Hedgeye - The College Drop-Off Ritual, Interrupted. NewsWire

Thanks to the pandemic, this fall’s college drop-offs will be short and safety-oriented. An event that had transformed into an all-day family ritual in recent years will now be, in many cases, limited to students only. (The Wall Street Journa l)

NH: In recent years, the college drop-off has become an emotional affair. Parents help their kid unpack, decorate their room, and take them out for one last family meal. The day is full of hugs and tears, with parents promising to return for "family weekend." But suddenly, the pandemic has thrown a wrench into this drop-off ritual.
Many schools have announced that parents will no longer be allowed to enter the dorms. Fearing an outbreak, schools are trying to limit the number of outsiders. Subsequently, students will be left to unpack on their own. Oddly enough, the new rules will resemble the college drop-offs many Xer parents experienced as kids. Silent parents dropped their Xer children at the door and said goodbye until Thanksgiving. There was no texting or FaceTiming. Goodbye was goodbye. Now Millennials will get a taste of that life.
Of course, the overall closeness of Millennials and their parents hasn't changed. The pandemic has simply forced the sterile goodbye. And many schools' fall semester will end at Thanksgiving break, giving parents and kids more time together than usual between semesters.