Pandemic-Era Gap Year
While politicians and universities debate the reopening of university campuses, recent high school graduates, or those preparing for postgraduate degrees are debating if they should take a gap year, deferring enrollment for at least a year. It’s far from being an easy decision.
I landed into an unplanned gap year after graduating from Oxford, so I can relate to having one’s life plans change drastically at the last minute. All the hours of planning, getting through the numerous admin forms, getting excited for the new journey, to then have it stripped away by something you have no control over is heartbreaking and frustrating. In my case, the reason was not as far-reaching as a global pandemic! I was meant to stay on in Oxford for a PhD. I had my research project sorted, my room in Trinity College picked out and friends all very excited! The last week before the deadline to apply for my student visa, my funding fell through as the company meant to sponsor my PhD went under! How very upsetting right? Agreed! It was too late to organise for other sources of funding or salvage starting the PhD that year, so I stayed back in Mauritius with no plans! For the first time in my whole life, I did not know what was next! Anxiety level: MAX!
Looking back at this gap year now, I am very happy with where it got me. I ended up applying to Cambridge instead for a PhD where I had the time of my life! For me, it was redirection, to something better suited. I probably really needed some time off after the 4 intense but fun years of university before embarking on 4 more years, and it gave me time to discover my love for medical research and entrepreneurship through hours of reading and researching online. I also used the time to get my driving license (after 3 attempts but hey at least I can drive manual cars…). Unlike other people who usually plan their gap years very efficiently, I did not earn any money, I did not volunteer nor gained valuable experience. I just re-calibrated and decided on what I needed to do to achieve what I wanted in the long run, and I was lucky/ privileged enough to be able to do that. In my experience, a gap year can be a good thing!
Now, in today’s time, the idea of ‘zoom university’ might not be appealing to some, which I understand. University life, especially the first few months, is unique in many ways: being the wide-eyed freshers in a new city/country, experiencing everything for the first time, meeting so many people, going to all the events and parties! So, for me, this is hard to replicate via distant learning. There are also risks of COVID-19 which are still very real in many places. Furthermore, the idea of paying the full tuition fees to miss out on the actual life experience is not super appealing. Therefore, if you relate to these arguments, it would make sense to defer entry to next year. And you can do so much in a gap year (unlike me!). A gap year, if planned properly, can be educational and can lead to real life experiences through part time jobs, volunteering, free online classes to learn new skills such as coding. Having real life exposures to your field of interest can lead to networking and improved skillsets. And you can make money! Usually, you could then use that money to travel, but pandemic related travel restrictions etc. The good news is with the current situation, several companies, start-ups and NGOs are offering remote internships, so definitely worth a shot. Several charities are also desperate for more hands-on board, so volunteering your time or skills (photography, organization, cooking) would make a huge difference in a time of need.
Having said that, starting university as planned, is also an option. Many educators seem confident that universities will be able to adapt to provide an enriching learning environment even in the absence of physical lectures. As to whether the move online will deliver value for money, the general belief is that while the experience will be different, those who are committed to their education can probably take advantage of unique opportunities. There might be a more pronounced shift to involve students in designing their education, or to innovate teaching methods. A potential example of this is involving undergraduates in a professor’s research endeavor, allowing them to build stronger mentor-mentee relationships. However, some challenges still persist, as courses with practical modules which are lab-based will be hard to recreate online. For now, Cambridge and Oxford are reopening their doors to undergraduates for the next academic year, with some large audience lectures moving online. This seems to be the best-case scenario given the circumstances, getting to experience university life as part of the new normal.
I did not really provide clarity, I know! The good news is there is no wrong decision. The bad news is there is no right decision either. My advice is to be creative and think about what a gap year under current realities could look like, and really understand that no decision is final. A gap year will allow you to be “opportunistic” as social distancing might be lifted tomorrow, or in a month, or two. If you’re on a gap year, you have the flexibility to adapt your plans as those things happen. However, if you feel like sticking to the plan is your best option, then just prepare for the new kind of student life and get the most out of the online learning experience. This too shall pass, and eventually life will get back on track, and you’ll get a unique story out of the experience!