Backpacking around the world during gap years

[baseballcc]

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Hi SDN,

I will be a senior this fall, so I've started looking at options for gap-year opportunities. I would really like to backpack through a few parts of the world (SE Asia or S. America), but I'm worried about missing an opportunity to improve my application through more common gap-year activities (PeaceCorp, scribe, etc.). My plan is to take the MCAT summer 2019, and then spend the next year traveling (Fall 2019-Fall 2020), and then apply in the spring of 2021. I enjoy traveling on a very small budget (taking public trans., staying in hostels, camping) instead of flying and staying in more expensive resorts, so the trip wouldn't be a typical vacation of laying on a beach somewhere, but rather an opportunity to gain life experience. This would also give me around six months between when I return to the states and when I apply to do something more focused on improving my application. Would the year spent traveling be something I could put on my application, and how would admissions committees view this?

Here's a brief overview of my current ECs:

3 years varsity sport (not D1)
~50 hours shadowing (various specialties)
~50 hours Hospice/assisted living volunteer
1 summer of coaching
~50 hours tutoring
1 summer of research
A couple publications
I've also been continuously employed throughout college

 

[jd989898]

I don't think it will hugely benefit your application, but it will probably be a lot of fun. It will depend on the experiences and takeaways from the trip that you're able to deliver on your application and interviews.

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Take the trip. It will probably do more for you in life. You can even spin it during your interviews...

 

[LizzyM]

Having a theme and a story for your year around the world might make it a better hook. You might consider WWOOF. WWOOF – World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms

"WWOOF is a worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers to promote cultural and educational experiences based on trust and non-monetary exchange, thereby helping to build a sustainable, global community.

"As a volunteer (or WWOOFer as we call them) you will live alongside your host helping with daily tasks and experiencing life as a farmer."

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Having a theme and a story for your year around the world might make it a better hook. You might consider WWOOF. WWOOF – World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms

"WWOOF is a worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers to promote cultural and educational experiences based on trust and non-monetary exchange, thereby helping to build a sustainable, global community.

"As a volunteer (or WWOOFer as we call them) you will live alongside your host helping with daily tasks and experiencing life as a farmer."

Like I said, spin it 🤣

 

[arabet]

If you're taking two years off, you could do it for 6 months or so towards the end of the interview cycle and focus this year on application stuff. That's what I'm planning on doing!

 

[timephone]

I 100% endorse doing this, OP. You will not regret it. You could also do Peace Corps preceded or followed by traveling if budget permits. I know many people who did Peace Corps and loved it, it goes beyond just travel. I regret not having done it myself. Keep in mind though that most Peace Corps assignments are two years.

 

[Goro]

If i were you i would definitely take the trip

Please don't necrobump threads. OP was last seen two years ago

 

[wysdoc]

closing to further comments.