Opinion
N the Red
Mind the gap Students take a break from the academic track Emma Tomlinson tomliemm000@hsestudents.org
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his year, a record number of students have taken a gap year, mainly due to the coronavirus. A gap year has many purposes, from saving money for tuition, traveling or just trying to find out if you actually want to go to college. Unfortunately, many high schools discourage their graduating seniors from taking one and promote college as the only viable post-secondary option. Twenty percent of first-year students admitted to Harvard University have chosen to defer their acceptance and take a gap year this year due to COVID-19, according to a statement by the university. During the summer, a study by SimpsonScarborough indicated that around 40% of high school seniors said they would seriously consider a gap year as an alternative to attending college this fall. Colleges this fall semester are offering mostly online classes. Some schools offer all online classes or a combination of online classes with one or two in-person classes a week. A number of colleges are not allowing students back on campus. School counselors do not tend to offer a gap year as a suggested option after graduation. This may be due to the fact that the school wants a higher rate of graduates to go straight into university, which reflects well upon the school. However, taking a gap year doesn’t necessarily mean that a student will not return back to school. According to a study by Middlebury College, 90% of gap year students return to college within a year. A year off of school can lead to academic benefits. According to the same study done by Middlebury College, students who took a gap year tended to outperform by 0.1 to 0.4 points on a 4.0 GPA scale. This disproves the commonly heard argument that gap year students return to college less academically motivated. Students may also take a year off to travel the world and volunteer. Foundations and organizations, such as the Student Conservation Organization, offer internship and volunteer opportunities within government organizations, nonprofits and conservation groups. The organization also sponsors gap year students, providing
funds that students use to pay tuition when they return to school. Money is one of the most important issues when it comes to getting a college education. The student loan debt in the United States is around $1.6 trillion, according to the National Student Loan Data System. The average student loan debt for a single American is around $32,000. Taking a year off to save up money is less feasible for students who have to pay their own housing and living expenses, as those costs would outweigh their money earned. Institutions such as Princeton and Florida State University offer financial aid to students who take a year off to perform volunteer work, supporting gap years. In a study of students at Temple University who took a gap year, 96% reported increased self-confidence, 93% had increased communication skills and 98% said the year helped them develop as a person. Mental health among teens and young adults is heavily influenced by school. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one in five children and adolescents experience a mental health problem during their school years. Recently, schools have been emphasizing the importance of student’s mental health, but their attempts to help have fallen short. Some students simply need a break from the pressure of school. Additionally, going straight from high school to college, a high-pressure academic situation, can lead to burnout. Fewer than six out of 10 college students graduate in under six years. Hours of homework a night combined with academic pressure leads to high levels of stress. In the National Alumni Survey conducted in 2015, 82% of students who took a gap year indicated that they wanted to take a break from the academic track. Adding up the academic benefits, financial savings, and benefits for student’s mental health, a gap year should be more normalized for high school seniors to consider. Whether it’s traveling the world, or working to make a little extra money, taking a gap year can greatly benefit students.
Infographic by Emma Tomlinson
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