A COVID-19 Gap Year? The 4 Ways You Can Still Take a Gap Year and Ways to Pay

By Jody Bell

Imagine you are a graduating high school senior attempting to transition into adulthood and make life-altering decisions while still understanding who you are. Suddenly, the worst public health emergency in the past 100 years hits, and your situation is made even more complicated. Your college is now rapidly changing their plans, and all your previous assurances of what your freshman experience would be like crumbles.

What do you do? How do you plan your future when you’re shrouded in uncertainty?

Many are opting for a gap year. Before COVID-19 about 30,000-40,000 students pursued a gap year annually. But we spoke to Marion Taylor, a woman heavily embedded in the Gap Year Movement, who states she has seen “an increase in gap year inquiries.” Taylor serves on the board of the Gap Year Association, whose mission is to ensure that young adults can maximize their potential through meaningful opportunities during their gap years. She also runs her own gap year consultant service, Taylor the Gap.

Girls With Impact CEO, Jennifer Openshaw, had the opportunity to speak with Taylor on ways in which students can make the most out of a Gap Year given the limitations brought forth by COVID-19.    

Here are edited answers on some of your top questions:

What Are the Benefits of a Gap Year?

A gap year allows students to better understand themselves and their position in the world. This is incredibly helpful for students who may not know exactly what career path they want to pursue and gives them the time they need to assess what they want in higher education. In terms of the future implications of this, Taylor emphasized that employers tend to view gap years as favorable -- distinguishing applicants as culturally exposed and more socially aware.

These benefits are more than obvious when you look at the data; students that take a gap year have higher GPAs than those that don’t, and according to Taylor, they tend to graduate in 4 years as opposed to the national average of 6.

What Kind of Gap Year Experiences Are Possible Given COVID-19?

Because of the uncertainty that COVID-19 poses, there are four possible options.

• Online -- In case we must shelter in place, there are plenty of online options for developing new skills. Here are just a few ideas.

  • Learn to code through online boot camps.

  • Get various online certifications in marketing, social media, or even teaching English.

  • Teach an international student English.

• Local community -- Being involved in your local community if domestic travel is limited.

  • Volunteer serving meals to at-risk or elderly families needing food deliveries during COVID-19.

  • Work as a paid contact tracer through AmeriCorps.

• Domestic, outside your state -- Join a domestic program outside of your state. These provide similar feelings of exploration/independence but avoid the uncertainty/restrictions of international travel during COVID-19.

  • There are programs in Hawaii, US Virgin Islands, and Alaska- all of which are drastically geographically different than most of the United States.

  • Wilderness programs that travel in small cohorts around the country.

  • Environmental programs aimed at national conservation.

• International -- While unlikely to happen before January 2021, it is still possible to travel internationally. There are international programs still running in these countries.

  • Ireland

  • Israel

  • Costa Rica

What is the Cost of a Gap Year?

• A gap year can pay you!

  • AmeriCorps will give you a monthly stipend for your work along with bonuses if you stay with the program for an extended period. 

• Volunteering results in free room and board in many cases.

  • If you cover your travel, programs such as WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) will cover your living expenses.

• The more exploratory based programs in the US costs about $5,000-$13,000 per semester.

• These programs abroad will run $16,000-$18,500 for a semester.

How do I Afford a Gap Year?

• If you have a 529 savings fund intended for college, it can be used on a college accredited program.

• Many gap programs, and even outside scholarships, have financial assistance funds/grants.

• Creative funding options such as crowdfunding or asking for donations instead of a graduation gift.

What Are the Steps in Planning a Gap Semester or Year?

• Create intentions for your gap year- why are you taking a gap year?

• Verify that your intended college allows for deferments of acceptance.

• Figure out the risk mitigation plans for these groups.

• Considering COVID-19, it is important to know the program’s plan if someone, or yourself, gets sick.

Is There Any Urgency in Enrolling for Fall Gap Year Programs?

Yes! Changes to college planning has resulted in an uptick in gap year interest.

• Domestic programs are rapidly filling up.

• Many programs have deadlines in the coming months.

• Due to social distancing regulations, programs have even more limits on the number of students they accept.

• Students still potentially pursuing college must keep in mind a cap on the number of allowed deferments for many institutions.

Time and time again we are seeing GenZ adapt to the difficult situations that they are facing. Their flexibility to strive towards productivity and professional development during a pandemic must be commended and supported.

Hopefully, these key points will help guide you and your family on how to achieve this and make the most out of a difficult situation.

Jody Bell, 18, is Girls With Impact’s Chief Editor and a program graduate. Girls With Impact is the nation's only entrepreneurship program for teen girls, turning them into tomorrow's business leaders and innovators.