Only you can afford to do something like that or are bankrolled by someone else. I couldn't afford being away from my only source of income at school (student loans) for a year when I was going to school, I would literally be homeless without it. Add on that it's very difficult to get a job to support yourself right now and full time students are not eligible for unemployment. That's not even considering the risks you take academically by taking a year off.

The "just take a gap year" crew are living on a different planet than me. No, a different universe. How do you afford to eat and have a roof over your head while you're learning python from Wikipedia full time?

Don't assume I'm coming from a position of privilege. I dropped out of college because I couldn't pay for it, and if I could go back, I would absolutely not go in debt for those years of college which didn't result in a degree.

Let's be clear here: student loans are not income. If you're going into debt to pay for college, that's even more reason that you should wait to go to college.

If your reason for staying in school this year is that you need funds to survive, you'd be much better off trying to find a job. Jobs pay in actual money, not debt. If you're college age and able-bodied, the delivery companies are all understaffed to the point that if you can fill out an application you're probably hired. It's not glamorous but it's better than many situations right now. When my business was floundering last year, I used my truck to haul recycling for local businesses. Sometimes the best option is not very good.

Obviously you know your situation better than I do, and it may be that there are some other reasons why going to school is a better option. But nothing you have said so far indicates that to me.

In any other year, if the economy is doing well, and if your degree program is good, then it makes sense to use student loans to get into the high tech workforce ASAP. But there are tons of other assumptions around that: health, chronotype, personality, housing, etc.

If you leave school for a year, how hard is it to return? I.e. any re-admission issues?

In the past, as long as it's only 1 or 2 years, there weren't really any readmission issues as long as your previous grades weren't terrible. I've been readmitted, and had a few friends readmitted. There are lots of reasons that students take a gap year, some of which are well outside the students' control, so it's a fairly common occurrence that colleges have provisions for.

However, if you go too long, prerequisites start to change, credits start to expire, etc., so even if you're readmitted that can be problematic.

And there's the caveat that Covid may have all sorts of effects in the coming years.

It will be hard to be readmitted when the school Financials completely collapse in the next few years due to a massive drop in attendance.

True. People who talk up the idea of taking a full year off and "volunteering" live in a much different economic reality than a lot of other people.

Volunteer - unemployment is the worst for decades. There are literally half the population not working right now with nothing to do, its the least useful time to volunteer.

(OK maybe I'm wrong)

It's because of this unemployment that food banks have an increased need for volunteers.

My local food bank certainly requests volunteers, and they're recommending that seniors or those with health conditions cancel their shifts...further reducing their volunteer pool.

I don't think it's the demand side that is the issue, it's more the supply side. A lot of people don't live a life where they can afford to spend a year volunteering. They need some kind of income. What happens when there are no stimulus checks and no increased access to unemployment? Or will they extend those programs so that they last another 12 months at least?

We have to be cognizant of the fact that, by all indications, October will be a very stressful time for a lot of people.

Volunteering at our homeless shelter doing health assessments and triage was certainly much better than sitting at home watching TV and worrying more.

Many of my prospects disappeared as COVID hit - and it made me feel some self worth trying to help others. I learned a ton too.

When the volunteer work is truly doing something for the community, I find it more valuable than paid work (even barely scraping by) - just knowing that I did SOMETHING to attempt to help others.

Just my 2 cents.

Just because (some) employers are able to pay as many employees (possibly zero) as before, doesn't mean there are no jobs to be done. With so many social issues currently highlighted, it seems like an excellent time to give some time.

This is the most useful volunteering time because the social needs are everywhere

Good point on retirees, I'm sure there are lots of gaps like that out there.