have to figure out a way. My two youngest have not missed a single day of school since school started and there has been very few cases at their school . My oldest DS is at The Citadel (State School...but handling COVID completely different than other State Schools in SC - granted much smaller and "different") and they have done an amazing job at keeping the cadets safe and the classes in person as much as possible. This semester all of his classes are in person. Very thankful for the level of effort and planning. Definitely not the easy path!
 
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With 2 kids in 2 different colleges and one in a small private HS, I am thankful for the Herculean efforts that the schools have made to keep the schools in person. Although both colleges took different approaches, and one of them 'forced' the sophomores to attend remotely, in order to space out the small housing situation (since most upperclass live off campus). That was a very interesting approach, so it might also be something students look out for when choosing- ie going in person one year, then remote the next. It also depends on the university- in my opinion, since one of mine is at a very tough science uni, it seams those students are generally more studious and compliant with social distancing etc, (and perhaps more aware of the realities of the virus) whereas the liberal arts based uni there was a lack of overall rule-following. Just my own observations. Either way- I wish this school year were over already!!
 
Completely agree with this. Online schooling is unnecessary and ridiculous. Do not choose to go to a name brand school if it’s online.. you’ll just get a worse education and experience.
 
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