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Gap Year? Or Is it “COVID Melt”?

By: Bryan Contreras, vice president, K12 & Education Partners, myOptions

K12 and higher education are buzzing with how the college matriculation and decision-making process have been turned upside down this summer. The headlines all highlight

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Archive

2023 (4)
January 2023 (1)
When Faced with Difficulties, It Brings Out the Kind of Person You Truly Are
March 2023 (1)
I Want to Be Part of That Team
April 2023 (1)
Exercise Self-Discipline
May 2023 (1)
Ask Your Professors For Help
2022 (16)
January 2022 (2)
#IApplied: Students share their reasons for attending college Find the Things That Motivate You to Move Forward
February 2022 (2)
Rising Black Scholars: A Success Story at Miami Dade College Get to Know Your Professors
March 2022 (2)
Be Proud of Your Accomplishments Just-in-time College Advising
April 2022 (1)
Encouragement from Family and Friends-Key to My Growth
June 2022 (1)
Life is Like An Experiment
July 2022 (1)
Summer: Rest, Reflect, Reset
August 2022 (1)
Believe in Yourself and Know Your Worth
October 2022 (1)
Set High Personal Goals for Yourself
November 2022 (3)
Explore All Your Options Hard Work Pays Off My College-going Journey as a Transfer Student
December 2022 (2)
Stay Disciplined Unfinished College Applications: The Importance of Planning
2021 (22)
January 2021 (1)
Virtual Advising to Support Lower-Income, High-Achieving Students is More Urgent Than Ever
February 2021 (3)
Changemakers: Collaboration that achieves positive systemic change Student African American Brotherhood: Building Men of Color Put On Your Oxygen Mask First, Then Help Others: Student Success Depends On It
March 2021 (2)
#IApplied: University of Florida Freshman Reflects on College Application Support Keep Studying, No Matter How Difficult It Gets
April 2021 (2)
Help Juniors and Seniors Navigate Their Paths Don’t Give Up
May 2021 (3)
Complimentary Support for Juniors and Seniors Get Out of Your Comfort Zone An Outcomes-Focused Perspective for the APIA Community
June 2021 (2)
Using Design Thinking to Support Students’ Postsecondary Planning Needs You Can Do This
July 2021 (2)
Taking a Look at Public Transit and Community College Access It’s Possible to Become Who You Want to Be
August 2021 (1)
Student Parent Success Is a Force-Multiplier for Higher Education
September 2021 (2)
Build Your Support System, Get Involved, and Be Proactive About Financial Assistance Don’t Be Afraid of the Unknown Possibilities for Your Life
October 2021 (1)
What Your School Leader Needs to Know in our Newest “New Normal”
November 2021 (1)
You Can Be That Change
December 2021 (2)
Believe in Yourself and Make Connections #IApplied: Peer-to-peer advice on continuing education beyond high school
2020 (51)
January 2020 (8)
Iowa College Aid Coach & Mentoring Model ACAC Reflects on First Year with ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning Creating A Skilled Workforce and Impacting Young People’s Futures Through Mentoring Make A Lasting Impression Through Mentorship Rural Students and Students of Color Report Gaps in Availability of Mental Health Support Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Open Up Opportunities for Success Through Mentorship The Making of an “Accidental” Mentor
February 2020 (10)
First Gen Hawks: Connecting Students for Success I Found a Deep Sense of Sisterhood at Spelman Empowering Hispanic Students and their Families Racial Inequality is Our History, but it Doesn’t Have to be Our Future Finding Freedom at HBCUs The Role of HBCUs in Our Nation’s Success Black History Month: A Brick in the Foundation of Equity ACT Participates in NSBA Equity Symposium, SEL and Equity: Follow the Data Connecting with Students: School Counselors 2016 School Counselor of the Year: Katherine Pastor-Lorents
March 2020 (4)
Building a More Equitable, Peaceful, and Sustainable World Guest Blog: Sharing Your Story Can Change the World! In Celebration of Women All Over the World The Morehouse Mystique: Just One Example of Black College Excellence
April 2020 (4)
Native Scholars Need Help Now, More Than Ever College Signing Day 2020: Let’s Celebrate A Colleague’s Words of Support and Advice…Just Start with the Heart Teachable Moment
May 2020 (5)
State Leaders Convene to Discuss Approach for 2020 Application Campaign Season Supportive Resources for Students and Families in Our “New Normal” Resources to Keep Students Moving Through the COVID-19 Pandemic COVID-19 and Financial Aid “Thank You” Just Doesn’t Seem to Be Enough
June 2020 (4)
#COVIDEquityChat: Coming Together to Help Students Move Forward Start Strong, Stay Strong: Persisting Through Summer Transitions SEL and Educational Equity Lessons from Rural Communities: Navigating the College-Going Process in A Virtual K-12 World
July 2020 (3)
ACAC Announces Schools of Excellence Program, First Winners Guest Blog: Well-Meaning College Advising Is Not Enough “COVID-19 Slide” Will Yield More Learning Loss Than Summer Slide
August 2020 (1)
Gap Year? Or Is it “COVID Melt”?
