Summer/Fall Semester affected by the COVID-19/Coronavirus situation

[m_021]

Hi All,

I'm an incoming international grad student, ready to accept the admission offer from one of the universities in the US. Yet, I can't help to be anxious by the recent development of coronavirus/COVID-19, especially when many universities have switched to online-based learning, and none can predict how long this arrangement would last, which heavily depends on the latest development.

Apart from being ineffective and very discouraging to start your grad school online, I'm also worried that this universities closure/online classes would affect international students on F visas, which I understand are only allowed to take one course online per term to remain legally in the US. 

Any of you also has the same concern? And any of the international students here has started their visa application? 

[prokem]

Speaking as a US citizen in one of the hotspot cities right now: I think that there is next to no chance admissions offers are rescinded to international students. At worst they will probably give you an extended deadline to decide whether to defer or not. 

 

BUT look at wuhan: things there are stabilizing and the number of daily new cases are decreasing. At worst this lasts for a few months in the US. Many public officials are saying if we can properly institute testing, social distancing, and other measures, the outbreak should be on the downswing by may. I do not think it is plausible that graduate school classes will be online in the fall due to the outbreak. If by some chance I'm wrong, I strongly believe that grad schools will be accommodating with deferments. But I see that as an incredibly unlikely scenario.

[Hinothi]

Hey! I'm also an international grad student! I've already accepted my offers, but I haven't started my visa application or received any information on the forms ? I'm extremely worried because I currently live in a covid-19 level 3 country... I was thinking about directly asking the program about the situation, although (not gonna lie) I'm highly apprehensive of how they'll reply

[cropop]

I doubt any program has an idea of what they'll do about it yet because it's somewhat unclear how bad the situation will get or how long it will last. I also wouldn't be surprised if visa applications are delayed as a result, but that's not really up to the school and they'll have little to no control over it.

However, I also wouldn't be surprised if schools don't come up with alternative arrangements, such as deferred admittance, etc.

[zagorthespirit]

my friend, i think it is perfectly reasonable to be anxious about it. Here in this forum, I see people that are crazy about the admissions and etc. yet do not realize the threat of this pandemic and possibly effecting everything including our beloved grad programs. I received an acceptance last week and i fear, it might be spoiled, i might not even be admitted next year due to unforeseen issues relating to covid-19. I also would like to know about it and ask the department but i don't have the balls to do so.

[geekusprimus]

I guess I don't really know, but I don't think most schools will start rescinding admissions unless the financial crisis caused by the virus is worse than 2008. Most schools maintain a waitlist just in case the yield is lower than they expect. I suspect they just won't make as many offers off the waitlist.

[zomhud]

There are officially only 3 COVID-19 patients in my country, still I am worried. Travel bans have been introduced and there is no direct flight from my country to USA. So I have to use one or more transits and most of the transit hubs are affected by COVID-19. I am really afraid one day I shall get an email saying that they are sorry to cancel my admission and funding due to the virus situation. 

[Dryad]

I'm about to board a plane with no idea whether they will still accept my visa by the time I land...

[Spunkydudette]

3 hours ago, prokem said:

Speaking as a US citizen in one of the hotspot cities right now: I think that there is next to no chance admissions offers are rescinded to international students. At worst they will probably give you an extended deadline to decide whether to defer or not. 

 

BUT look at wuhan: things there are stabilizing and the number of daily new cases are decreasing. At worst this lasts for a few months in the US. Many public officials are saying if we can properly institute testing, social distancing, and other measures, the outbreak should be on the downswing by may. I do not think it is plausible that graduate school classes will be online in the fall due to the outbreak. If by some chance I'm wrong, I strongly believe that grad schools will be accommodating with deferments. But I see that as an incredibly unlikely scenario.

It was so relieving to read this just now ?I , too, am feeling nervous about the prospect of attending graduate school online. Thank you for the reassuring words -- sure hope that's what transpires.

[Do_EE]

10 hours ago, prokem said:

Speaking as a US citizen in one of the hotspot cities right now: I think that there is next to no chance admissions offers are rescinded to international students. At worst they will probably give you an extended deadline to decide whether to defer or not. 

 

BUT look at wuhan: things there are stabilizing and the number of daily new cases are decreasing. At worst this lasts for a few months in the US. Many public officials are saying if we can properly institute testing, social distancing, and other measures, the outbreak should be on the downswing by may. I do not think it is plausible that graduate school classes will be online in the fall due to the outbreak. If by some chance I'm wrong, I strongly believe that grad schools will be accommodating with deferments. But I see that as an incredibly unlikely scenario.

@prokem Thank you so much for your optimism; I am extremely nervous that I would be prevented from studying in the US later this year too.

[m_021]

Wow, glad to know that I'm not alone in this uncertainty! I've accepted my offer and going to start the process of the rest of the paperwork (I-20, etc).
Hopefully, within the next 2-3 months, this pandemic would be over/slightly better and business as usual. It's just that my program will start in Summer/June, which means I'll have less "cooling down" pandemic period. I've emailed the university about this last week, and since they didn't reply, it seems like they have yet to figure out what's going to happen for the upcoming Summer/Fall semester.