Sat, 11 May 2024 11:37:30 -0700WeeblyThu, 27 May 2021 13:31:45 GMThttp://noelvoicestudio.com/noels-blog/to-gap-or-not-to-gapthat-is-the-questionI have been asked over the years about taking a gap year.  This has come up much more since the Pandemic hit.  Colleges are still charging in excess of $60K per year, even though many programs went online this year (20/21).  Some types of classes are particularly problematic. How do you attend a dance class, voice class, acting class online?  Some programs were super organized, while others struggled to create an online experience for their students that was compelling, and engaging.  Students found it difficult making close friendships when they never met in person....This was a tough year.

I have students who started in a program, and soon after, decided to leave and take a gap year.  I have students who felt they were not ready to attend school for various reasons and took a gap year.  Fear has been driving the decision in the last year. Perhaps value was also driving this decision for parents.  

Now we are looking at the 2021-22 school year, and I still have students choosing gap.  So let's talk about reasons behind taking a gap year, and what colleges think of students who have taken a Gap year.

Some students choose to take a gap year to increase their skill level.  For this reason, I tend to get many seniors in my studio coming in for the first time.  We play "catch up" as fast as we can to prepare them for their prescreens.... we usually film late in August and,  early September.  If you start with a new voice teacher, monologue coach etc, in the summer, it really only gives your team 2 or 3 months or less to get you prepared.

When we think of voice lessons - it's like dance lessons - you don't become a prima ballerina in 3 weeks.  It takes many months, or a year or more, to turn around a voice - to get rid of nasality, to expand range, to find an unencumbered tone, to find a head voice, to create a healthy belt etc.  If you haven't had enough time behind actual skills, then to go through a round of prescreens a few months later is not going to get you to the level of schools you may be looking at. You will also be limited in what material you can present based on your ability....because we want you to sound and act as great as you can for the level you are at. But this may not be the level college BFA programs are looking for.  Because of this, you don't pass many prescreens which now greatly limits the number of schools you can possibly attend....

Other students are not happy with the final choices they have in BFA or BA programs.  Some are uncomfortable after seeing a campus in a city or rural setting, and feel they would rather wait and attend a school that has the setting they feel comfortable with.

Taking a gap year may help you garner the training and experiences you need to pass more Prescreens, and feel confident in your auditions for a higher level program.  

Having had a conversation with admissions at University of Michigan Musical Theater Department, I learned that colleges will want to see you taking a gap year for a specific purpose - such as working, volunteering, and/or working on your skills.  They do not want to see the student who is "sitting around the house".  You will be asked why you took a gap Year, so it is very important to outline the year ahead with precise goals and accomplishments.

Also, if you defer enrollment, or take a gap year and you take a local college course, it puts you into a different category. You will then be considered a transfer student.  The numbers of acceptances are different for transfer students than they are for incoming Freshmen.

On a positive, colleges do not look down on gap years, and in fact feel the students are more mature, and have more life experience behind them.  These students tend to be leaders in the class with more confidence in who they are.

Taking a gap year is a personal decision, and as parents, we need to listen to our young adults.  The last thing you want to do is keep telling yourself "they are ready", "they are fine", "once they get there, they will love it".  Sometimes this is true, many times it is not....  You are about to drop over $60K on a program, and if your child leaves the program, you will lose the bulk of that money.  Make sure you explore all options before you make that decision.  

It is also very hard for a student to say to their friends, I am taking a gap year, so the social aspect is also one to consider.  Their friends all march off excitedly to their new schools, and your person is home. They need to be prepared for this, and have a plan that makes them feel strong, confident and valued.

So....I am not here to tell you that taking a gap year is a good or bad decision.  I will say from the college folks that I spoke with, gap is not looked down upon, but you absolutely need to have a plan for the year ahead.  

​Hone your skills to become stronger and more confident, get a job to help pay for lessons, do some volunteering and have the strength to the see the path ahead and know that you have made the decision that is right for you.


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