“If online classes are the only way though, then I have to suck it up and do my best.”

College of the Canyons Valencia Campus

After transitioning to online classes earlier in the semester, students and teachers have been adapting to virtual classes. With this change, some students are wondering if it’s worth going back to school during the fall semester.

COC students like Rachel Watkins, are hesitant to come back due to some of the classes not feeling the same or feeling impossible to offer online.

“I wanted to take more hands-on classes like culinary next semester but I’m not too sure about it now,” Watkins, a College of the Canyons student, said. 

Watkins has expressed uncertainty about taking her general education classes as well due to it being more challenging for her to retain information.

While some students worry more intensely about the possibility of an online fall semester, others are deciding to go back no matter  the circumstances.

“I’m not a fan of online classes, I learn much better when I’m in the classroom, because I am more focused,” Shaheh Savarani, a COC history major, said. “If online classes are the only way though, then I have to suck it up and do my best.”

Despite conflicting opinions on the fall semester, students are still registering to COC at a normal rate.

“Currently, we are not seeing a decrease in students,” Jasmine Ruys, a COC Admissions staff member, said. “We have been watching the withdrawals and enrollment in late start classes and they are in line with those that occurred last year at this time.”

Right now, while everything is uncertain, many students haven’t given up on their classes. According to COC admissions, the number of courses dropped are still in line with last year as well. 

Students were offered differing options to ease the transition to online classes, such as pass or no pass credit in case the change affected their ability to focus on school. They are also able to use normal services such as counseling and tutoring from the learning center in revised forms to fit with this new way of going to school. COC has also offered laptops to students who have none.

While many are wondering if this pandemic will lead to more high school students continuing their education at a  community college first instead of going straight into 4-year  university. At the moment, even COC admissions are unsure if this will be the case.

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Article contributed to by Daniela Torres, Jessie Abarques, Sarah Perez, Veronica Secchi and Pricillia Mugwa

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