疫情之下高中毕业生陷入两难选择“间隔年”的人数增多_时事

疫情之下高中毕业生陷入两难选择“间隔年”的人数增多

Taking a gap year between high school and university is fairly common in many parts of Europe, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. In the US, the practice is less common, but attracted mainstream attention in 2016 when Barack Obama’s daughter Malia took a gap year before attending Harvard University. Critics point out that the gap year is often an opportunity reserved for the wealthy. Yet the concept – and its pros and cons – is under increased scrutiny now as students all over the world weigh up their options for the year ahead.

在高中和大学之间休一个间隔年在欧洲多地、英国、澳大利亚和新西兰都相当普遍。在美国，这种做法没那么常见，但是在2016年吸引了主流媒体的关注，当时奥巴马的女儿玛利亚在入读哈佛大学前休了一个间隔年。批评人士指出，间隔年通常是富人才能享有的机会。不过现在间隔年的概念——及其利弊——随着世界各地的学生都在权衡新学年的选择，正受到越来越多的审视。

In a recent study on Covid-19 and university access, the London-based Sutton Trust found that one in five university applicants (19%) in the UK had changed their mind about university attendance for the 2020 academic year – whether in terms of their preferred university or by deferring a place in favour of a gap year.

总部在伦敦的萨顿信托在最近的一项针对新冠肺炎和大学入学的研究中发现，英国有五分之一 In the US, a survey conducted in April by Baltimore-based consulting firm Art & Science Group found that 17% of students had changed their college plans due to Covid-19. Of those students, 16% indicated that they would take a gap year, while 17% said they would wait until the spring semester (which would start in January 2021) to enrol in university full-time. A third said they would enrol in university on a part-time basis.