As other people already named it, personal interaction is one big factor. Being in a friend group, learning together and trying to achieve things together greatly enhances the chances to complete the studies.

Also this is only possible for lectures and most seminaries. Outside of social science and humanities you usually have some kinds of hands on or lab courses, which of course can’t be done online.

I read that more as answering and communicating the disinterest instead of ghosting them.

For third party voters in the US: What do you think is the effective difference between voting for a third party and throwing your ballot directly into a garbage bin?