<p>I have a number of questions and comments:</p>
<p>1) Why do you want to take a gap year? Be specific and forthright.</p>
<p>2) You show maturity to want to outline a plan and convince your parents of it. Congratulations. And I really, really like the fact that your plan is supposed to be related to what you like (hopefully this is related to your passions) and to what practically will help you (you don't want to only have a kind of fun that ends up hurting your future when there is so much fun to be had that can help your future.) Having said that, I agree with hsmomstef that the year just does not sound spectacular. </p>
<p>3) If I were you, I would approach this year as affording you the possibility of achieving a project of some sort. A school would love to hear that you went for an achievable goal and achieved it or came close trying. Let me give you an example: go to Central America work in a ecotourism operation, learn Spanish, and dispatch articles to a journal of some sort or do some filming that you intend to produce or something. It would be much better if this project had an identifiable completion point and outcome (I put together my video or something like this.) It would be EVEN BETTER if the project related to what you think you would want to study in school or at least do afterwards.</p>
<p>4) I would be very careful about enrolling in any degree programs for the reasons that have already been stated. Further to that, if what you really wanted to do was go to school (as evidenced by taking courses), what happened that you didn't just get into college and go like a normal kid? This goes back to question 1.</p>
<p>5) If what you do falls in line with a passion that you have and with your future goals, you will be much better off describing this to an admissions officer than if its something that was done to pass the time.</p>
<p>6) What are others of your interest? Let us know and maybe we can come up with some suggestions.</p>
<p>I think you are on the right track, but you need to polish this up, reach inside yourself and identify what you really want to do next year in terms of something you're passionate about, and act with speed and confidence. You don't have much time to get hooked up with an outfit or program that will be willing to take on a graduating high school student.</p>
<p>I really would not stay around and work on your father's job and hang out and expect a few classes to work well for you in the application process.</p>
<p>Your instincts are right on; your plan, so far, is a bit weak.</p>