Gap Year options for 2021 HS grads

[Anonymous]

Now that DS has been accepted at his ED school, and that school is currently predominantly virtual, we are considering allowing DS to take a gap year. Any guesses as to what types of gap year programs (only want a structured program) might actually run in 2021-2022? Will international options even be possible? What we don’t want is a “virtual” gap year program, ie where kid sits in bedroom (either here in US or somewhere abroad) on his screen all year long. Would love to hear any specific program recommendations for a kid who’s interested in learnin about other cultures, perhaps doing some type of community service/teaching, or learning a foreign language.

[Anonymous]

The world is at a standstill right now. Not a good time for a gap year.

[Anonymous]

If schools are virtual in the fall gap year programs will be too.

[Anonymous]

Better to do gap year after undergrad and before grad school.

[Anonymous]

Best guesses as to whether/to what extent colleges will be virtual in 2021/2022?

[Anonymous]

Why would you take an ED spot and then not go?

[Anonymous]

What’s wrong with applying ED and then deferring a year?

[Anonymous]

Not many options for Gap Year programs. Gap year kids I know spent time volunteering, taking some online classes, tutoring or other employment, working on personal progress in art, music, photography, coding, research, etc.

I also know teo who did some traveling and camping early on but that was before the covid situation worsened.

[Anonymous]

The world is going to be virtual for some time yet.
And if your kid has got into somewhere ED
they are fully capable of researching "interesting options" for themself. You need to land the helicopter, mommy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The world is going to be virtual for some time yet.
And if your kid has got into somewhere ED
they are fully capable of researching "interesting options" for themself. You need to land the helicopter, mommy.

I have gotten useful information from my parents and many others well into adulthood. Yes they can gather information but don't see the wisdom of cutting yourself off from useful information even if it comes from a family member.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best guesses as to whether/to what extent colleges will be virtual in 2021/2022?

Guessing yes, virtual. We are taking a gap year now, rather than later. Letting the school know right after New Years. DC is getting certified in useful interests such as EMT, expecting normalcy in 2022. Wish us luck. We are excited and optimistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best guesses as to whether/to what extent colleges will be virtual in 2021/2022?

Maybe I"m naive, but I'm not expecting 21-22 to be virtual. Assuming vaccine uptake is adequate things should look very different 8 months from now. My guess is that the fall will still have some restrictions in place, maybe in even masks for the first couple of months, but that we will be moving toward a post-covid normal by late fall. Schools got hammered this year, they can't continue the virtual thing for very long. THey can (and I believe should) require the vaccine for anyone on campus.

[Anonymous]

I think it is will be in between. Still no major sporting events and large lectures. No crowded dining halls but maybe more smaller in person things.

[Anonymous]

how about getting his hands dirty by working?

[Anonymous]

"gap year program"

how about your kid volunteer in a soup kitchen or helping tutor kids who have been falling behind because their schools are closed?

The idea of contemplating sending a kid traveling the world or country right now makes me sick to my stomach.