Coronavirus & Academia 2020

[hopefulphd90]

Hey All,

I might be a little ridiculous but has anyone been thinking about the Coronavirus and how it may affect the start of Fall 2020 for those who have been admitted to programs? Especially, those of us who are looking to travel to different states  

I’m of course hoping that this virus is contained before August but there’s a part of me like what if it isn’t? Are we going to be starting out programs via online teaching & Zoom meetings?

I’ve seen so many conferences cancelled or rescheduled over the past few weeks. It’s making me wonder...

[anxietypersonified]

Hey,

I've thought about the same. I'm an international student and considering Harvard and MIT just sent their students home for spring break indefinitely; I'm not sure what the situation will be in August. Will the start of school be delayed? 

[n_eb_2020]

Yes, I was wondering about the same thing. I'm an international student, does that mean I will be placed in quarantine for 14 days so I should account for that time and schedule early flights?

[PsyDuck90]

This is a possibility depending on how long it takes. I'm in my 2nd year. My university just moved to online distance learning. We meet via a Zoom-type thing through Blackboard. It sucks, but it is what it is. 

If you're an international student, I would plan for this 14 day quarantine just in case. Better safe than sorry. 

[PsychPhdBound]

I think at this point it's still really early and we should all do our best to not fall down the speculation rabbit hole. If it's still a problem come summer I'm sure plans will be made, but there is no use borrowing worry and stoking the "what if" panic. We're psychologists, let's rise above the fear contagion :).

[Psyche007]

My university will have all university classes available online within the next three weeks.

[Clinapp2017]

Agreed. Speculating about this situation now does no good. Stay in close touch with your mentor and program over the coming months. This situation is rapidly evolving, and while it certainly will get worse before it gets better, it may also blow over by the summer. Only time will tell...

[EileanDonan]

Slightly different topic, but I've been applying to research positions starting later in the year, and I'm starting to wonder if the virus will impact new postings (e.g. with availability, funding)?

[clinicalpsyhopeful]

On a related note, I am so glad our interviews (at least for most folks) were earlier this year. Not being able to visit the schools and meet people face to face would have been a bummer!

[springxsummer]

 I don't want to catastrophize, or to sound selfish, but I would be very sad to see my program be moved to be online/ cancelled given all of the work that I've invested into this. I'm sure I'm not alone in that.

Edited March 12, 2020 by springxsummer

[PsyHike]

Unpopular opinion here, but I actually love online classes. Have had several of those in the past as a student (during both Bachelor's and Master's) and TAed for some of the online classes. Especially for the first semester of the first year of the program, which is usually didactic anyway, I think it's fine. Besides, I think it will largely blow over by the Fall semester anyway.

[springxsummer]

10 minutes ago, PsyHike said:

Unpopular opinion here, but I actually love online classes. Have had several of those in the past as a student (during both Bachelor's and Master's) and TAed for some of the online classes. Especially for the first semester of the first year of the program, which is usually didactic anyway, I think it's fine. Besides, I think it will largely blow over by the Fall semester anyway.

I think the biggest thing for me is that I'm really exited to meet my cohort, and that wouldn't be so easy if everything moves online. 

[PsyHike]

2 minutes ago, springxsummer said:

I think the biggest thing for me is that I'm really exited to meet my cohort, and that wouldn't be so easy if everything moves online. 

Sure, but I doubt the pandemic will stay here for 5 years, so there will be lots of opportunities to meet them when most of the people are healthy  Sending you positive vibes during this anxiety-provoking time!

[ClinPsy01]

As a faculty member, this week has been overwhelming and chaotic for us all. Given how scared and uncertain students (and faculty) have felt this week, having recently learned of the existence of GradCafe it occurred to me that hearing from a faculty member might be helpful to some of you and so I planned to start a post expressing my support. However, upon seeing this thread, I wanted to address the initial poster's concern first and then share my thoughts (albeit - I am just one perspective).

