High School Students During Pandemic
It’s a challenging situation to be in and many students are navigating the world of COVID-19 while also figuring out their future. With so many things to juggle, it’s important to understand what these students are going through.
In a bid to figure out which college to go to, these decisions have become harder than ever before. Even during “normal” years, the process was difficult and something that would cause high school students to seek advice, visit seminars, and see what was available to them.
However, how has it changed during the pandemic? What are high school students beginning to notice? Here’s a detailed look at how high school standards are doing during the pandemic and how it’s influencing their decision to go to college.
Change of Plans
44% of American high school students state they are worried about COVID-19 and its impact on their future. While 27% state they have already decided to change things up whether this includes not going to college, choosing a community college, or changing which college they apply to.
Many geographic details are playing a role in these decisions that might not have in the past.
The idea of where the cases are higher, how this might influence the college experience, and whether or not it’s best to head to college with continued uncertainty.
Financial Concerns
This is one of the biggest hurdles that is popping up in front of the graduating class. Students are worried about not being able to afford college fees and not knowing how they are going to keep up with arranging for living expenses during this time in their lives.
For those who wish to head to a different part of the country or world, it’s the finances that seem most difficult to get a hold of.
If students can’t get their hands on part-time jobs, they may not find it feasible to go to college in the coming year.
Gap Years
A lot of high school students are trying to work through this ordeal by simply focusing on a gap year. The idea is to make sure the pandemic isn’t getting in the way of their college experience and they can get their finances in order too.
This is an option that is on the minds of many high school students as they look at the options in front of them.
The idea of a simple gap year seems appealing in the hopes of a vaccine or downswing in cases.
Final Thoughts
In the end, many students are sitting on the fence about whether or not to go to college. Some are feeling it might be okay to skip a year, while others want to follow the timeline that has been set out for them from years ago.
Each student has an individual opinion as to what’s right and wrong.
With the ups and downs of a pandemic, this decision still looms on their mind and it’s one that is going to take a bit of time to work through.
Click Here To See The Results Of A Major National Survey Of High School Counselors About Communicating With Higher-Ed Institutions During The COVID-19 Crisis
For more resources, please view HS Counselor Week