September 2020 (2)
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know, Yet. Guest Blog: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
October 2020 (3)
Say hello to myOptions Encourage™ College Essays in a Time of COVID and Unrest Sharpen Your Skills with NCAN’s New E-Learning System
November 2020 (5)
Guest Blog: You Must Persist Until You Achieve What You Desire #IApplied: University of Redlands Freshman Reflects on College Application Support New Career Planning Guide Provides Culturally Relevant Advice for Native Americans Guest Blog: You Will Have Obstacles, Do It Anyway Guest Blog: Supporting Sovereignty in Education During COVID-19
December 2020 (2)
#IApplied: Howard University Freshman Reflects on College Application Support ACT Scholar: Omolola Ahnaman
2019 (75)
January 2019 (3)
Mentoring: An Easy Way To Give Back Guest Blog: My Mentor: Mrs. Jensen Impact a Life Forever Through Mentorship
February 2019 (6)
American College Application Campaign: Preparation Pays Off in Virginia How to Help Dual Enrollment Increase Education Equity New Report Out On Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education Lunch Buddy Program Tries to Connect Kids to College Planning Black History Month: Celebrating Resilience, Persistence & Determination Guest Blog: What It Means To Be A School Counselor Today
March 2019 (4)
College and Career Navigation Leadership Roundtable Guest Blog: Here’s To Strong Women Guest Blog: I am not supposed to be here… Guest Blog: An Interview with the 2019 School Counselor of the Year
April 2019 (3)
Guest Blog: Three Tips to Help Determine the Best College for You American College Application Campaign Reaches Record-breaking 7,109 Schools Guest Blog: Be Proactive About Your Future
May 2019 (7)
ACAC Sets Goal of 8,000 Host Sites for 2019 Campaign Season ALAS SLA Preparing Next-Generation Education Leaders Leadership in Action with ALAS Thanking Our Teachers-Our Unsung Heroes College Fund Publishes College-Going Guide for Native Students College Signing Day Excitement College Signing Day
June 2019 (10)
Creating Educational Opportunity Requires More Than a Dashboard Score Guest Blog: Let students lead, but support them at every step Guest Blog: The Human Rights Campaign: Working Hard for the LGBTQ Community ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning Reflects on Three Meaningful Years College-Bound Students’ Views on Paying for College Guest Blog: PFLAG LGBTQIA People and Their Families Inequities in Socioeconomic Opportunity: A New Opportunity to Reflect Celebrating Pride Starts with Supporting Students Beating the Odds in Pursuit of Education and Career Success Guest Blog: Summer Is Coming; Are You Ready to Stop the Melt?
