In the current environment, students may find it challenging to make decisions about their education. For students who are already enrolled in a program, this decision may be determined largely by the college or university. Many students won't want to transfer to a different school midway through a program, and will thus follow the guidelines their school recommends. However, these students may want to check to see if the courses they want to take this semester are available online, as some schools are offering courses at discounted rates.
Students who haven't yet started their degree, however, have more options. They can choose to attend an online or on-campus school based on their preferences, needs, and career goals, or, if they can afford it, they could choose to postpone the start of their college education with a gap year.
Although relatively few students overall are opting for time off, it is actually encouraged by some of the more prestigious schools like Harvard and MIT. Historically, students have used gap years to expand their horizons through travel or work experience, neither of which may be feasible options in the current environment. But that doesn't mean a gap year is a waste of time. Students can still utilize this refresher period to build on skills and knowledge through online courses like Coursera or The Great Courses, through teleworking, or through online internships.