College Opinion Piece

College: Is the Need for Campuses Obsolete?
Many have asked the question, should I go to online college? For people who are
just entering the college scene, whether they’re traditional or nontraditional students I’d
have to say that you should not go online, at least for your first year of higher ed.
Here’s why college students should spend their first year going to campus. A
college campus whether you live on or off is full of life. There are people from all walks
of life, an abundance of resources and programs and the ability for social interaction.
Every college has different programs and student organizations, and being on campus
enables you to step out of your comfort zone and meet people within those spaces or
out. I chose to live in a residence hall and have a roommate my first year at university. It
was a decision I made because I wanted the interpersonal skills and experience of
having a shared space with someone. Interacting with my roommate has enabled me to
tackle potential conflict that may arise in a relationship where we live under the same
roof. Living in the residence hall also made it easier for me to interact with people of a
similar status. Residence halls tend to have themed event days which you can pop by
and meet new people. They also have bulletins that display different events that are
going on around campus, which can be very handy when you want to try new things but
aren't very involved with the campus experience yet.
Besides residence halls, another reason to attend classes on campus is because
of the resources. A lot of things can get lost in translation when you’re looking for
information online or even talking on the phone. There are writing centers that are so
helpful when it comes to writing a paper, essay, or even touching up your resume.
Some of the different resources include, free counseling, a clinic, the different academic
departments, and the office of financial aid and student services. All of which have
handouts of common questions and you can get advice on things that you may not have
known you even needed versus over the phone where you only talk about the topic at
hand. Another resource is office hours with your professor. Being on campus means
you can utilize the same means of communication with your professor plus face-to-face
interaction. It is also a great way to build a rapport with your professor so that, should
you hit a bump in the road during the semester they’ll be more likely to empathize and
accommodate you. On top of accommodation networking is very useful, you never know
when you’ll need a reference for something whether it be a job, internship, or letter of
recommendation; professors are more likely to speak highly and recommend those that
they have an active relationship with.
On top of all that, being on campus holds you accountable. I’m the kind of person
that needed the structure of going to class and being there at a certain time. If you are
like me and are a procrastinator you put things off to the max. I have found that a
routine is very helpful because it allows for me to meet deadlines and not be late. It is
very unnerving showing up to classes late and having everyone look at you; not only are
you disrupting the lecture but you’re also being rude to the professor. Having taken
online classes because of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, I can tell you that I put off
every assignment but luckily for me I’m an active procrastinator so I was still able to get
things done.
In conclusion, the brick-and-mortar college experience is not outdated and isn't
going anywhere anytime soon. You can make lifelong friends and gain skills that you
may not necessarily have been able to acquire taking online classes. I understand that
financial reasons can be a huge factor for staying home and attending classes online,
but is it worth it if you only get half the experience? So hopefully by reading this article
you’ve found some reason to seriously consider attending an on-campus college or
university.

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College: Is the Need for Campuses Obsolete?

aren't very involved with the campus experience yet.

Besides residence halls, another reason to attend classes on campus is because

they have an active relationship with.

you’ve found some reason to seriously consider attending an on-campus college or

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