My university, like so many, has moved to online-only instruction until mid-April, at minimum. I teach a graduate cognitive assessment class. Even if it were possible to teach test administration online (which I doubt anyone could do well - I certainly cannot), my students have to share some test kits with each other plus given the interactive nature of cognitive testing, it would be impossible for my students to administer a test battery and not touch objects that the testee also touches. #WAISIVCOVID19Outbreak is not the hashtag I want to follow my students or I, because we have an obligation to, above all else, do no harm. The skills-based aspect of my course will be on hold until we can resume in-person instruction. That means I, and my students, will need to be flexible regarding making up the missed classes, but I am willing to give up part of my summer to make sure my students are prepared in the way they need to be.

Let's hope that we're out of the woods by August! That said, as current students, prospective students, and students who will be entering a program in Fall 2020 - it is not your job to worry about how the COVID-19 crisis will affect your education. I understand may of you will worry, and that's okay - but your professors are and will do everything they can to make sure your education continues as planned.

All that said, I hope everyone is okay. For those of you who had to leave campus abruptly, I am sorry. For those of you who had spring-break plans cancelled, I am sorry. For anyone who is scared - you are not alone. For anyone who is angry about this disruption - you are not alone. I can only imagine how hard it must be to be a student or future student right now. Most (I want to believe all of ) your professors are doing the best they can. I realize that may not feel like enough, but it's the best we can do right now. Please take care of yourselves and if you are feeling anxious about the fall, do reach out to current faculty or POIs. We're here.

 

 

Edited March 15, 2020 by ClinPsy01

[zomhud]

On 3/12/2020 at 7:30 PM, PsyDuck90 said:

This is a possibility depending on how long it takes. I'm in my 2nd year. My university just moved to online distance learning. We meet via a Zoom-type thing through Blackboard. It sucks, but it is what it is. 

If you're an international student, I would plan for this 14 day quarantine just in case. Better safe than sorry. 

I am also an international student got acceptance for an fall 20 PhD program. I am really worried if I will be able to fly or nor. There is no direct flight from my country and there are travel bans in many countries. I am afraid if they cancel the admission and funding. 

[EHL343]

I can't fathom the chaos that the universities need to deal with right now... schools closing, switching to virtual classes, administrative stuff, etc.

But at the same time... PLEASE JUST LET ME KNOW IF I'M ACCEPTED/REJECTED IN YOUR PROGRAM!! The wait is killing me! I would much rather know that I'm rejected than continue to wait for any signs of acceptance. 

 

[iam_sunshine]

On 3/14/2020 at 11:40 PM, zomhud said:

I am also an international student got acceptance for an fall 20 PhD program. I am really worried if I will be able to fly or nor. There is no direct flight from my country and there are travel bans in many countries. I am afraid if they cancel the admission and funding. 

I am having the exact same fear about not getting my visa on time and losing funding for the next year/ next semester.  

[StudiestStudy]

19 hours ago, EHL343 said:

I can't fathom the chaos that the universities need to deal with right now... schools closing, switching to virtual classes, administrative stuff, etc.

But at the same time... PLEASE JUST LET ME KNOW IF I'M ACCEPTED/REJECTED IN YOUR PROGRAM!! The wait is killing me! I would much rather know that I'm rejected than continue to wait for any signs of acceptance. 

 

I was talking to a program coordinator yesterday and he said that the acceptance/reject decisions have been put on the back burner while they work through the transition to online courses. That’s probably not the same at every school. You should call the admissions office to see if they have any information. It can be hard for professors to focus on the fall incoming class when they are just trying to finish this semester 

[Psyche007]

On 3/12/2020 at 3:07 PM, PsyHike said:

Unpopular opinion here, but I actually love online classes. Have had several of those in the past as a student (during both Bachelor's and Master's) and TAed for some of the online classes. Especially for the first semester of the first year of the program, which is usually didactic anyway, I think it's fine. Besides, I think it will largely blow over by the Fall semester anyway.

I've taken online classes before and it really depends on the subject. Personally, I thrive in the classroom, debate and discussion being one of my favourite activities.

This semester, three of our classes are heavily reliant on roleplay: Adult Intervention I, Diagnostic Interviewing, and Pre-Practicum.

Pre-practicum is a Pass/Fail class that is based ENTIRELY on working with simulated patients. It's to get neophyte clinicians comfortable working with people face-to-face. Many of the 1st years, especially the PsyDs who are often young and either directly or recently out of undergrad, have never done so before. This boggles the mind. I don't think you can know how much you'll enjoy clinical practice if you haven't worked with people before. It's a little less relevant for the PhDs because you can forgo licensure and practice to stay in research, but you still have to complete 2 years of practica and a year in internship to graduate.

