Not All Education is Created Equal

Gap years are increasing in popularity now that many students are uninterested in virtual learning.  Gap years can consist of travelling, working or other activities that can promote personal and professional growth. Rykola, who agrees with the idea of taking a gap year, said: “I can understand why students would want to take a gap year. If I’m not getting the same value of education and paying the same price why would I do it?”

Along with the majority of other universities in the Boston area, Suffolk University did not lower its tuition for students this past semester. Despite the fact that all instruction was remote, tuition remained the same price as the previous academic year.

The general consensus among college aged students is that more financial aid should be offered or fees and tuition should be reduced. However, some students feel the opposite. Odoguardi understands that universities are businesses that need to make money. “Colleges are businesses and like any business, they need cash flow and money to survive and to grow their university,” said Odoguardi.

With the help of the Student Government Association, Suffolk was able to eliminate the activity fee for students this past semester. Unfortunately, this fee, which is normally around $90, is only a small financial relief for many students.

The cost of a college education provides more than just four or five classes worth of instruction. Attending and paying for college typically enables students to meet with professors, attend networking events, and benefit from on campus activities. Although it is still possible for these kinds of events to happen at universities, they are not as popular as they were in previous semesters.

Students, like Chryssabella Craig, a junior at Suffolk University majoring in undergraduate law and double minoring in philosophy and government, have noticed the negative impacts from the absence of these events.

“The network and connections you make to find a career were missing this semester. Being online made that ten times harder. When you pay for a college education, you are paying for the relationships you grow with your professors which will turn into a job and ultimately a career,” said Craig. Not only has the instruction portion of college changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but so has the concept of making connections to increase your chances of finding a job once students graduate.

Some students, like Craig, have gone above and beyond to make connections with professors by meeting with them outside of class in a private Zoom meeting. Depending on the professor’s attitude towards virtual instruction, some may be more open to this than others.

“Due to the lack of in person classes, I made more of an effort to reach out to professors. One of my professors asked me to send her my resume so she could help me professionally with finding a career. All I had to do was set up a meeting with her and I was lucky to have that opportunity,” Craig said.  In order for students to make these connections with professors, they need to take the extra step to set up a Zoom meeting, whereas in previous semesters they would be able to talk to them after class or attend in person office hours.

Odoguardi, who is a Sawyer Ambassador in the Sawyer Business School at Suffolk University, explained that variety and adaptability are the most important skills to have on a resume when students are applying for jobs after graduation.

“Employers want to see candidates who are able to do several different things. They want you to focus on studying and working, but in the business world, employers want to see that you are well rounded in different areas of business. We need to be adaptable. We need to realize what the problem is and find a solution for it,” said Odoguardi.

The actions of many universities do not align with the needs of their students. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to light many problems within the higher education system and the true intentions of students, faculty members and employers. The vaccine brings hope to all members of the higher education community, however, we are still waiting for final answers in order to feel comfortable. As for now, students will have to make a decision about whether or not they are content with paying for an online education, ultimately sacrificing the benefits of an in-person education.