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    Student Loan Corona Virus

    Judy Miller
    Judy Miller

    Every facet of ordinary life has been in some way adjusted by COVID-19. Whether it’s our ability to socialize, take care of elderly relatives, or even go to work, normality has come to a grinding halt the world over.

    Most countries and states in the US have implemented their own measures and how hard they’ve been hit by the virus tends to dictate just how extreme these measures are.

    Some world leaders are no doubt taking the spread more seriously than others but it’s these combined efforts of social distancing that are slowing the curve.

    We’re all having to cope with the uncertainty of COVID-19 to some degree. No one wants to spend their golden years locked away and isolated inside and the youth among us want to be out exploring the world or at least be able to attend college and complete their studies. 

    A lot of students are forced to leave their dorms and return to the family home without any idea as to when they can return.

    Lecturers are scrambling to make their classes available over remote conferencing applications like Zoom or Skype, but not all courses can be adapted in this way.

    Certain forms of study like sports or art or acting or anything in the practical science field can’t be delivered over a chat room, for example. 

    Though this doesn’t work for everyone, there are certain measures students can take to ensure they keep up with their subjects from home and to stay exam-ready for when we’re allowed back out of the house again.

    While it might seem like a good opportunity to take some time off and slack, it’s actually the chance to further your knowledge by taking advantage of free reading material, online courses, and more.

    Keep reading to see which colleges are moving their classes online and discover the best free resources for staying on top of your studies. 

    The Colleges That Have Closed up and Gone Digital 

    As mentioned previously, this likely isn’t feasible for all forms of study but given the exorbitant fees that colleges charge, they have a duty to ensure students are getting the education they pay for.

    That being said, not all campuses have even closed and some remain open even now, though more than 200 have moved their classes online for the foreseeable.

    Some of the most reputable colleges providing web-based classes can be found below. You can view the full list of campus closures here. 

    • Princeton University (NJ)
    • Harvard University (MA)
    • Columbia University (NY)
    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • Yale University (CT)
    • Stanford University (CA)
    • University of Chicago
    • University of Pennsylvania
    • Northwestern University (IL)
    • Duke University (NC)
    • Johns Hopkins University (MD)

    All colleges will have their own plans in place and by now you’ve probably received some information detailing your learning options, either from your lecturers or from the institutions themselves.

    There’s a good chance that the course you’re studying may have to be put largely on hold until the virus blows over or particular modules are postponed until a plan for digitized learning can be put together.

    Who knows, you might be one of the lucky ones who gets an extended spring break. 

    Some students have it harder than others, though. For example, it no doubt sucks to be a student in their final year, having what should be the last slog of study impeded by something that’s been relatively unheard of for over 100 years, or at least in the last few generations.

    The chance to celebrate with friends and peers before veering off into the world of employment has been ruined. Perhaps you’re a first-year, still finding your feet and the chances of making much-needed friends are dwindling. 

    For those of us who are fashionably late and are only just putting in college applications, your process should be relatively unaffected, since it mostly takes place online anyway.

    But you ought to be convinced of your options because campus tours and in-person meetings with the faculty are essentially out of the question. 

    Ultimately, we all need to continue our studying, whatever year of college we’re in or whether we’ve even enrolled yet or not.

    Even the most prestigious universities and educational institutions offer free courses and learning materials, or are at least doing so during the strange circumstances we all find ourselves in.

    To ensure you’re exam-ready and can live without library access for the next few months, check out just some of the free resources available below. 

    Free Online Learning Sites

    Open Textbook Library: 

    With the input of various educational institutions, the Open Textbook Library hosts more than 700 licensed, funded, and published textbooks on its website. From accounting and law to social sciences, there are plenty of works that have been created and accredited by professionals across a wide number of industries. Rather than take risky trips to the campus library, you’ll find everything you need right here. And if you don’t, it’s easy to see the books that are soon to be added and ones that are currently in development, as well as the institutions that publish them. 

    University of Reading: 

    The University of Reading has been around since the late 1800s, and as the respectable institution of learning that it is, it offers a host of free ebooks to provide educational opportunities to everyone. You don’t need to be a Reading student to benefit from world-class teaching – just go to the website and peruse the various types of ebooks on offer, from Bookboon to Gallica. Though not all of the resources originate from the Uni, it’s a great way to find all the types of ebooks you might need for your studies in one easy-to-access place. 

    Gutenberg: 

    Aptly named after Johannes Gutenberg, the goldsmith and inventor who brought Europe the printing press, Gutenburg is ideal for literature students. Centuries of classic works of fiction and non-fiction can be found free and ready for download on the website. Though the website’s a little crude, it offers hundreds of books in over 60 languages and users can choose between a variety of formats, from audiobooks to novels with moving pictures. If you like, you can also get involved with Gutenburg and become an official proofreader for the website too.   

    Harvard Online Courses: 

    Likely one of the most prestigious Ivy League universities in the US is Harvard. And while enrollment will likely set you back substantially, there are various free courses you can take part in on its website. What’s more, they’re all free and come with a certificate upon completion. The courses are separated into various fields which is what makes them so accessible. So whether you want to learn how to code in different languages in your extended spring break or explore research in uncharted fields of medicine, there are options for virtually everyone.