[JeffInCorvallis]

Utah State quarantined several dorms after noticing elevated levels in the wastewater from those dorms.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/08/30/u...rantining/

Also mentioned in the article was that wastewater was used to detect an outbreak elsewhere in the state before it showed up through normal testing means.

I read somewhere that cities in Massachusetts were testing sewage.  Haven't heard/read any west coast anecdotes.

That's a bit gross, but rather logical.   I do worry a bit about how that could be used in a way that would be rather invasive on the privacy front in other situations, but I guess that'd be for a different time.

As I look at the Utah State scene I can't help but wonder if living in a dorm is really a good option.
Every day would include the risk of testing positive, or knowing someone that tested positive.
Every day could be the first of many in quarantine or isolation or the hospital or worse potentially with family far away.
The campus life would not include any group activities or social life.
Every class would likely be tailored to the online audience even if a large number of students for a class are living on campus.
FWIW - My understanding is that even in campuses that are "open" most of the classes are online or very limited hybrid formats (1 day with TA, none with the professor)

Given all of that I suspect I would rank available choices in this order. 
Choice #1 - Gap year program
Choice #2 - Study abroad, if any Asia country will take Americans
Choice #3 - Stop out for a term
Choice #4 - Online only - perhaps just part-time taking required Gen Ed classes unrelated to major
Choice #5 - Live off campus - As that will be better if on campus classes are halted for a few weeks during the term.
Choice #6 - Live in a campus dorm

I am very eager to learn over time how many students opted for non-traditional strategies this year at different schools across the USA.

I'm assuming that Germany will/has let her into the country with an appropriate quarantine period of some sort? Are there workarounds for students - I keep hearing that my U.S. passport is only good for kindling right now.

[JeffInCorvallis]

Utah State quarantined several dorms after noticing elevated levels in the wastewater from those dorms.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/08/30/u...rantining/

Also mentioned in the article was that wastewater was used to detect an outbreak elsewhere in the state before it showed up through normal testing means.

I read somewhere that cities in Massachusetts were testing sewage.  Haven't heard/read any west coast anecdotes.

That's a bit gross, but rather logical.   I do worry a bit about how that could be used in a way that would be rather invasive on the privacy front in other situations, but I guess that'd be for a different time.

As I look at the Utah State scene I can't help but wonder if living in a dorm is really a good option.
Every day would include the risk of testing positive, or knowing someone that tested positive.
Every day could be the first of many in quarantine or isolation or the hospital or worse potentially with family far away.
The campus life would not include any group activities or social life.
Every class would likely be tailored to the online audience even if a large number of students for a class are living on campus.
FWIW - My understanding is that even in campuses that are "open" most of the classes are online or very limited hybrid formats (1 day with TA, none with the professor)

Given all of that I suspect I would rank available choices in this order. 
Choice #1 - Gap year program
Choice #2 - Study abroad, if any Asia country will take Americans
Choice #3 - Stop out for a term
Choice #4 - Online only - perhaps just part-time taking required Gen Ed classes unrelated to major
Choice #5 - Live off campus - As that will be better if on campus classes are halted for a few weeks during the term.
Choice #6 - Live in a campus dorm

I am very eager to learn over time how many students opted for non-traditional strategies this year at different schools across the USA.

I'm assuming that Germany will/has let her into the country with an appropriate quarantine period of some sort? Are there workarounds for students - I keep hearing that my U.S. passport is only good for kindling right now.