Considering taking a gap year? pros and cons

With the onset of COVID-19 this past spring, we all found ourselves feeling the effects of social-distancing on a variety of levels. Whether it meant struggling with the emotions and sadness that comes with missing your friends, working to find a work-life balance in school with everything shifted online, or figuring out how to navigate a huge transition in your life (college applications, new jobs, new schools, etc.), all of us were thrown into situations we had never experienced before.

The pandemic has forced us all to start thinking a little bit more about how we go about our day to day. Maybe you’ve been struggling with days blurring together and feeling the same, or maybe you’ve been having epiphanies, crises, or deep moments of introspection that have got you thinking about what’s next: for some of you, maybe you’ve even wondered if going straight to college next year is right for you.

The idea of a gap year presents so many pros and cons, and is an option that many students consider, regardless of whether or not there is a global pandemic. The traditional path to college straight out of high school is often something that's pressured or considered “normal,” and so beginning to second guess that path can be a little frightening. However, especially now that so many things in life are up in the air, it's more important than ever to learn about your options, and find a path that will best set you up to be successful in life.

So… a gap year. What are the pros and cons?

PROS:

• Waiting for an in-person college experience: Above all, this is probably one of the most popular reasons that students are currently considering taking a gap year. As you have probably experienced, remote learning is difficult in a variety of ways: keeping focused, motivated, emotionally well and healthy while sitting at home, and keeping a makeshift workspace clean and professional can be stressful, and definitely is not the college experience you hoped and dreamed for. Lack of socialization on campus and boredom in your parents’ home could be reason enough to want to change up your lifestyle through taking a gap year.
• Find Yourself: Taking a gap year, pandemic aside, is often a way that people figure out what really drives them and makes them happy, or find a new passion they wouldn’t have pursued otherwise through normal educational paths. School is rather demanding and stressful at any level, so taking some time to remove the added burden of classes to focus on other life goals can be a way to get out of a rut and try new things.
• Saving Money: If you can find a job that you enjoy and that helps you save a bit of money before college, you can help pay your way through those hefty college tuition charges. You gain a bit of life experience, can boost your resume, and learn skills that will definitely help you in the academic and professional world. In most beginning jobs, even if it doesn’t seem like it, you will learn really important skills about how to communicate, stay determined/work hard, interact with customers, and maybe some technical skills as well. You could learn how to cook, manage inventories at retail stores, or even learn how to recommend the best running shoe for customers at your athletic store down the street. No matter what kind of job you get, you’ll learn something, and make some money for your future along the way.

CONS:

• Waiting for an in-person college experience: Although this point can also be a major pro about taking a gap year, it is also important to remember the uncertainty that has followed the arrival of COVID-19. In all honesty, colleges are unsure as to when they will fully return to in-person classes, and the way that COVID will evolve is still largely up in the air. Even if cases fall at first, we are likely to see another rise later on in the year, which leads to difficult planning. After all, it would be rather frustrating to delay your college experience solely for the reason of wanting in-person classes, and then have to keep waiting semester after semester, or year after year, for the exact set of circumstances you want.
• Academic Momentum: Right out of high school, you are rather used to taking classes, given that that’s probably what you’ve been doing your entire life without a pause (other than summer and winter vacations)! Keep in mind that a full gap year is much longer than a vacation, and can make it a bit harder to jump back into the dynamic of classes, studying, and test taking once you are through. 
• Job Prospects: In the current economy, particularly prior to going to college, it can be rather difficult to find a job that you are passionate about. This by no means is to say it cannot be done, but you should consider the fact that many industries are struggling financially at the moment, and may not be looking to hire anyone new, particularly right out of high school. So, if you do plan on taking a gap year to earn money and find yourself a bit, just be prepared for a bit of a tough job search, and be mindful about starting your search early in order to find something on time and worthwhile.
• Travel Restrictions: If your ultimate goal during your gap year would be to travel, keep in mind that during COVID-19, travel restrictions could heavily limit your options. Many countries are not allowing tourists or visas whatsoever, and you could expect restrictions to get even stricter in the near future. In addition, if you are successfully able to get somewhere new (domestic or abroad), keep in mind that the activities that you may be able to do could be largely limited as well (many closed venues, museums, restaurants, hotels, etc.). This could make for a less fulfilling experience depending on what you want to get out of your travels, and could mean that your money would be better saved for a later excursion opportunity (college study abroad)!

Beyond any pros and cons listed regarding taking a gap year, I would say that whatever route you choose, don’t worry about wasting your time, or falling behind. One year in the grand scheme of life is nothing compared to your eventual career and future, and if it helps you get one step closer to finding out who you truly are and what makes you happy, what could be bad about that? No matter what experience you end up having, it will teach you something about your own aspirations, about the real world and life dynamics, and about how you operate when thrown into new situations. The most important thing however, is to embark on whatever choice you make with a plan, a loose end destination/goal regarding what you want to get out of your gap year or college experience, and what steps you want to take to get there.

However, if you find yourself caught in the middle, maybe try thinking about alternatives:

1. Take a lighter course load. This can be easier to manage and would only slightly delay your time to obtaining a degree. This would also provide you with time to take care of your own mental health and explore new hobbies/passions.
2. Begin college at a community college, finish pre-requisite courses, and then embark on another higher-education institution. This can save money if you are worried that you will not get the most out of attending a top-tier university that is online for the time being.
3. Take a gap year, but enroll in one online course about something you want to explore: stay engaged, motivated, and used to the learning//studying/test-taking process.
4. Volunteer. If you have the financial ability to live without working for the time being, find something you are passionate about, and get involved! These opportunities could be easier to find than paid job opportunities.

For more advice on whether or not a gap year is right for you, schedule a call with me! Having experienced both virtual learning and a remote job hunt, I know what it’s like to be choosing between both of those options. Let’s get through it together!

SARAH

Sarah is a Consultant on the Study Hall College Consulting Team. Sarah graduated from UC Berkeley in the Class of 2020 where she majored in Architecture and minored in Spanish Language & Literature. For more college application and essay tips, check out our Study Hall College Consulting website at shcollegeconsulting.com.