July 2019 (10)
Calling All Students of Color: Your Country Needs You ACT Teams Work Together For Big Win in Game Study Talking the College-Going Process at NCCEP’s Annual Conference The Power of a Question We’re Going to ACTNext’s ETCPS – Join Us! BGCA Keystone Conference Inspires Future Leaders Guest Blog: Kids on Course University Summer Slide: Ways to Fight Summer Learning Loss ‘Equity in Learning’: We Can’t Do It Alone A Delayed Census Would Hurt Education
August 2019 (4)
Guest Blog: Helping First-Generation College Students Persist to Graduation School Climate and Culture Contributes to Student Success It’s OK to Ask for Help Guest Blog: Most Critical Factor To First-Generation Student Success
September 2019 (7)
Build Bridges So That No Student is Excluded from Opportunity Working Together to Continue Making a Difference for Our Kids Removing Barriers in the College Application Process Sixty Years of Answering #WhyApply Leveling the Educational Playing Field ACAC’s #WhyApply Day is Sept. 20 Pennsylvania Libraries Join College Application Campaign Efforts
October 2019 (11)
South Carolina Celebrates 10 Years of College Application Month Helping Iowa Students and Families Pay for College Turning #WhyApply into #IApplied Working to Minimize Student Loan Debt “Equity Avengers” and other heroes appear at #RealCollege 2019 Summit Invisibility and Awesomeness: The Ed-Tech Paradox La Lucha Sigue Broken Mirrors Series Shines Light on Disparities Preparing Students Financially for College Encouragement and Engagement for Better Student Support at NACAC The Importance of FAFSA and Why Your Family Should Apply
November 2019 (9)
Giving Thanks Helping Native Youth Find Their Voice to Help Shape the Future #WhyApply: Because It’s Never Too Late to Apply Helping Indigenous Students Thrive in College and Beyond Helping Hispanic Families Plan for The Future Working Toward a More Inclusive, More Just Future Latinx Leaders Conquering the Equity Gap My #WhyApply: Following The Path Of Those Who Came Before Me Students Need to Get Involved with the Financial Aid Process
December 2019 (1)
ACT Embraces the GivingTuesday Spirit Year-Round
2018 (75)
January 2018 (9)
Mentorship: A Significant Role in a Student’s Journey First Generation College Students Benefit from Accelerated Learning and Financial Aid New Partnership with a Longtime Friend Tomorrow: Education Equity Webinar Flattening Speed Bumps: The Path To Postsecondary Success Partnerships: Driving Equity Forward CEL Research: Illuminating Equity in Education and Work Many Ways to Make an Impact Making Education Data Visible
February 2018 (6)
You Belong: Yolanda Norman Inspires First-Generation College Students Thousands Benefit from Career and Education Day in Houston The Gifted Gap How the fight over the census threatens American education Mentorship: The Power of Investing in Others HBCUs: Better Growth, More Jobs, Stronger Communities
March 2018 (4)
Women in STEM: You Belong What CEOs Can Do to Improve Higher Ed Outcomes Celebrating Women Celebrating Excellence
April 2018 (5)
Community College: Making a Difference College Signing Day 2018: Celebrate Students in Your College Gear! Paying It Forward Explore ACT Marketplace Investing in STEM: An Investment in our Future
May 2018 (3)
Bravado, Basketball, And Back-To-School For Sophomore Year College Signing Day: Supporting Student Success! Latino Students Persist in College
June 2018 (2)
Attracting More Students to Teaching ACT, a Leader in Measurement, Broadens Focus to Student Success
July 2018 (4)
Guest Blog: Building a College Promise Program Five Difficult Realities We Face When We Talk About Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) What the Opportunity Index Means to ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning Connections Help Prevent Summer Melt
August 2018 (10)
Karolyn Trumpold: Parental support early helps children succeed Kim Bauer: Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t Savanah Schott: Breathe and do your best SEL, resources are keys to success Ada Woo: Try to learn something from everyone around you Nate Scheib: I recommitted myself and went back to school Reflections from Machia: The Summer Before I Attend College Teresa Niner: I wanted to have more opportunities Becky Bobek: I loved learning First Generation College Students Face Challenges in Achieving a Degree
