15 things to do instead of starting virtual college

Amanda KrauseAug 12, 2020, 01:56 IST

Volunteering is one of numerous ways you could spend your gap year.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

More students than ever before are choosing to take gap years before starting their college educations.
However, it can be daunting to try and decide how you'll spend your year off from school.
To make the decision easier, Insider has rounded up 15 ways students can spend their gap years.
Traveling, volunteering, working, and learning a new language are all options for students who have recently graduated.

Choosing your next move after high school has always been difficult, but recent graduates are having to make tough and unprecedented decisions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Many upcoming freshman, for example, have opted to take gap years in place of starting their college careers virtually. While some students say they're doing so to enjoy the full college experience later on, others say it doesn't make sense to pay high tuition costs for online courses.

Still, having a free year with no plan can be intimidating. To make the process a bit easier, Insider has compiled 15 things recent graduates can do in place of starting virtual classes in the fall.

By working throughout your gap year, you'll be able to save money.

Retail stores are a great place to find both part-time and full-time work. Loren Elliott/Reuters

Internships are another great way to gain experience while not in college.

You can intern at Disney parks as long as you've graduated in the past 12 months. Disney Parks

Having a year off from school gives you time to explore the world.

Tourists in Spain view a historical theater. Jesus Merida/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Volunteering abroad is a popular option for those taking gap years.

Student volunteers prepare food for distribution in Algeria on May 14. Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

You can also volunteer locally.

Habitat for Humanity volunteers help build a home in California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Working with the Red Cross provides you with long-term volunteering opportunities.

Red Cross volunteers pack medicine in Venezuela on June 19, 2019. Stringer/Getty Images

If you plan to spend significant time at home during your break, focus on learning useful skills that will later come in handy.

You can really hone your cooking skills over the course of a year. NurPhoto/Getty Images

Similarly, you can share this time off with family and friends.

You'll appreciate this time spent with loved ones later on. Lev Dolgachov/AP

It doesn't hurt to learn a new language in your spare time.

One of the best ways to learn a new language is using online programs and apps. Vivek Prakash/Reuters

If you've always dreamed of owning a business, now is the perfect time to get started.

Etsy is one of numerous websites you can use to start your business. Etsy

With a year's worth of free time, you could significantly grow your social-media following.

You could become a travel influencer, or share your fashion online. Angela Mouzenidou/EyeEm/Getty

Within six months, you can earn yourself a certificate that's as good as a college degree.

Some online certificates can land you a job in fields like healthcare. Star Tribune/Getty Images

By becoming an au pair, you can see the world and gain valuable life experiences.

An au pair spends time with children in Overland Park, Kansas. Charlie Riedel/AP

A gap year is the perfect time to work through the list of books you've always wanted to read.

Without the pressures of school work, you can read as much as you'd like. Oli Scarff/Getty Images

You'll have all the time in the world to fill out scholarship and grant applications.

Scholarships and grants can be a big financial help over the course of a gap year. Jannis Tobias Werner/Shutterstock

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