Speaker A
Senior pranks to prom to graduation ceremonies, the pandemic has taken away a lot of milestones from high school seniors.
Exploring the pros and cons of taking a gap year before college with insights from Edgewood College's VP of student development.
Key Takeaways
- Taking a gap year has both benefits and drawbacks, with potential academic and social impacts.
- Maintaining academic momentum is crucial for timely graduation.
- Colleges provide structured environments for personal and academic growth.
- Financial and engagement considerations are important when deciding on a gap year.
- Students should thoughtfully explore their options and remain excited about their future education.
Summary
- The pandemic has disrupted traditional high school milestones, leading more students to consider gap years.
- A gap year can offer opportunities for volunteering, traveling, or exploring academic interests.
- Heather Harbach from Edgewood College shares that while there are benefits, she leans more towards the cons of taking a gap year.
- Colleges may view gap years as potentially putting students at a disadvantage due to loss of academic momentum.
- Gap years might delay graduation compared to peers who continue directly to college.
- Edgewood College emphasizes student development and growth within the college environment itself.
- Cost and maintaining academic engagement are important factors to consider when taking a gap year.
- Higher education institutions are committed to providing quality academic experiences, including hybrid and innovative learning options.
- Students are encouraged to explore and engage with their educational paths actively.
- News 3 Now will broadcast and stream commencement ceremonies for Madison public schools.
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
And with plenty of uncertainty in the coming months, a growing number of students are considering taking a year off before heading to college.
Speaker A
Students often take a gap year to spend time volunteering, traveling, or sometimes just to take a break from studies.
Speaker B
But like everything in life, there are pros and cons to consider. Heather Harbach is the vice president of student development at Edgewood College.
Speaker B
She joins us now live.
Speaker A
Hi, Heather.
Speaker C
Hi.
Speaker B
Let's start with the pros of taking a gap year between your senior year of high school and your freshman year of college.
Speaker C
Sure, well, there there can be some pros. I I will say that I think there, um, I lean to more cons than pros, but I think that there's an opportunity for students to, um, explore some of their interests, maybe, um, check out some opportunities both that they can contribute to their community, as well as potentially explore some academic pursuits or interests that might tie into an academic major.
Speaker A
How do colleges and universities feel about students taking a gap year? Are you putting yourself at a disadvantage or is it a do they see it as a positive thing?
Speaker C
I mean, I would say you could be putting yourself at a disadvantage, um, if you think about it, jumping in right away.
Speaker C
I know I took some time in between some of my degrees.
Speaker C
And it's hard to get back into that academic or rigorous, uh, work and so taking what you did in high school, jump you right into college, um, and keeping that momentum going is a good strategy to keep yourself in practice, as well as keeping yourself on track to that degree, to that goal that you're setting.
Speaker A
But don't you grow up a little bit? I mean, do you gain is there a potential that you gain a better sense of yourself and the world?
Speaker C
I mean, you could, but also, uh, we really strive hard here at Edgewood College and many of my peers across the country to really work on that human and student development while you're here.
Speaker C
In an environment that is a place you can explore a little bit with some safety while also being challenged and and finding opportunities to grow.
Speaker B
So what's the downside of taking a gap year?
Speaker B
What are the cons?
Speaker C
Well, I mean, your peers are going to be here, they're going to be exploring their options, they're going to be engaging in that academic pursuit.
Speaker C
And I know that at Edgewood College and other institutions, we're committed to giving that full academic experience for our students, both inside and outside of the classroom, so if you took off a semester or a year and your peers didn't, then that's one step closer they are to graduation and maybe one extra step you're going to have to take.
Speaker C
So, um, I know that we're committed to those individual experiences that students may need or accommodations because ultimately safety is going to be on everyone's mind in order to keep students on that successful academic track.
Speaker A
And what about the cost too?
Speaker A
That's a big factor, isn't it?
Speaker C
Yeah, and we we at Edgewood and other institutions are committed to providing that excellent academic experience that anyone else is going to have, um, and in fact, whether it's a hybrid approach or, um, looking at things innovatively and creatively, you're going to get a really top-notch academic experience in your higher education pursuits, wherever you're going.
Speaker C
And so what I would say is jump in and, um, and explore it and engage it and be excited about what's to come.
Speaker B
It's going to be an interesting year.
Speaker A
It is.
Speaker B
That's for sure. Let's see what happens in the fall with classes.
Speaker B
Heather, thanks for being with us today.
Speaker A
Great to see you, Heather.
Speaker A
Thank you so much for joining us.
Speaker B
Great information.
Speaker B
A reminder that News 3 Now will be recognizing seniors who are graduating from public schools in Madison.
Speaker B
This Friday and Saturday, five Madison schools will have commencements broadcast over the air on News 3 Now.
Speaker B
And streaming online at channel3000.com, they'll feature photos of graduating seniors.
Speaker B
Plus messages from principals, students and keynote speakers.
Speaker B
You can find a schedule for when your student school ceremony will be.
Speaker B
Right on the screen right there.
Speaker B
Or channel3000.com.
Topics:gap yearcollege preparationstudent developmentacademic momentumpandemic impactEdgewood Collegehigher educationstudent growthgraduationNews 3 Now