September 2018 (8)
Work and Learn Programs Demonstrate Long-Lasting Effects Vamos a seguir adelante (Let’s keep pushing forward)! Celebrating the College Application Season Juan Garcia: Teachable Moments Only Made Me Stronger Audra M. King: Be open to possibility and to people who are different than you Insights from Corinne, Faika, and Nikki Katie Gragnaniello: Don’t worry so much about where you fit in Tina McCoy Hearn: Growing up First-Gen in the Rural Midwest
October 2018 (8)
Improving College Readiness Requires Equitable Access to Resources and Opportunity The Power of College Matching: Charting a Course to Graduation In Search of the American Dream I Never Stopped Fighting For That Degree Insights From the Road: Roadtrip Nation Beating the Odds Documentary Intentionally Hispanic-Serving Institutions Foster Students’ Well-Being ALAS: Advocating For Underrepresented and Latino Students Narrowing the homework gap
November 2018 (12)
We’re Still Here – Why Aren’t You Teaching To or About Us? College Horizons Fills College Access Gaps Giving Tuesday: The Importance of Helping Others FAFSA Completion: A Key to Increasing College Access for All Students We Are #ThankfulForEquity We Need American Indian and Alaska Native Educators Parent Education Fairs Bring Information to Hispanic Families Closing Attainment Gaps at Native-Serving Institutions College Fund Creates Pathways for Native Student Success ACTNext ETCPS 2018 We Are Still Here: Indigenous Students and College Equity The Power and Promise of “Indigenuity”
December 2018 (4)
Happy Holidays Dual Credit Enrollment Helps You Jump Start Your College Career (Part 2) Dual Credit Classes Made Possible Through Pell Grant Together We Can Help Students Transition Successfully From Foster Care
2017 (102)
January 2017 (2)
Inauguration Day 2017 Bridging Gaps: Hispanic Communities
February 2017 (7)
Houston Hispanic Forum Mentoring Matters The Next Generation of Voters How you can help underrepresented students “Aim Higher” National School Counseling Week National Heart Month: Go Red for Women Celebrating Black History Month: Geoffrey Canada
March 2017 (8)
ACT Receives the Game-Changer in Education Award The Supreme Court Rules to Bolster Special Education Programs and Supports America’s Budget Priorities Should Put Underserved Students and Workers First Taking a Holistic Approach to College and Career Readiness SXSWedu Spotlights Equity & Access School Counselors Count Teachers as Technologist: How the University of Iowa College of Education is Preparing New Students #EmpowerHer Twitter Chat: Global Access to a Quality Education for Women and Girls
April 2017 (11)
Guest Blog: Dr. Laura Owen on School Counselors Scholarly Giving: Get in Formation Working While Learning in High School Melissa Murer Corrigan: Women of Influence ACT Welcomes ALAS to the Superintendent Leadership Academy Our Mission in the Making Mission Matters: Why We Strive for Fairness Mission Matters: The Impact of N of 1 Mission Matters: Dignity in all Work Mission Matters: A Sense of Humility Spending Agreement a Good Deal for Underserved Students and Job Seekers
May 2017 (15)
NCES Spotlight: Homeless Children & Youth NCES’s Latest Comprehensive Education Report ‘Putting America First’ Means Investing in America’s Students and Jobseekers Survey by New America Sheds Light on Higher Education Brown v. Board of Education is 63, but Achieving Equity in Education is Still a Work in Progress ACT Corporate Giving: Funding Scholarships for Migrant Students A Teacher Who Found My Voice Teachers: The Heart of Rural Schools Apprenticeships Spur Economic Mobility: Diversity and Working Learners Thank You: Teachers Who Believed in Me! ACT Cheers for Higher Education on College Signing Day Music – Singing in the New Day Teachers are Heroes: Miss Massey Marten Roorda joins Reach Higher’s Advisory Board Celebrate Students who Reach Higher: #CollegeSigningDay
June 2017 (11)
Roadtrip Nation’s Willie Witte: Lessons from the Road Unequal STEM Preparation Further Entrenches Inequity in Education Strategic Partnerships: A Year in Review The Center Celebrates Milestone Birthday Social Impact: Making Our Mission Matter Closing Equity Gaps Through Research-Based Interventions Committed to Accessibility Celebrate Latino Family Engagement on June 17 Parent Academy: Empowering Hispanic Educational Leaders in New York City NCES Report Shines Light on One of the Largest Equity Gaps in Education COE 2017 Report: Attainment & Persistence in Higher Ed
