With the COVID-19 pandemic raising questions about whether it is safe for colleges and universities to open in the fall, many young people are considering a gap year. I have four kids of my own in one stage or another of postsecondary education, and I have to admit that the thought crossed our minds.
Under normal circumstances, a gap year, whether right after high school or sometime during college, can be an intentional way for students to broaden their experience, see the world, make a little money and rethink their goals. But alluring as it sounds, we have rejected the idea of falling into the gap year trap — and here’s why.
First of all, foreign travel is all but prohibited at the moment except out of “absolute necessity,” and domestic travel is equally discouraged. With more than 40 million people filing for unemployment since mid-March, there are few if any jobs available, and the hardest-hit sectors are those for people without college degrees.
To be honest, in the pre-COVID world, a “gap year” was often the license of more affluent kids, but for kids from low-income households, who are less likely to finish college under any circumstances, a gap year could be a fatal blow to their academic goals. In fact, about 10% of students who take a gap year never enroll in college. And, students who take a gap year are about half as likely to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, according to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study.
NPSAS found that just 21% of gap year students graduate within four years of enrollment versus 44% who didn’t take a gap year. Within five years, the graduation rate is 34% for gap year students versus 64% for non-gap year students.
There are other risks as well. Gap year students have to reapply for financial aid the following year and typically receive, on average, $2,500 less. A student who is taking time off to make money to help pay for college needs to factor in the loss of some financial aid — over and above the challenge of finding a job in this economy. Academic performance can also suffer as students can get a little rusty while finding themselves.
Nevertheless, parents and students are rightfully asking if college as we know it will be taking place this fall and the honest answer is nobody knows just yet. Plan A for many schools is to be fully open if the virus is contained. Plan B is some kind of hybrid between in-person classes with social distancing and online classes where necessary. Plan C is fully online.
While a few higher education institutions have signaled plans to be mostly online this fall, the vast majority of public and private universities as well as community colleges are still planning for some in-person classes, as well as other activities that fill out the college experience. Either way, young people should stay enrolled.
At the Illinois Board of Higher Education, our mission is to get as many students over the finish line as possible and prepare them for success in today’s competitive economy. The data is very clear that people with postsecondary degrees earn more than high school graduates earn. We are particularly focused on low-income students, students of color and rural students. All three populations are especially vulnerable.
We recently formed a committee of higher education leaders in Illinois to develop plans for safe and responsible reopening in the fall, whether in person, online or, more likely, something in between. So far, every college in Illinois is expecting to be open. In making our decisions, we are guided above all by the safety of students and employees, and we are taking direction from the experts and Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois Plan for reopening the economy.
We also understand that parents and students may wonder if an online education is as good as an in-person education. And students may feel that the lack of social interaction makes college less worthwhile. Both of these concerns are real, but public, private and community colleges and universities in Illinois are working hard to enhance the experience for every student no matter which learning environment is available in the fall.
I would add that online education is a needed skill for every young person in today’s knowledge economy. Many jobs require independent, online research and critical evaluation of information gathered from the internet. This is an opportunity to succeed at something young people will need for the rest of their lives.
I appreciate the desire of young people to put down the books for a while, explore the world, try their hand at some kind of job or do community service. Right now, however, the safest and the smartest move is for them to stay on course with learning. When the economy bounces back, they will be in a much better position to succeed.
John Atkinson is chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and a managing director at Willis Towers Watson
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Get our latest editorials, commentaries and columns, delivered twice a week in our Fighting Words newsletter. Sign up here.
