<p>Currently, I am in the midst of not only a "gap year", but also the application process. I graduated a year early, and I am currently living overseas. I am taking classes at a well respected college in my new home country. Will this experience help or hinder my chances of being accepted?</p>
<p>The general rule of thumb is gap years are advantageous, provided you are doing something interesting with your time. The simple reason is that gap years set you apart from the typical student with a 4-year high school experience. I'm sure Dartmouth will treat your app with favor.</p>
<p>I think that as long as you're being productive in your off-time (which it seemsyou are), then it'll help you stand out a bit.</p>