July 2017 (8)
Committed to College and Career Success for Dubuque’s Underserved Population Connecting with Students Creates Magical, Remarkable Results Standing Up to Summer Slide: Kids on Course University A Deeper Look into STEM Readiness Supports for English Learners to be Provided on the ACT Test Guest Blog: Dr. Bach Mai Dolly Nguyen Guest Blog: Dr. Joyce Brown Guest Blog: Michael Bonner
August 2017 (14)
School Time Creates Social Time A Deeper Look at Working Learners What You Need to Know about Working and Learning Danger Time for College Students: Working at a Job More than 15 Hours a Week May do More Harm Than Good, Especially for Underserved Students Examples of Excelencia 2017 National Finalist: Celebrating Latino Student Success Native Students Being Left Behind Go Big Red – Celebrating 100 years of Education, Community and Kindness Back to School: Junior High Jitters Reflections on Charlottesville Guest Blog: Roseina Britton Back to School: Sixth Grade Stars Guest Blog: Maurice Swinney ADA Turns 27, but Inequity Still Exists Beating the Odds Summit: A Conversation with Michelle Obama
September 2017 (6)
Master the Steps2College Sandra Cisneros’ Inspirational Journey “What it is like to be a college student”: Taking a closer look at dual enrollment Underserved Learners Lag Far Behind Peers in College & Career Readiness According to 2017 ACT Score Results Design Sprints and the Power of Convening On the Road at NCAN 2017
October 2017 (11)
Research Update: Working Learners and Strategic Partnerships Cutting work-study program only punishes students in need The Time to Shift is Now, CLOSE IT 2017 Show Your Spirit For LGBT History Month Thurgood Marshall’s Legacy in Action Teaming up to Talk Equity and Innovation Education Fairs and Hispanic Heritage Month Strategic Partnerships The Company We Keep Accessibility in Action ACT to Recognize College & Career Champions: Apply today!
November 2017 (8)
Key Takeaways from the Accessing Higher Ground Conference Giving Back and Cultivating Connections ACT Awarded Outstanding Philanthropic Organization by Kirkwood Community College Center for Equity in Learning at ACT Focused on Underserved and Working Learners Innovating Work-and-Learn Models Interview with Road-Tripper Esther Interview with Road-Tripper Estephanie The Promise and Challenges of Equity and Innovation in Education
December 2017 (1)
Opportunity Index 2017: Where Is Opportunity in America?
2016 (27)
June 2016 (4)
Hispanic Students Show Mixed Results in Improving Readiness for College, Despite High Aspirations ACT Perspective on Fisher Decision ACT Establishes ACT Center for Equity in Learning Report Highlights Wide Contrasts in College Readiness Among Asian American and Pacific Islander Students
July 2016 (1)
Equity and Opportunity
August 2016 (3)
Women’s Equality Day: There’s More to it Than Just Voting Rights Vote for Kaplan Test Prep and ACT Inc.’s Equitable Access Panel Educacíon con Nosotros
September 2016 (3)
Closing the Gap: Providing After School Options to Underserved Students ACE’s American College Application Campaign Gears Up for Continued Growth, New Collaborations Up Next: College
October 2016 (7)
ACT Gives Back Changes to FAFSA Gives Access to More Celebrating Excelencia Celebrating Excelencia It is Achievable Girl Power The New Learning Economy and the Rise of the Working Learner
November 2016 (4)
ACT Gives Back: Giving Tuesday Enabling English Learners to Show What They Know Advancing Equity Symposium Why Apply?
December 2016 (5)
Seasons Greetings from ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning! Mindfulness: What Helps Children Learn? Equity in American Education: Where We Stand Parent Academies: Empowering Hispanic Communities Serving Native American Students

Equity in Action Blog

Stay informed through ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning blog which offers thought leadership and reflective pieces on barriers and solutions to help students who are systemically underserved achieve education and career success.

Ask Your Professors For Help
May 2023
Exercise Self-Discipline
April 2023
I Want to Be Part of That Team
March 2023