<p>Numero1,</p>
<p>For what its worth, I vote for IDF, then college.</p>
<p>Regarding the pragmatics of applying to colleges later, my daughter took a gap year after high school, so didnt apply to colleges until this fall. Based on her experiences, I have some (!) suggestions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>YOU WILL NEED EXTRA TIME for the application process because of your circumstances. It took my daughter two stinking months to finish only three apps. She was so busy that she often couldnt work on them for weeks at a time. For the sake of my mental health, I wish shed started earlier. </p></li>
<li><p>YOU WILL NEED EXTRA TIME because of your distance (miles away and years gone) from your high school. Although my daughters old GC was cooperative, being 2000 miles away and relying on email and voice mail resulted in delays, compounded by living two time zones away. Also, a former student (understandably) is not a priority, compared to needy current students. </p></li>
<li><p>Yes, ask teachers to write rec letters before you leave and ask GC to store hard copies. Smile pretty. Also, ask teachers to keep a soft copy and email a soft copy to GC. Some colleges want letters submitted electronically; some colleges prefer their form be used; some dont even WANT letters (University of Illinois for us). All that said, you might decide to seek letters from different sources three years down the road.</p></li>
<li><p>Before you leave, find out your high schools system for ordering transcripts. My D ordered/paid for most copies online (transmitted to colleges electronically), but she had to order a few hard copies for scholarship apps. </p></li>
<li><p>Also research how to order ACT/SAT/AP scores.</p></li>
<li><p>Talk to your GC and your recommenders about all this before you leave. Be really, really nice. Three years later, be even nicer. And grateful. Another thing: some of these people may not be employed at your school in three years.</p></li>
<li><p>Before you leave, familiarize yourself with the applications policies of the colleges you like. Keep checking back over the years to see what changes. Find out how early the app and essay prompt are released every year; sometimes its as early as the summer. </p></li>
<li><p>Find someone who can be your point man at home perhaps a parent? Ironically, I ended up getting more involved than I would have if my D had been home mostly because of unanticipated communication snafus, but I was also drafted to drop off stamped envelopes, get signatures, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Depending on your circumstances (mail reliability), you might want to use your Wisconsin address as both your permanent address AND your mailing address - if youre willing to have you parents receive and/or open your mail. </p></li>
<li><p>You might want to contact admissions at Madison to make sure you do what you need to retain Wisconsin residence status. (Probably continuing to be a dependent of your parents is enough.) Also, pay attention to health insurance eligibility. Hopefully, the college exemption won’t change…</p></li>
<li><p>I agree that GCs prefer to recommend that kids defer enrollment, mostly cause its less of a headache for all involved. However, many colleges dont defer; those that do usually allow only one year; youve basically made an agreement (non-binding) to go to a school that grants a deferment; and I believe that post-high school experience, whether it be a gap year or military service, will make you a more interesting and well-rounded applicant.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Good luck!</p>