Though it has always been an option for newly minted high-school graduates, a gap year has become increasingly popular due to the COVID-19 pandemic that is leaving seniors all over the country wondering what their next step might be.
A statistic from Davidson College and The Chronicle of Higher Education revealed that only 2.5% of colleges held classes fully in person last semester, and 15% offered a hybrid of online and in-person classes. Roughly one in five college students chose not to return to school in the fall, according to a College Reaction and Axios poll.
Guidance counselor Ryan McGraw noted that several members of the school’s class of 2020 opted for a gap year given the limitations caused by the pandemic.
“A lot of the students planning on going to college in the spring found out they would be sitting in front of a computer for their freshman year and decided to take a gap year instead because that was not what they signed up for,” McGraw said.
Alumna April Springer, who graduated in June, is one such student.
“I realized that my college experience would be really minimized, and I would’ve had a hard time starting college with such a limited social scene,” she said.
Instead, Springer has been able to gain unique experiences in a number of different fields.
“First semester, I nannied, taught French and worked at a pharmacy, but this semester I’m working on a goat farm in Washington,” she said.
Many students like Springer don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on college tuition just to sit in their dorm or bedroom and attend classes virtually. A recent survey released by the Charles Koch Foundation and College Pulse shows that most college students don’t think that online learning is as effective as in-person learning, and 90% of students don’t want to pay full tuition for an online class.
Canon Alexander, who graduated last year, is one of those students, using his gap year to take classes part time and work at the University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill.
“I figured my school was going to go virtual pretty quickly—not necessarily just my school, but most schools in general—and I didn’t want to pay the tuition without the full experience,” he said.
Senior Abby Vogel is considering taking a gap year after she graduates since most colleges are limited to remote learning.
“I am thinking about taking a gap year to Bali to work and learn the culture,” Vogel said. “Sitting in front of a computer for my freshman year of college just does not sound worth it to me.”
Senior Ashlyn Tolbert said she can see the appeal of a gap year, though she does not believe a gap year is the right option for her.
“I understand wanting to wait for in-person instruction, but I’d rather start learning right away even if it’s more challenging online,” Tolbert said.
McGraw, though, noted that a year in between high school and college can be a productive and educational one, despite putting college plans on hold.
“I think overall about 90 percent of the students take the time to do something constructive while on their gap year, which makes their college experience more beneficial later on,” he said.
McGraw added that a gap year doesn’t have to involve extensive travel: students can work, volunteer, or shadow a family member or neighbor close to home. For those considering a gap year abroad, McGraw cautioned that traveling to far away places may increase a student’s likelihood of getting sick.
Above all, though, McGraw said that students need to take the initiative to be productive.
“It isn’t a gap year if you stay at home playing video games all day,” he said.