I'm hoping they don't try to run the roleplay sessions via video conferencing. I hate talking on the phone as it is.

[PsyHike]

5 hours ago, Psyche007 said:

I've taken online classes before and it really depends on the subject. Personally, I thrive in the classroom, debate and discussion being one of my favourite activities.

This semester, three of our classes are heavily reliant on roleplay: Adult Intervention I, Diagnostic Interviewing, and Pre-Practicum.

Pre-practicum is a Pass/Fail class that is based ENTIRELY on working with simulated patients. It's to get neophyte clinicians comfortable working with people face-to-face. Many of the 1st years, especially the PsyDs who are often young and either directly or recently out of undergrad, have never done so before. This boggles the mind. I don't think you can know how much you'll enjoy clinical practice if you haven't worked with people before. It's a little less relevant for the PhDs because you can forgo licensure and practice to stay in research, but you still have to complete 2 years of practica and a year in internship to graduate.

I'm hoping they don't try to run the roleplay sessions via video conferencing. I hate talking on the phone as it is.

I agree that it's a personal preference. I learned to love online classes and prefer this format to others. As you mentioned, it also depends on the curriculum that is offered that semester. Either way, this thing will either be resolved by the Fall semester or the program will find ways to accommodate students, as externships/internships placements are doing right now.

[PsyZei]

Right now my main focus is on surviving and keeping my children alive. Myself and both my kids are medically at risk with this virus. While I'm super glad to be pursuing a PhD, I am significantly less concerned about how the virus is going to affect the timeline of my degree than whether or not myself and children are going to survive. My oldest is at the doctor with my spouse (who is not medically at risk, but who works in an "essential" field so has likely been exposed) because my oldest has worsening symptoms of the virus as of 5 am this morning. The doctor was able to get him in to be seen this morning, but we don't know if testing is even available right now. Even if testing is available, I am concerned about the available of care (as pneumonia is a very serious concern for us with our pre-existing health concerns in the best of conditions, this virus is far from the best of conditions).

That said, I do get the desire to know what the fall might look like. My master program, campus therapy clinic, and internship are currently working on getting telehealth and online classes figured out, so I assume the PhD program I'm attending will be doing something similar. I am totally on board with online options for classes and telehealth options for clients for the foreseeable future if that means more people coming out of this alive on the other side.

[xChrisx]

Sending love and healing to you and yours

25 minutes ago, PsyZei said:

Right now my main focus is on surviving and keeping my children alive. Myself and both my kids are medically at risk with this virus. While I'm super glad to be pursuing a PhD, I am significantly less concerned about how the virus is going to affect the timeline of my degree than whether or not myself and children are going to survive. My oldest is at the doctor with my spouse (who is not medically at risk, but who works in an "essential" field so has likely been exposed) because my oldest has worsening symptoms of the virus as of 5 am this morning. The doctor was able to get him in to be seen this morning, but we don't know if testing is even available right now. Even if testing is available, I am concerned about the available of care (as pneumonia is a very serious concern for us with our pre-existing health concerns in the best of conditions, this virus is far from the best of conditions).

That said, I do get the desire to know what the fall might look like. My master program, campus therapy clinic, and internship are currently working on getting telehealth and online classes figured out, so I assume the PhD program I'm attending will be doing something similar. I am totally on board with online options for classes and telehealth options for clients for the foreseeable future if that means more people coming out of this alive on the other side.

 

[andhowdoesthatmakeyoufeel]

It's definitely scary out there right now. I work in a hospital currently, and am a vulnerable population member (and have compromised respiratory function). Things are tough---but don't lose hope, everyone. 

[AlphacentauriC]

Funny how some schools are still asking for standardized testing...this should be cancelled. Esp. those with April 1st and beyond deadlines. 

[AlphacentauriC]

On 3/16/2020 at 10:50 PM, iam_sunshine said:

I am having the exact same fear about not getting my visa on time and losing funding for the next year/ next semester.  

If you look at your university handbook, they typically offer an option for one year deferment from enrollment. So you can try to use that. In this situation, the universities will understand.