Should Graduating Seniors Consider a Gap Year?
The spread of coronavirus disease (nicknamed COVID-19) has thrown a wrench into the 2019-2020 school year for many students. As schools scramble to implement online leThe Gap Year Associationarning programs amid statewide school closures, graduating high school seniors wonder whether their undergrad plans will be affected.
According to a national survey conducted by the Art & Science Group, a higher-education consulting firm, one out of six high school seniors surveyed are rethinking their decision to enroll full-time in a bachelor’s degree program in the fall. Many plan to enroll part-time in a program, but an equal number are considering an alternative plan: taking a gap year.
In this article, we’ll explore the subject of the gap year to learn what it is and what benefits taking a gap year can provide to students. We’ll also talk about helpful tips for planning a gap year and steps to take when applying to college after a gap year.
What is a Gap Year?
The year-long break between high school graduation and the start of post-secondary education (or full-time employment) is known as the “gap year” and has become increasingly popular. The current health crisis sweeping the nation has already impacted the U.S. education system, and we may see an increase in graduating seniors taking gap years as an alternative to post-secondary education.
The concept of the gap year has been around since the 1980s, but one of the most famous