> as rent prices near school nearly doubled overnight.

Wait is that really what happened? I anticipated that rent prices would drop because most students would just go home and there wouldn't be a market for people wanting to live in the college part of town.

I know a number of students attending virtually in the fall who are renting near campus with their friends.

But isn't that worsening the problem? Going to a college town with friends is a recipe for community spread

The kids likely don’t care. Their age group is largely unharmed by coronavirus, so the option to be near their friends, partying, and not living at home is probably pretty appealing.

Worse compared to what? Compared to living together and attending class in person it's an improvement.

I imagine some ended up dropping down, I'd have to ask her

I hate to be all like "to be fair" but wouldn't it have been even worse if they'd waited until after she moved there and then sent her home and made her move twice instead of canceling a move once?

Do you mean they're still having in-person classes required but are just not offering housing? That's definitely scummy, that's the kind of thing that would have changed people's admission acceptance decisions.

Some in person classes, yes. My sister luckily only has online ones. Regarding when, I think the obvious answer should have been to cancel in person classes back in may or June.. We knew covid was here to last even then.

Are you in Pennsylvania because that sounds exactly like my experience. I'm extremely thankful that I graduated long ago and don't have children or relatives having to deal with this.