<p>I graduate highschool in 2014. I want to start as a freshman in college that same year in the Fall. I am planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail the following year though(in 2015) The problem is, you have to start the AT in March so I wanted to take that 2nd semester of my Freshman year off. Is this at all possible? I know there will be problems with dorms and scholarships(since a lot of them are for consecutive years). I really do not want to push the AT back another year because I've been wanting to do this for a couple years and it's really important to me. Any advice or information on the possibility of doing this, or is it very unlikely?</p>
<p>Why not plan a full Gap Year? You would have the option to apply to college now, and then ask for deferred enrollment for one year while you work until March, and then hit the trail. Alternately, you could wait to file your applications in the fall and winter of 2014-2015, and hit the trail right about the time your last acceptance/rejection letters arrive.</p>
<p>I’m really nervous about taking a gap year because a year is a long time and I know I will end up feeling like I’m going no where and that I’m behind and I’ll get stressed and I will feel like a failure. I know that’s a little bit dramatic, but I don’t feel like I am mentally ready or confident enough to take a gap year. I’ll think about it a little more.</p>
<p>You can check the various colleges’ withdrawal and readmission policies on their web sites. Many will easily readmit you if you withdraw in good academic and financial standing. However, you may have to ask directly for clarification on financial aid and other matters.</p>
<p>If you attend a college where you can return easily after withdrawing in good standing, then your schedule would be:</p>
<p>Fall 2014 – first semester in college.
Spring 2015, Fall 2015 – hike the trail for five to seven months (according to [Appalachian</a> Trail FAQs - Appalachian Mountain Club](<a href=“http://www.outdoors.org/conservation/trails/at/at-faq.cfm]Appalachian”>http://www.outdoors.org/conservation/trails/at/at-faq.cfm) ).
Spring 2016 – second semester in college.</p>
<p>Due to the length of the trail, you would be spending enough time to need a gap year if you start in March 2015, unless you hike quickly enough to finish in time for the Fall 2015 semester.</p>
<p>If you attend a quarter system school, you may be able to get two quarters (Autumn 2014 and Winter 2015) in by March 2015, then finish hiking the trail in time to return after one quarter (Spring 2015) away in Autumn 2015.</p>
<p>Hiking the trail will almost certainly be a transformative experience. You need to consider the very real possibility that the college you begin at (if you start college before your hike) or the college you are planning to attend (if you plan to not start until after your hike) will no longer be the college you want to attend after that hike. This is not a bad thing. Just something to be aware of. If money will be an issue for you, remembering that the best financial aid offers are for incoming freshmen will help you make wise choices.</p>
<p>Many students arrange to do internships and study abroad. For the right major, well planned activities (writing? nature study? excercise science?) could turn a few months on the trail into a “semester of of independent study”. Think about that too.</p>