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The coronavirus pandemic has already reshaped how we live everyday life. And now it’s pushing some high school graduates in the Class of 2020 to rethink their fall college plans. There’s still so much uncertainty about whether on-campus programs will resume in time for the fall semester.
Some students are now exploring the option of taking a gap year—a year off between graduating high school and starting college—due to the coronavirus pandemic. Traffic is running about 120% above normal for the last two months at the website of the Gap Year Association, a nonprofit that accredits gap year programs, according to a company representative.
And though gap years have a wealth of benefits, there are still some hurdles to think through before jumping at the prospect of taking time off. With social distancing measures in place for the foreseeable future, gap years will take on a new look and meaning this year.
What Is a Gap Year?
A gap year is a period of time where high school graduates explore other opportunities before enrolling in college.
The public concept of a gap year in the U.S. can be traced back at least two decades, when Harvard admissions authors penned an essay titled “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation.”
The essay, published in the New York Times, argued that current generations face much more intense pressure to excel in education than previous ones did, including much more intense studying, learning and performance expectations. Taking time off between high school and college, the authors argued, can prevent these students from burning out mentally and help position them for a better, more productive and meaningful college experience.
Research shows that gap years do foster a wealth of positive benefits. According to a survey by the Gap Year Association and Temple University, more than half of the individuals who took a gap year reported GPAs of 3.7 to 4.0. Additionally, survey respondents reported high satisfaction with their jobs, with the greatest impact on personal growth, rather than academics.
Today, numerous colleges and universities including Harvard, Duke, Cornell and others allow admitted students to defer enrollment for a year to explore the world, work, pursue special projects or spend time doing something they find meaningful.
As the Duke Gap Year Program puts it, “This is your opportunity to catch your breath for a year, to gain some perspective, to make a difference in a community near or far, to grow as a person and to be better prepared for all that college has to offer.”
How COVID-19 Is Inspiring Gap Years
With pandemic-required social distancing becoming the new normal, recent high school graduates are starting to rethink their plans to start college in the fall. According to Google Trends, interest in the keyword “gap year” has increased since March 15, when the coronavirus pandemic started inching toward its peak in the U.S.
The only other time there was a notable spike in the keyword term was in May 2016, when reports surfaced that Malia Obama was considering taking a gap year.
The desire to put college plans on hold in 2020 also is a function of how universities are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some are still developing plans for what classes might look like in the fall, with suggestions that classes could be a mixture of remote and in-person learning. The Cal State campus system, which comprises 23 campuses, has opted for remote learning for the vast majority of its classes in the upcoming fall semester.
If remote learning is the new norm, then some Americans are showing a reluctance to shell out high tuition fees to have their college experiences take place at home from the kitchen table. According to two recent surveys by YouGov for Forbes Advisor, an overwhelming number of Americans (68%) say if remote learning is going to happen, then college tuition costs should be lower, although it’s unlikely that universities will budge on prices any time soon.
As states and municipalities begin to reopen, there’s still plenty of uncertainty around the public health and economic effects of the coronavirus—whether or not there’s a second wave in the fall. Deferring college enrollment for a year could be a way of asserting control over some of these unknowns.
Tips If You’re Considering a Gap Year
Traditionally, gap years often involve taking trips abroad. Malia Obama, for example, took a gap year in 2017 before attending Harvard, during which she traveled to Bolivia and Peru. Since the coronavirus has shut down many country borders to noncitizens (France, for example, has yet to announce when nonresidents can return to the country), seeking opportunities closer to home will be more viable.
For those high school graduates looking for ways to serve during a gap year, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed many types of need in communities both large and small. There are plenty of ways new high school graduates can take time off this year and have well-rounded experiences that will position them for success when they finally set foot on a college campus.
The Class of 2020 will be approaching the gap year conversation with even more creativity than usual—in part because they have to. Whether that gap year will be spent serving others, working toward new skills or pursuing personal goals, it can offer a solution for those who are concerned that the full on-campus college experience can’t be enjoyed this fall.
Consider these options if you’re exploring the idea of a gap year due to COVID-19:
Help the Country Through AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is a program under the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that leads volunteering and community service efforts in the United States.
AmeriCorps advertises its viability to be a gap year program for individuals ages 18-26, offering an all-expense paid gap year (sometimes with room and board, meals, transportation and more costs covered) in exchange for at least a 10 to 12 month commitment. Now, it’s gathering more interest among recent high school graduates.
“We’re hearing reports about an increase in interest in serving through the program. This follows a trend we’ve seen after previous moments of need in the country,” says Samantha Jo Warfield, a spokesperson for the Corporation for National and Community Service. “We’ve got about 75,000 slots in 21,000 locations each year with thousands of individual organizations. I like to say that if you have a passion, we can find you a purpose to match.”
Serving in AmeriCorps does come with some enticing incentives. Volunteers are paid a stipend, sometimes offered housing and can earn undergraduate college credit for up to three courses. Upon completion of an approved term of service, volunteers have access to the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, which can be used toward repayment of qualified student loans and paying for educational expenses at qualified higher education institutions. This money will be taxed as income in the year it’s used, but it’s still helpful for students paying their way through school (or after).
Since the national emergency was declared by President Donald Trump in March, AmeriCorps reports that more than 8,500 of its members and volunteers have helped an estimated 1.3 million people. Its efforts so far have included collecting and distributing food, conducting wellness checks, virtually teaching and tutoring, and connecting with isolated seniors.
Nine Democratic senators, including Senator Chris Coons and Senator Amy Klobuchar, have proposed legislation to significantly expand the number of Americans who can serve in AmeriCorps each year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Volunteer From Home
Though the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down many in-person events, there are numerous ways individuals can effectively and safely volunteer from home.
Volunteer search engine All For Good now has a portal specifically for work-from-home volunteer opportunities. Currently, those opportunities include volunteering on issues surrounding gender equality, writing letters to health care workers and virtually tutoring children around the world.
If finding a virtual volunteering opportunity seems overwhelming, remember to keep your individual strengths in mind while searching for a project. Gap years should be taken to enhance interests and passions or even unearth ones you didn’t know you had. Start by making a list of a few things you might enjoy doing, and then create a search query based on those interests.
Have a Plan for Next Year
Most universities will require admitted students who want to take gap years to provide detailed summaries of their plans during their year off, as well as information on how it will apply to their studies. While creating a plan for a successful gap year is important, it’s just one step in the process—you’ll have to have a plan for next year, too.
While creating your post-gap year plan, it could be helpful to devise a list of ways you hope to apply your gap year experiences to your transition back into school. You can focus on soft skills you might develop during your gap year experience, such as teamwork and communication, and translate how you can incorporate them in your studies.
Bottom Line
Deferring college enrollment can provide a helpful transition period for some high school graduates before they enter college. With the coronavirus pandemic still playing out across the U.S., including on college campuses, more high school graduates are considering gap years to tide them over until schedules return to some form of normal. There are plenty of opportunities here in the U.S. for gap years and, with the right plan, they can be effective and meaningful experiences that will help students excel when they return to school.
