<p>Edit: Crap! I didn't mean to post this! Well, my next questions will be in another post. Sorry 'bout that.</p>
<p>I've been thinking of taking a gap year abroad (backpacking) since freshman year, and started seriously thinking about it and raising/saving money sophomore year. I'm a junior now. I've already raised ~$11,000 through working and various fundraisers, which would be enough to get me where I want to go if I live like a hobo sometimes :D (which I'm totally willing to do. haha), so I'm considering not applying to any colleges in senior year. I feel like it would just be extra stress on me, when I'm 99% sure that I'm taking this gap year (the only reason I wouldn't would be if something extremely horrible happened that made me unable to go).</p>
<p>So, am I crazy for even considering not applying to one college?</p>
<p>** How would colleges view this type of gap year?**
People tend to say “volunteering = good” and “working to save money = good”, but what about backpacking? I plan on doing some work, but it will be in return for free accommodation. Will it have no effect since it’s basically a rugged vacation, or will it be a plus because I’m not going to spend any time in touristy spots and will basically immerse myself in the real culture (helping my language skills along the way; I speak multiple)? Even if they view it negatively (I don’t see why they would, though), I’m still going to take it. I just would like to know.</p>
<p>Is it realistic to expect to keep a blog to document everything if I’m going to be covering a lot of ground in a short time?
Depending on the country, I’ll be in each one for 2 weeks to a month and a half (the longest ones will be in the countries where I speak the local language). I’m considering starting a blog, but I don’t know if I would be able to keep it up. The only time I’ve ever been out of the country was when I went on a cruise to the Caribbean, a far cry from backpacking across continents, so I don’t know what it’s like traveling all over the place (another purpose of this trip is to force me out of my comfort zone).</p>
<p>Why don’t you give your plans a test run?
Have you even spend one night on the streets?
You sound like you would be robbed or worse your first night out.</p>
<p>What makes you think I’d fare so poorly? I’ve done quite a lot of research about traveling in foreign countries and although it’s not the same as first-hand experience, I doubt that with all I’ve read and my upbringing I’ll be stupid enough to do something that cries “come rob and stab me!”</p>
<p>Besides, it’s not like I’ll be spending all of my time wandering the streets alone; that would only happen if everything I’ve arranged gets screwed up and I absolutely can’t fix it, or if I somehow don’t make a penny more than the $11k I already have (which is unlikely). There’s a lot more to this than I wrote here. I didn’t think it was necessary to write out every single detail of my plan to get the questions I asked answered.</p>
<p>Batllo you saw the part about the $11,000 right???</p>
<p>You can apply to colleges during your senior year and defer a year to do the gap year you’ve planned. </p>
<p>It’s much easier to do the applications when you have access to your school’s guidance office, the teachers who are doing your recommendations, the internet to complete applications, etc.</p>
<p>Almost every school will allow you to defer matriculation for a year.</p>